When they arrived back at the citadel, it was a scene of tight security. It was the military stronghold at this point, the last on Vort, with an office building nearby serving as the temporary seat of civilian government. A Sergeant led the three inside and up an elevator to a conference room. Inside were all three teams seated at a table, all called in by the same man from SIS. They seemed relieved for once to have air conditioning and some water. Wouldn't be long until even this is foiled when the last power plant in their hands falls to the Irken and the generators eventually run out of fuel. Ruk and Avtamas took their seats. The only three missing from the room were Rub's civilian members of his team, left out of the briefing for military reasons.
Long-accustomed to the standing by orders passed down weeks ago, everyone that went everywhere was armed at all times. Security remained tight for obvious reasons...and unfortunately, incidents of soldiers succumbing to temporary insanity from the stresses of combat for such a prolonged period of time wasn't doing morale any favors. Everyone believed it was a matter of time before they all went mad or died in some horrific fashion. The phasic barrier was the only thing staving that off. Priority to keeping it up was taken. Most of the occupied buildings in the city were blacked out, rarely allowed power for any extended period of time. Keeping food stores fresh and water clean were secondary. Hunger and stomach illness, while an issue, was deemed acceptable over losing the barrier. The moment it fell, within the minute, would be followed by intense orbital bombardment from high orbit. Their deaths would follow.
Rub helped himself to the water fountain moved from one of the breakrooms into the large briefing room. Refilling his canteens, he joined his brother and Static in an adjacent seat. He grit his teeth, nearly doubling over and spilling his water as his side sent a sharp pain throughout his body. Maybe Doc needed to take another look at him...maybe he'd have the luxury of dying first and feeling nothing. Who knew.
Reeshara, sitting near Rub, noticed the pain her brother felt. Hopefully he'd go see the doctor after this. In the meantime, she withdrew a quarter full flask of hard liquor and slid it over to her brother. Right now, she really didn't care if he downed the rest of it, but it seemed like he needed to take the edge off.
Ural'Zhim, probably the youngest surviving operator in the room, looked around at the assembled others. He wore a bandage across his left eye while it healed from a recent sustained wound. "So...anyone else know who that spook was that called us in here like this?"
Gantas'Zharic walked in first, wearing his own armored suit but no plating, holding up his hand before anyone could stand up. "Formalities be damned, we're in some serious levels of fucked, not that you didn't know that. The Section Chief of Ghost Scribe will fill you in on what the current status of Admiral 'Narr's plan is." The head of Ohnmatu made his way to a nearby seat away from the table after saying what needed to be said.
Before anyone could think to voice a question or query as to who this Section Chief was or what Ghost Scribe was, Gantas was not alone. Following behind him was another Vortian soldier...a massive, towering man clad in similar armor not unlike their own. Everything was upscaled to match his towering height and clearly muscular mass to match. Even Rub's eyes went wide as he bore witness to this soldier's arrival. He needed to duck beneath the door frame!
His boots heavy with each imposing step as he followed Gantas, turning to address the remnants of Ohnmatu. Unlike their suits, he wore an actual combat helmet to match, an impenetrable visor disguised his features. Only his silhouette identified him as Vortian...but no Vortian male in peak physical condition could hope to reach his proportions. Whatever he was, it wasn't natural. Gantas wasn't short by any stretch of the imagination and this figure towered over him, making appear as a coming-of-age teen in comparison to an adult male.
His suit, while similar, was still different in some ways. Thicker, heavier armor plating. Plating that was beaten, battered, and scarred from battle. Standard-issue kit adorned every hardpoint attachment. A plasma rifle across his back, pistol at his hip. Grenades. Loaded for bear against any and all Irken aggressors. Darkly amusing, his hulking frame made them all almost look like toys by comparison.
The black armor-clad figure looked to Gantas, his vox audibly clicking on to speak.
"This all of them?"
"It is. Everyone that's left aside from our four KIAs and one MIA."
He said nothing on the mentioning of their passing. Instead, his posture straightened up to address them proper, hands clasped behind his back.
"Everyone listen up," His deep voice boomed from his helmet vox. "Who I am does not matter. All you need to know is I am from The Office of Secret Intelligence Services. My rank is Section Chief. My callsign is "Overlord". You may refer to me as either. I am not a part of your ranking structure. I am not a member of the Vortian Defense Force or Vortian Navy. My authority extends beyond Admiral Lard'Narr and whom granted it is classified. Any questions?"
There were some looks at each other. Nobody spoke up, initially, until Zhim spoke with one question, "I thought the SIS couldn't operate on Vort."
Gantas was quick to offer that one, "Parliament and the Chief Minister of the Federation granted emergency powers to the SIS not long after Praxxus fell to the Irken. They've since been allowed to operate domestically given this is a legitimate emergency and absorbed the Security Services that operated at home on top of that. Any other crazy questions, Invader?" He used Zhim's callsign intentionally.
"No, sir, sorry, sir."
"Colonel Zharic is correct. Under certain circumstances, such authority is bestowed upon my agency. This is one of those circumstances." Overlord continued to explain, unperturbed by the interruption. It was difficult to tell not being able to see his expression. "I need not remind you how dire the situation is on Vort. Tallum will fall. It is not a matter of "if", but when. Admiral 'Narr is acutely aware of this...as are the remaining chiefs of staff. What he has given you in the way of orders is virtually impossible with the outpouring of resistance the Empire offers at our gates at this point in time. My team and I have been tasked with doing the impossible."
Rub's hand rose."
"What is it, Spectre?"
"You're vell-informed."
"It's my job to be. Do you have a question or are you done wasting my time?"
"Do you have an actual plan or is your job to intimidate us into signing up for a suicide mission?" Rub did not dance around the issue. "Ve are all avare of vhat ve face. Ve all agreed to those risks vhen ve signed on. Ve haven't stopped fighting. That should tell you vhere our morale is at."
Avtamas looked at Rub, a bit surprised at his brazen response to such an intimidating figure. Ruk held up a hand to their tech man, a gesture to relax and that Rub wasn't doing anything stupid.
Their commander huffed, "That withdrawal order, it's real, it's happening. What the Section Chief is saying is that his unit is going to buy all of us time. Primary exfiltration goes to command staff and strategic military assets. Secondary is civilian government and elite infantry. So, congrats, there's your realization that we're on the VIP list to get out of here after the curtain opens on the final act."
"I'm not going anyvhere." Rub said aloud before standing to his feet, gritting his teeth at his pained side.
"This isn't a request." Overlord plainly said. "I've been granted the authority to re-task any and all assets in play in Tallum. That includes your unit. You are going to assist my team with securing a means of departure. I'm aware of how tall this order is. This is non-negotiable."
Vorken looked around, "You are aware that each of our teams have stealth vessels, correct, sir? We already have three stealth frigates and a stealth corvette at our disposal for transport off Vort."
"I'm aware. We have already ran the simulation utilizing them as a means to move primary and secondary assets off-world. It takes too long and with each pass, the Empire will catch on."
"Vhat do you propose?" Rub queried, at least hearing him out.
"As I said, the impossible." He opened with cryptically. "A counter-offensive. Directly into the Irken line just beyond the range of static defenses. The finer details will be gone over prior, but I have been tasked with organizing such. We are to secure a foothold through the line. A narrow corridor wide enough for escaping vessels to clear anti-air defenses and any fighters loitering in the area. Those craft will fly low and fast around the planet, away from the bulk of the Armada in-orbit, and escape Vort with precious cargo intact."
He wasn't kidding. What he was proposing was impossible. Insane, even. The worse part about it was his calm demeanor...he was serious.
Their commander spoke up next, "This is rather critical to the continuation of the war effort. They need everyone for this. The Section Chief asked both myself and Khor to join you on the ground for this operation. Basic layout is that we're going to keep that passage open, then we proceed to our exfil and make our way off, along these guys from SIS. Our stealth ships give us that advantage that the others don't have. By the time this is done? There's going to be nobody from Ohnmatu who's still alive left on Vort by the time the curtain opens on the final act."
Continuation of the war effort? Rub looked around the room to the men and women he had been fighting alongside for the past several months non-stop. Some of them were family of his own he knew better than most. A brother, a sister, a cousin...surely they too hadn't lost their minds and were agreeing wholesale to the brand of madness this massive, mysterious stranger was trying to poison their minds with.
Overlord's faceless visor remained fixated eerily on those seated before him. Statuesque. Unmoving. Everything about him felt...unnatural. His mannerism of speech. His lexicon. His body language. Nearly to a point of uncanny valley as far as Vortian were concerned. He only mimicked them in presentation but didn't seem quite like them. Granted, his seemingly-impossible size had much to do with it.
"Your silence is likely due to a lack of information and confusion. Understandable. As stated, details will be passed down shortly once the finer elements of the general plan are finalized and assets are made ready to begin the operation. Colonel Zharic will notify you whenever I have need of you again. You are to remain on standby until further notice. That is all. Dismissed."
Reeshara and Tha definitely seemed unsure of this whole plan. It effectively was suicide. They could understand being ordered to pull out in their stealth vessels and taking important individuals with them. But something this insane? In their minds, these SIS guys were several iambs short of a full pentameter. Reesh leaned over to Rub and Ruk, "Guys, meet outside of your shuttle, I think we need to have a talk." Her tone indicated she was also the least bit amused at this idea.
Rub nodded, nursing his side still as he made to move. Picking up his unslung rifle, he threw it across his back before following after his elder sister with Ruk in tow. An impromptu family reunion sans their cousin.
Reesh looked to Tha, who just nodded at her before walking over to Colonel 'Zharic, bent on talking to him on why this idea was absolute insanity. Meanwhile, she and her twin brothers made their way to the elevator, making their way down and over to the stealth corvette resting nearby. She took a breath before speaking. "I think I'll say what all three of us are thinking. This quarter-brained idea is really fucking stupid."
"Vhy take the risk?"
Reesh nodded, "Yeah, three frigates and a corvette? We have enough to at the very least get the brass, the Chief Minister, and the Cabinet out of here. May not be able to do anything much about the others and the civilians...but trying something of this scale seems utterly fucking insane. We'd have better luck commandeering Irken transports to get out of here."
"You joke about that...ve may very vell be forced to resort to that assuming this goes as vell as I think it vill." Rub added, standing among the familiar group adjacent to one of their stealth-capable vessels. "...I know little of SIS. Only that everyone in the VDF has heard rumors and spread those rumors, embellishing further...vhat do you know of them?" He queried his elder sister.
"Of this specific lot? Not a damned thing. I've run into some of their field agent shitheads before back before all this happened. Wanting to use spec ops types like myself as 'practice' ever since Praxxus happened the first time, and with every increasing frequency...like these guys were preparing for the next war." She rubbed her chin, "I don't like this, I really don't. These guys come out of nowhere, say they have authority above Admiral 'Narr? This is the clusterfuck to end all clusterfucks." She huffed after her rant. "I really hope we don't have to steal Irken transports. We still have our ships...unless these idiots want to commandeer our ships and hurt our ability to operate."
"Given the circumstances, ve haven't much of a choice." Rub admitted reluctantly. "...giving them the benefit of the doubt considering just beyond that barrier is the majority of the Empire...maybe they have access to information ve don't. So many bug eyes vatching this city now...even vith stealth I doubt they'd get avay vithout being noticed."
"Whatever this is...it had better work...or I'm going to find these guys in the afterlife and tear them limb from limb." She let out a sigh of frustration. "I'm going to see if any of the nearby liquor stores haven't been completely looted yet. Either of you two want something if I can find any?"
Ruk nodded, "I vill take anything at this point."
"Same...but if you find any Black Ice, vould be appreciated," Rub suggested with a shrug. "Vith the collapse of our society, I can actually afford it now...may as vell have refined tastes if price is of no concern."
A little dark humor to alleviate the depression threatening to set in all around.
"Possession is the full law at this point." She nodded to him. "I'll see what I can do. Oh, and Rub, get looked at by your doc, and mend while you can."
"Yes, Mother, I vill," He waved off at her. "Isn't the first time I've had broken ribs…"
He nearly concluded with "It wouldn't be the last.", but their current state of affairs threatened to disagree. A man of conviction and devotion to the cause...even he was struggling to see a positive outcome to all of this. The Empire had them encircled. Trapped. Backs against the wall and all their sights set on them.
"...Just find that Black Ice. It'll numb the pain."
She only cracked a smirk at her brothers before heading off to search the local liquor stores. Possibly a futile search for Black Ice, but their luck has held up so far with their survival. Even a small bit of good fortune would help things in the long run. Ruk, meanwhile, walked into their corvette, went straight into the crew lounge, and fell face first on one of the open benches, allowing himself to relax for a short time.
Rub watched his siblings go their separate ways for the time being before shuffling back for the elevator to return to the rest of the team. Finding Doc was on his to-do list and had been for a few days. Seeing the mountain that lay before them in terms of effort and impossibility, getting as close to full health was taking priority.
Doc wasn't too far from the ship, volunteering his time when the team wasn't around to help out in the citadel's medical wing. Osa's hands and forearms were completely drenched in blood, as well as his surgical attire, busy running back and forth between many patients with very little rest. He looked up to see the door open, expecting yet another fargone case but was relieved to see Rub instead. "Ah, Lieutenant, good to see you." The doctor walked over, "I would offer you my hand, but…" he paused before remembering, "Ah, our pilot was looking for you. I said I would let her know if I saw you."
Having come to see him with the intention of getting his ribs checked again to make sure his injuries weren't getting worse, the sight of so much blood on Doc made him reconsider. The moans of the wounded and dying from the makeshift infirmary made him reconsider. He was far better off than most of these soldiers and civilians unlucky enough to die yet. He nodded uneasily at his comment with a sigh before turning about to go in search of Shika.
"Lieutenant," Osa called out, "did you come for some other reason?"
"It can vait. You're busy." Rub addressed him as he made his way out of the room. He could stomach a little discomfort when so many others needed put back together and their guts shoved back in still.
He nodded, "If it's minor, cabinet behind the desk, take some painkillers. I'll have a look at you when my shift ends here." He gestured to the cabinet in question before heading back to work. Such was the hopeless case at this point as the military started commandeering supplies from local hospitals and doctors to fill their needs, so the civilians had to go without.
"Nothing aspirin von't fix," He half-lied. Maybe he needed something more serious or maybe he just needed to slow down and let his body heal. The latter wasn't possible due to how dire everything was. "I'll vait until you aren't pre-occupied vith more pressing matters."
"Very well, I'll be back at the ship in a couple hours." He spoke as he moved to the next patient, rounding the corner and leaving Rub where he came in, another pair of soldiers coming in with a stretcher, with a militiaman holding in her intestines from a nasty shrapnel blast that sliced her open.
Rub stood there, watching the pair rush in with the patient clinging to life, leaving a fresh trail of splattered blood in their wake. A weary sigh escaped him with a shake of his head before he left the room. How Doc kept it together dealing with that graphic imagery and the worst pain imaginable without cracking was beyond him. Doctors and medics were a special sort, that much was certain.
Rather than join the parade of misery wandering the halls as everyone seemed to reserve themselves to fate, Rub returned to their temporary home where Ruk disappeared to. Shika was looking for him and her being their pilot, the dots were connected. Frankly...her company was preferred over the gloom that everyone else seemed to be casting.
While Ruk continued sleeping quietly, she was running various checks all over, making sure everything was in order on a moment's notice for take off and that all she would need to do is run through the quick checklist to get going. After closing up one of the panels, she looked over to see Rub coming in. "Good to see you still kicking. Need some good news with things as bad as they are."
Rub watched as Shika went about her maintenance on their vessel. Something to keep her occupied in both mind and body. He didn't blame her with all that was going on around them. As he expected, her disposition and spirit seemed the least impacted by the literal horizon of devastation all around them...or maybe ignorance was bliss.
"I vas hoping you vere the one vith the good news," He played along with an awkward rub of the back of his neck. "See you're busy at vork. I can come back later if need be. Doc just said you vere looking for me."
"I was, I mean, I was just wondering how you were holding up. I know you're all getting run ragged out there" Shika scratched the back of her neck, "While I sit here rather helpless. I had no real ground training in the Navy, only pistol marksmanship for personal defense if we were ever boarded. It feels rather...constraining, to be here not able to do much other than see to the shuttle."
"Not helpless," Rub interjected with a shake of his head. He briefly considered telling her how he really felt about the whole ordeal, but decided against it as she continued to speak. "Keeping this ship ready to leave at a moment's notice may be the only thing that separates us from life and death. Your duties are just as important as any soldier's out there."
"Still, you're out there actively doing something…" There was a pause as she took a breath, "It's this waiting that's getting to me. Even doing what I can, it just seems like I'm doing absolutely nothing while you and the others have been fighting and dying. It takes its toll sitting from the sidelines, being a ship pilot with no real way to help."
The marksman did not immediately speak. Instead, he sought to take a seat. Brushing past her gently, he spun the co-captain chair around before unslinging his rifle to lean against the adjacent bulkhead before taking a seat. Gritting his teeth with a light seethe, he settled back with a sigh.
"Most of us vould gladly change places vith you, for vhat it's vorth," he attempted to keep the conversation lighter in tone. "...but I too vould be restless if I vas told to stand by and do nothing until further notice...just as ve have been ordered now."
"Wait, what? Really?" She made her way over to the pilot's seat and turned it to face him before sitting. "That doesn't seem like 'Zharic at all. He was hell bent on doing everything in our power to buy as much time as we could. I heard the evacuation order over the comms from Admiral 'Narr...what's going on?" There was another pause, she noticed his wince as he sat down, "And are you okay?"
"It's nothing," He half-lied. "Doc said it vas fractured ribs from the tumble I took escaping the close call from that orbital bombardment a few days ago. The suit made it a lot less damaging than it could have been. I'll be fine. Really."
Pausing, he organized his own conflicted thoughts on the matter before speaking again. His expression hardened, eyes narrowing before relaxing once more.
"Colonel Zharic did not give the order to stand by. Admiral 'Narr's evacuation order has been countermanded by SIS beneath emergency power. They've taken operational control of anyone capable of fighting that's left in Tallum."
She nodded, hoping that was true about what he said. So long as she was fine. The team without him wouldn't be the same. That SIS news really hit hard. Her head fell back against the headrest of the chair. "You've gotta be kidding me? They're letting intelligence run military operations now? Well, may as well hope Zharic can get me a suit so I can go out and die with the rest of you. That's definitely what we're going to be in store for."
"Doubtful," Rub commented, shaking his head. "No, they have a plan to make Admiral 'Narr's evacuation order possible. They know the score and vhere ve all lay as it is. As much as I dislike the idea of a private-sector side government organization taking over military operations, they are stuck in this mess vith us. Their survival depends on vhatever they have in store as vell."
Rub turned, his tired, dark-green eyes plagued from a lack of sleep and non-stop mission after mission, looked towards the horizon where the barrier's power source lay. A fusion power plant even more heavily fortified than the citadel itself. The source of their salvation, standing strong against the constant barrage of Imperial fire and offensive push after offensive push. The narrow corridor of urban sprawl between them was littered with wreckage, raging infernos, and countless dead, Irken and Vortian alike.
"...optimistic as I am...this place is going to become the grave to many."
"Damn well hope it doesn't become ours." She sighed, brown eyes shutting as she contemplated their state of things. "Fucking...really hoping this goes off well, or we're screwed."
That was putting it lightly. No one wanted to admit it, but it was all a matter of time. The inevitable end and the fate that awaited many of them. Anyone aware of their relative situation and just how many Irken surrounded them at the current knew that. The fight had become a war of attrition. Something they were destined to lose.
"...I...suppose you deserve to know," Rub began, thinking of the best way to put it. "...SIS hasn't told us the details of their plan yet...only that ve are to assist vith organizing a counteroffensive...into the Irken line surrounding us. I may not be a field strategist, but my best guess vould be securing the area between us and the power plant. Use its defenses to our advantage for the duration of their operation."
He stopped, turning his full attention to her.
"...SIS vants to extract the surviving members of Parliament and the Chief Minister first...Chiefs of Staff secondary...and only then if ve can maintain that hole punched in the line long enough, vill they attempt to extract any of the remaining military personnel or civilians. I cannot...fault them, but it does not settle vell knowing many of the people around us are going to die or be left to fend for themselves amidst Irken occupation. Tallum vill fall."
Her eyes opened, looking right at him. "This sounds like absolute fucking suicide. What about you and the others? If they had some sort of an exit strategy, they probably would've told you about it, or at least something of an exfil plan." Her hands came up to her face and shook her head. "Damn it, damn it all."
"I don't know yet. Overlord has us on stand-by until further notice. All I know is ve are to assist his teams vhen the time comes to make our move. The longer ve keep that vindow open, the more people that can escape. Until then, ve are vaiting to see vhat death varrant they've reserved our signatures to."
A sigh escaped her once more as she dropped her hands into her lap. "Right about now I almost wish we had an assignment like those two who went to Devastis. Same damn result going off what we have here…" There was a long silence after that, glancing briefly to the plasma shotgun resting in a weapon rack against the wall. How she wished she could do something, anything, other than stand by. "I honestly don't know if any of us are getting out of this one, even with this hair-brained idea. I can understand getting people out on our ships who are important, but this? I don't know…"
"Come vhatever may," Rub began, looking to her. "If it is my time, then so be it. That is fine. I'm ready. I vant to see my family again."
"What about your family here? Your cousin? Your sister? Ruk?" She paused again and shook her head, "I don't think this team would still be together if it weren't for you. Your sister? She practically begged Zharic to let you in. I happened to be one of the few retired Navy civilians around who knew how to handle a ship in friendly lines when I was recruited. If it weren't for her, and you being alive, I'd probably be out there with those poor civilians just waiting for the inevitable demise that's bound to come."
There was some silence as she looked down at her hands, "I know I can't stop you from deciding your own fate, you've done so much on your own, endured much, lost everything...You mean a lot to quite a number of us alive, Rub. Not to mention, how are you going to keep pulling the trigger on Irken if you're a corpse?"
"I never said I vould simply lay down and accept it," He huffed in morose amusement. "Only that I am ready. I've lost count of the number of Irken I've killed. I am numb to each one that is added. I have done so little in the grand scheme of things...maybe even made them vorse for all involved."
Shika reached over, grabbing one of his hands, looking him right in the eyes. "Don't blame yourself for that. I know Ruk shoulders that...it was a fluke. I know you're not the type to lay down and die." She tried to find the words for a few moments, "I want you to come back from whatever shit is this the SIS has planned. Though, I know I'm not in any position to order you to not die either…"
The sudden physical contact on her behalf was unexpected. Her small, lithe, tender hands greatly contrasted his larger, calloused, cracked, scraped, and cut ones. His fingerless leather gloves were slowly becoming a shredded, tattered mess from use and abuse. Smaller lacerations scabbed over, his claws chipped and worn from seeking much-needed hand holds through strewn rubble and stone.
He did not pull away nor return the touch. His hand simply remained in hers as his tired gaze rose to meet her own. A conflicted, almost pained expression in the grim realization of the weight of what he was about to say followed.
"I can't promise that. I don't know vhat Overlord's plan is...but just based on vhat has been said thus far...ve are to sacrifice ourselves and buy as much time as possible so our people may live to fight another day."
There was a huff that came from her following that. "Yeah, throw away our best operators and huge force multipliers for some suicidal mission. Sounds like intelligence. Always getting people killed over half-baked ideas…" Her hand grasped his a bit tighter, "If they don't come up with an exit strategy, I will. I'm not staying behind to die and I'm not leaving you or anyone else behind either."
Rub shook his head at her alternative plans.
"You and likely any other pilot is going to be at the helm of any space-vorthy craft to get people out of this nightmare and somevhere safe. Assuming you call clear the AA the Empire has and make it past the Armada in low orbit, you vill be safe. Anyvhwere far avay from here is better than this."
There was some further silence...and then she just looked enraged. "I'm going to have to talk with the boss. I doubt he's going to agree to this absolute nonsense without fighting for an exit strategy for us, but I need to help drive the point home that we're not going to throw our lives away without some means to get out."
As Shika began to rise, Rub's own hand tightened, pulling her back down to her captain's chair before she hurried off.
"Stop. I know this is not ideal. Far from it. Ve have been literally backed into a corner vith no escape. Ve have to create an escape and it is going to cost a lot of good people their lives but it is all ve have. Short of the Irken picking up and leaving us be, there is no other option." He drove home with a rare intensity seen outside of combat. "SIS aren't fools and vouldn't villingly throw their own lives avay at some half-baked gambit. I just know ve vill be taking great risks vith no guarantee of our own escape. If that means another's life is saved, a family, their children are going to live to see another day...I'm okay vith that. It vill not be in vain."
She wanted to get up again, looking him dead in the eyes, "I'm not losing you or the others. Not like this. Not if I have something to say about it."
Before she could move and get up again, a familiar voice called from the ship's boarding ramp. "Ruk, Rub, get out here!" It was Reeshara, back already, probably having gone to the liquor stores in a dash, or she yielded some results early.
Before he could respond, Rub overheard his elder sister's calling from outside. Conflicted about remaining there and ensuring Shika didn't do something brash and stupid with emotions running high, he elected for rising to his feet with a wince.
Making his way from the cockpit of the vessel and through the shared crew quarters, he walked past his sleeping twin with a firm pat of his shoulder, jostling him.
"Vake up, on your feet. Reeshara's back." he ushered as he walked past toward the stern of the vessel and the open cargo bay door and down the ramp where she waited for them.
"Uh-vha-" Ruk rolled onto his side and rubbed his eyes with his still suited hand. "Oh, right," He slid off the bench and followed after his brother. She was waiting there with her own flask and a few bottles, two of which were lower end liquors of which she wasn't complaining about having. The center bottle would've been one that captured Rub's eyes, Black Ice, albeit a partial bottle.
"It really took a lot of convincing on the one you wanted, Rub. The guy didn't want to part with it. Though, I mention that it was going to mean a lot to the Spectre of Vort, that tipped the scale, but it was still expensive, even for half a bottle."
"My reputation must be good for something after all then," He mused aloud, glancing to Ruk as he joined them. "How vas the nap?"
"Vould have been nicer if it could last about ten years."
Reesh couldn't help but laugh as she put out a pair of glasses and finished off what was left in her flask. "You definitely never were the soldier type, Ruk, what with being a recluse and all."
"I don't have to fight for my survival to this extent out there, at least."
"It's true, but that's why I wanted you out here...the both of you. You both know how to survive, and even now, you're still surviving some real fucking hopeless situation. Let's just hope that stands up to impossible odds." She poured a shot of Black Ice for each of her brothers and into her flask as the only other suitable item around for drinking. "We somehow survive what comes next...and we somehow make it back to Vort in our lifetime, the first fresh made bottle of this is on me."
Rub accepted the offered shot of the minute supply of the top-shelf brand she managed to scrounge up. Something that, before all of this, was worth a small fortune and beyond the realm of the common man. At least he was going to be a little more cultured before he died. Tossing it back, strong, but smooth, and lingered. It certainly lived up to its hype and made the usual fare akin to dirty bathwater.
"Assuming there is still a Vort to come back to, I'll be there," he nodded, looking at the glass briefly before opening one of his pouches up and stuffing it in. A momento to remember by...and potentially the last positive memory shared with his surviving family members.
Turning his attention back to Reesh, he held his hand out for the second bottle of the more common swill. "You heard anything from Gantas yet? I don't like being kept in the dark vith the Empire at our doorstep like this."
"Not much," she handed him the whole bottle outright as she opened the other to refill her flask after the drink with her brothers and handing the remainder off to Ruk. "Though I did run into Luna from Tha's team on the way back in. She said that herself, the boss, and 'Vorken are working on a handwritten preliminary escape plan behind the backs of these Ghost Scribe guys when this inevitably goes south. At least they're smart enough to not buy into this completely. I get he wants to help; though I'm surprised he hasn't opted to make a move to get our primary objectives out of here ourselves...but then again seeing how big that Overlord guy was must've put off a lot of people."
Rub listened, twisting the cap and breaking the seal on the bottle before taking a swig of it as she spoke. The bitter, acidic spike of cheap booze. Familiar territory.
"You vere in the room vith the rest of us. It isn't a matter of inevitable failure...our sacrifice is planned. As far as SIS is concerned, ve are already dead. I've made my peace. I'm ready. I'll do vhat I can to see to it as many of the others trapped here vith us can escape."
"Yeah, well, the last time these intelligence guys tried to send me somewhere, I nearly got my head blown off by some asswipe with an anti-tank rifle. You'll have to excuse me if I'm not too keen on dying for them."
"Vhat?" Ruk tilted his head, "Reesh, you've never told us about this."
"No, I didn't want you two to worry. But I'm not trusting of these intel guys, especially since they've also wanted our commander and XO to come die with us. Nah, fuck that." She shook her head, "We're likely gonna call our own little meeting before any of this goes off once we see what the real plan is...or if we need to do anything before. Gantas wants out of here along with the rest of us. 'Narr needs us, our people need us. If these intel guys want to throw their lives away, fine by me. I intend to keep fighting and see this through."
Rub looked to his elder sister with conviction.
"Optimistic as you may be about this...surely you know not all of us are leaving Tallum alive vhen the time comes. I don't say this to be pessimistic. It's reality. The odds are not in our favor and short of a miracle, nothing is going to change that one vhatever plan is put into motion."
She looked to Rub, smirking, "Never underestimate your sister. We'll figure something out." She closed her flask and slipped it back into a pouch, nodding to the two of them. "For now, I suggest the both of you rest. Ruk, you'll need that sprained wrist of yours healed up as much as possible. Rub, I definitely need you in running shape. I'd also suggest you start getting used to your suit's gloves." It was a light suggestion that they may need to do a hot exfil and he'd need those for much more grip over what his hands could offer. "I need to see what's going on with the others. Those intel guys may be going into this thinking it's over, but we're not thinking so at all."
"No promises," He waved off at her insistence. "I need the dexterity for long-range. The sensors don't transfer fine movement that vell." Obstinate and stubborn, as always. He looked to Ruk. "Vhy don't you go see if you can find hot food somevhere for us. I'll help you fight someone if you do to get it if need be." He half-joked.
Reesh smirked, "If I suggest it again, just know it's not going to be for no reason." She paused a bit, "I'll get you all the hot chow you can eat if you can keep that attitude up for when the time comes." She turned and left down the ramp, raising one hand as she walked. "I'll see what I can bring you in the meantime!"
Ruk blinked, if Reesh was going to have the food handled. "I...am going to see if I can get a drink." He went off next, in search of some coffee. The citadel was bound to have some as one of the fully powered facilities in the city.
Rub nodded, watching his siblings depart before making his way back aboard the vessel. Reeshara said he needed to get some rest. Something he was in dire need of, but a little while longer wouldn't matter. No amount of sleep could overcome the fatigue they were all feeling by now. The weight of the world on their shoulders given the grim circumstances surrounding them.
He did opt to peel out of his battered suit and armor just for a moment's reprieve and feel the air against his bare skin. A undershirt, unbuttoned uniform blouse, and pants replaced the removed suit before making his way back up to Shika's domain at the front of the ship.
Shika had only finished reading a message from Gantas: 'Don't worry, stand by, need you and Doc later for something.' It put her mind at ease, and yet divulged nothing. Only the sense that he was on top of things. That was all she could ask for at a time like this. She turned to see Rub walking in, blinking. "So, what was your sister after?"
Rub walked closer, extending the hand gripped around the neck of the recently-cracked open bottle of booze.
"This. Something to take the edge off...help get some rest...relish and reflect on vhat may very vell be our final days. Take your pick." He morbidly quipped as he sat down.
She took the bottle from him and looked it over before taking a swig and holding it back out to him. "So...what now? We're told to wait and do nothing, basically."
"Essentially," he sighed with reluctance. "Reeshara advised us to get rest and be ready for vhen the vord comes." He concluded, taking a drink himself before setting the bottle down on the console between the two chairs just to the front of the cockpit.
"I just vanted to make sure you veren't about to go off and do something completely reckless and stupid."
"No...I already did what I was going to do. It's fine now." Her eyes closed as she sank in her seat a bit. "I'm still more worried about you, Rub."
"Vorried more than usual?" He mused before taking another drink, wincing at the burn. "...and vhat vere you going to do?"
"Yes, more than usual." She smiled a bit without opening her eyes, "I was going to do what I said, go talk to Gantas."
"I assume he had the good news you vere looking for?"
"He did." One of her eyes opened, "You sure you're fine? Haven't seen you like this before."
"Relatively fine," he admitted, gesturing with the bottle. "This might have something to do vith it."
A snicker escaped the pilot. "I'm sure, I'm sure...I also meant it when I said I don't want to lose you."
"So long as I have a say in the matter, I'm not going anyvhere," He commented, sighing. "...maybe Gantas vill pull through and through some incredibly unlikely feat ve vill leave Vort alive...maybe not. Who knows?"
Her hand reached over and came to rest on Rub's shoulder. "How can you even find the will to go on? Is it purely revenge?"
The sudden touch caught him off-guard. Not an unwelcome one, just feeling her tender hand to his bare, uninhibited shoulder with the exception of his normal clothing. Being in that augmented suit for so long...and the subtle warmth of the booze taking effect on a weary body and empty stomach, it brought his mind back from the repeating thoughts of gloom and doom.
"...It vas," He earnestly admitted, looking to her with sincerity at her query. "...vhen I lost Ora and Mur...my mate of several years and my adolescent son during the Praxxus invasion of ID1...a part of me died that day vith them. My home...my family...gone. All of it. Deathvave Cannon barrage leveled many housing units on-base. I vasn't the only one...but...I felt empty...lost...caught between strange emotions...and then it vas all overtaken by…"
His teeth grit, fists clenching until they shook, his knuckles popping.
"...unyielding rage. Fury. Hatred. Anger. A magnitude beyond anything I had ever felt before...for the Irken...for the Empire...betrayers of the Federation...murderers of my family…"
Rub's fists relaxed, forcing himself to calm down. Distracting himself with another hearty swig of booze helped somewhat. His cheeks started feeling a bit warm.
"...ever since then I vowed to avenge their death...avenge the deaths of my comrades...our people's suffering...everything...everything that vas taken from us...I vanted to take from them. Even unto those days of retreating to Tallum..."
His eyes tightened, his mind conflicted.
"...I don't feel that now. Not anymore. I have not forgiven them for vhat they've done...but I've been filling that void of loss and pain with righteous anger...and now I've become numb to it. I feel like something is...broken."
She leaned in, careful not to get too close to the booze. "Is it maybe because you don't see something worth coming back for anymore? Or someone? Even with all you've done, all this damage you dealt by your own hands, it hasn't brought them back...it can't." There was an ever so brief pause, "What if you heard that there's someone who would be as torn up as you were if you dropped dead?"
Rub didn't immediately respond. It wasn't the first time he heard such words or even similar words put. Ora and Mur were gone. Dead. Forever. No matter the number of Irken he killed and the gallons of blood spilled in revenge...it didn't change facts.
Maybe it was the booze. Maybe it was the fatigue...or maybe it was Shika, but it really stuck that time. Her query that followed brought his attention back from his drifting thoughts.
"Reeshara and Ruk have alvays been self-sufficient. A common trait in our family. They vould be fine vithout me. I vould have peace and they vould respect that even if they didn't agree vith me."
"Well, maybe there's someone else who wants to see you come back...someone who has a chance thanks to you." She smiled at him, speaking of herself.
He furrowed his brow in confusion at that. Someone else? Who else would be so devastated over his death? He was a soldier, just like his kin. They all knew the risks involved and especially so at this conjecture. They all faced equal annihilation.
"I'm...not sure I understand who you're referring to," He slowly admitted. "...but they needn't thank me, whoever they are. Ve're all in this together."
"It's me, Rub," she paused to reach over and put a hand on his shoulder, "I owe you a lot. Wouldn't be here in a position to do something if it weren't for you. I want us all to see this through to the end."
Even in his slightly inebriated state, he knew full and well what she meant with her words and body language. Her subtle touch to his shoulder may as well had been a smack in the face as subtle as it felt. Only then did he really look past the working relationship of soldier and pilot and look at Shika as Shika. A young, attractive thing with big, brown eyes and the fairest shade of gray skin.
"...Ve vill...hopefully." He managed, trying to shake himself from such a stupor.
"Yeah...I guess we will…" She looked him over, "You going to be okay? You already seem rather buzzed. I have to wonder if you're going to make it back to your rack or pass out somewhere."
"Hmm? Yeah, I'll be fine," He waved off at her concerns. "Not the first time I've had a drink. Just...a next to empty stomach. Doesn't take much."
He hadn't forgotten what she said and how she said it. It left a lasting effect on him. Not an unwelcome one...but a guilty one. Having lost Ora not that long ago, someone he intended to grow old with...it felt wrong to even consider something beyond that, circumstances aside...but now the thought was in his mind, the temptation even. It felt...natural. He wondered if she even knew how old he actually was and how much of a difference there was between them.
She leaned back in her chair and looked out the window, a dark city outside, lit only by natural light and from the barrier itself, smoke billowing outside from fires that still continued. She didn't say anything, there was a saddened silence about her, yet this determination to see everyone through to the other side. Something she wouldn't give up even if she had to defy orders. At least, she had the leeway to as a civilian.
Rub mulled over things for a bit, his gaze focused on her. The sunlight struggling to make it through smoke-choked skies still managed to make her eyes sparkle. Maybe it was the booze. Maybe the crippling feeling of being alone as he literally raged himself out. Whatever the case may be, he was left with a decision to make.
He settled for an attempt at keeping the conversation going. A change of subject could come of it. Give him more time to think. Time to consider.
"...assuming ve manage to make it out alive from all of this...vhat do you plan on doing?"
"Honestly?" There was a rather long pause as she tried to think of an answer. "I don't even know. I'm in survival mode, yet I'm with guys that can see me through, guys I can maybe help somehow. After all this and done, when we get Vort back...if we get Vort back before I croak...I wouldn't even know where to begin. Settle down somewhere? Maybe finally stop putting off having a family? I don't know. It all seems so far off to even be a concern right now."
"Closer than you think," Rub offered with sentiment. "Homevorld or no homevorld, ve are still Vortian. So long as the vill of the people live on, ve'll persevere. Throughout time and history, ve've overcame great adversity...even the Great Var prior to taking to the stars. The Irken may threaten our vay of life and all ve hold dear...but ve've alvays persevered. Ve'll rebuild. Ve'll grow stronger because of this...but turning the tide against them and repaying the favor in kind on Irk is a close second."
"Maybe one day we'll get that chance...and I'd like to see us all make it to that day." She yawned, covering her mouth as she did, "I think I could use some rest."
"I think ve all could use some rest…" Rub commented dryly as he made to stand up. "I should probably get some sleep myself. Hard telling vhen the next time I'll be able to get any."
"I'll be here if you need me." Shika propped her feet up on the pedals and got comfortable in her seat. She's clearly used to sleeping in a cockpit chair by the look of things. "Hope you sleep well, Rub."