Welcome back, readers
First of all, I want to apologize for the long wait. I still need to deal with school, which at this point is just pumping out group projects like there is no tomorrow, and my own laziness as a writer myself. Those, and adding the fact that I'm not a native English speaker make me write slowly.
But enough about the ranting, now the reviews:
vmoneywashere
Agree on that front. I only use Arkhangelsk here just because my chat with a bot went wrong and decide to make a story based on it.
Ghostly
Technically speaking, yes, the Foundation does have shipyards for their ships. Though, based on my research, the Foundation kinda shared those shipyards with their original owner. So let's say the Foundation has a shipyard on the harbor that the Russian Northern Fleet used, meaning that the Foundation has to share that shipyard with the Ivans. For your second question, just wait and see.
GyroJapster
Maybe in the far future.
Now with all of those done, onto the story, we go!
[Insertion in 30 mikes, people. Prepped your gears and weapons, you'll need those in this mission.]
Russia
18th August 201X
Site-45, [REDACTED]
07:24 Local Time
Doctor Amanda Rose
The first sound Doctor Amanda Rose heard upon waking up in her office was her phone alarm ringing crappy music to wake her up, which succeeded in doing so. Sighing, she grabbed her phone to turn off the alarm before glancing at her surrounding.
Amanda was currently seated behind her simple wooden desk, with her computer still turned on which displays the report she'd sent the night before. On her left is a simple file cabinet, while on the right is a regularly sized window looking to the Finnish Bay. The walls are simply lined with wooden brown wallpaper. Overall, not good yet not terrible either.
Just then, Amanda's computer is beeping, indicating that she'd a mail. So with a stroke of her cursor, Amanda opened up the message, finding it was sent by the Site Director. In short, the message is a reply to the report that she sent earlier regarding Arkhangelsk's new entry to the Foundation's archives, and safe to say that the newest entry subject had piqued the interest of the 05-Council.
Talk about words traveling fast…
Therefore, the Director ordered a full test on Arkhangelsk's capabilities, as well as judging if she can be classified to be a Thaumiel-class anomaly. And guess who'll be the one to oversee and document all of it.
Yup, it is truly no rest for the wicked.
And so after spending an hour setting up the various tests, alongside another hour of taking a shower and changing out to her spare outfit, Amanda is almost ready to perform her task. Almost, considering that Amanda needs Arkhangelsk to be present, which is why she is standing in front of the darkened window of Arkhangelsk's containment chamber.
Just then, the window changes its gradient slowly before fully turning into a standard window. Though, Amanda's gaze isn't focused on that, but rather on what's behind the window. And just like yesterday, the Doctor's cheeks are flushed red.
On the other side of the window is Arkhangelsk with her back towards Amanda, wearing only a pair of trousers to cover her lower body. The Ship-turned-woman is currently doing pull-ups using the ceiling bars, oblivious to the fact that she is being watched. From her position, Amanda can see the Shipwoman's naked and muscled form moving and squirming as she pulls herself up and down.
Fortunately, or unfortunately for Amanda, Arkhangelsk stopped her current activity before she wears back the orange shirt. She then turned her body towards Amanda and smiled as she approached the window.
"Is there something you need from me, Doctor?" The ship incarnate asked.
"A-Ah… y-yes, yes I do" Amanda stutter, which caused Arkhangelsk to let a little chuckle. Thankfully, Amanda manage to recover as she cleared her throat "Anyway, the site director had ordered me to test and gauge your capabilities as an anomaly before we put you into the classification chart. You won't mind doing that, right?"
Arkhangelsk wordlessly nod before approaching the cell's door, where two guards are already present to escort her, and in no more than a minute, Arkhangelsk is already handcuffed and secured between the two guards as she stepped out of her containment chamber. Amanda nods in satisfaction before leading them through the site hallways.
"So, may I know what kind of tests I will perform?" The shipwoman asked.
"Only some physical and psychological tests, as well as a demonstration of what you can do with your anomalous ability," The Doctor answered before a thought pass through her mind.
"You know, I'm always wondering why did you turn yourself in. Is it because you're formerly a member of the Foundation that made you return, or is it something else entirely?"
"It's because I'm an anomaly. Something that deviates from the law of nature. I know it too well ma'am, since I'm used to working with some of the SCPs in my decade of work in the Foundation."
"And you are accepting that you will be contained, with no regrets?"
For a while, there's no reply from Arkhangelsk, prompting Amanda to turn her gaze back. What she sees is Arkhangelsk's eyes gazing at the floor, her expression is one filled with conflicted thoughts. So just like yesterday, the Foundation's researcher stopped on her track which caused the three of them to stop as well.
"Arkhangelsk... Are you alright?" Amanda asked with worry on her face. Again Arkhangelsk didn't reply for a while before she eventually sigh.
"Yes… I'm alright…"
"You didn't sound alright, do you have second thoughts?"
"I said I'm alright," Arkhangelsk insisted, which caused the guards to release the safety of their weapons. "Can we just move on, please?"
Amanda hesitate for a moment before she eventually nod in understanding. "Alright then, I will not touch that topic again. Though, may I ask you another question?"
Arkhangelsk wordlessly nod as they resumed their walk.
"Say that you've gone berserk, how do we will stopping you from causing further damage, Arkhangelsk?"
"Target the bridge, my head. If that didn't stop me then go for my power reactor, my heart. Though, make sure to use big caliber rounds since I don't know how effective my armor would be in this form..."
Amanda nodded as she lead the group into a room of sorts where more guards are present, watching them from an elevated platform above.
"Interesting information... The Foundation thanks you for your cooperation. Is there any possible use for you other than containment?"
"I could still fight, both on land and at sea. My weaponry, defense systems, and armor give me the power of a literal battlecruiser, albeit more mobile. And when I don't need them I could just deactivate them, before mingling around the local populace as a normal human."
The group then stops in what appears to be a shooting range and awaits there is another foundation's staff who are currently conversing with a group of armed guards, definitely different from the ones that escort her and Arkhangelsk. Though, the moment the group approached, the man turn his gaze towards them.
"Ah, our guests have finally arrived" The man welcomed as the guards dispersed around the room. Amanda nods before turning her gaze to Arkhangelsk, who is curiously enough eyeing the guards with… suspicion?...
She might have to delve into it later, but not now. So with that Amanda cleared her throat to garner Arkhangelsk's attention.
"Arkhangelsk, meet Dr. Victor Limburgh. Victor, meet SCPS Arkhangelsk" The female Doctor introduced each other.
However, it seems like Amanda is missing some context here, evidenced by Arkhangelsk's amused expression and Victor's surprised expression.
"How's the leg, Doc?" The warship asked as she smirked. "And how is Sydney, by the way?"
"Ehm, well... Pretty good for both of 'em. Sydney's going to college next month, so he'd move out of the house yesterday" The man smiled as he replied.
Arkhangelsk nod in response. "Good, the kid got potential based on what you talked about with Aleksey back then."
"Indeed he does," Victor smiled before sighing. "So, it's true then? Aleksey and his men, alongside you?
Arkhangelsk somberly nods. "Both of us will miss him, as a best friend and a great Captain."
"Both me and Aleksey knew the risk of this job from the start," The man shake his head. "Still, it's hard to lose your best friend like that."
Arkhangelsk grabs the man's shoulder while she gives him a reassuring smile. "Hey, at least he goes down like a true hero."
Victor smiled back in response, and while all of this happened Amanda was just silently observing from the side.
"Uhm, excuse me," That garner the two attention. "Did the both of you know each other?"
"Not really, but my late Captain and him were the best of friends. Often hanging out on my deck or the dock near me" Arkhangelsk quips as Victor nods in agreement.
"That I can understand, though Victor." Amanda glanced at the man. "I believe we still have something to do, would you like to show us what it is?"
Victor's eyes widened as he realized it.
"Ah, yes! The test. How can I forget about that." Victor shook his head before glancing at the two guards from earlier. "May one of you release her from her constraint, please?"
One of them shrugged before approaching Arkhangelsk, then he methodically opened uncuffed Arkhangelsk. Victor nods to himself before walking into the center of the room where a red colored red with a yellow outline is painted on the floor.
"Arkhangelsk, can you stand inside the red box?" The man politely ordered, which the ship incarnate wordlessly heeded.
"Great, now stay there until I give you another instruction." Victor's gaze turned to Amanda. "Dr. Rose, with me please."
"Of course, Dr. Limburgh." Amanda followed the man as they entered an observation room of some sort.
Inside is exactly like what you would imagine. Control panel, monitors, cables, and a single mic in between all of those. For the other details, nothing is out of the ordinary with its crisp white painted walls, bulletproof glass window, and two seats for any researchers to do some experiments.
In this case, both Victor and Amanda would be the researchers while Arkhangelsk would be their experiment subject.
"Alright, Arkhangelsk. You can start the anomalous property demonstration when you're ready." Victor speaks to the mic which is connected to speakers around the room.
Arkhangelsk nodded as she assumed a stance. Just then, gray pixelated fragments start to manifest around the shipwoman, multiplying by the seconds. The surrounding guards released their weapons safely, including the previous two who are currently just outside the red box, while both doctors were amazed by the spectacle.
"Interesting…" Amanda murmured while Victor activated the camera for documentation.
Slowly the fragments aligned with each other, creating metallic and clothed parts around the woman's body. Less than forty seconds later the "manifestation" is complete, allowing the two doctors to see the battle-ready side of Arkhangelsk.
Now her body is covered in what seems to be gray colored battlesuit, plus a pretty big armored vest with pouches filled with grenade launchers and pistol ammo. On her hands is a grenade launcher, while a holster on her vest holds a pistol.
But those are not the main spectacle, but rather the giant metal contraption that sit on Arkhangelsk's back while its extensions flanked her sides. Already both of them could see miniaturized anti-air weaponry, torpedo tubes, and CIWS moving normally on the two extensions, while the radar array on Arkhangelsk's contraption continuously spins as intended.
[Enjoying the show?] Came Arkhangelsk's voice over the panel, startling the two researchers.
"Eh…emm…yes, honestly…Though, how?" Amanda voiced her thoughts over the mic.
They could see Arkhangelsk raised her shoulders, shrugging, her giant contraption followed her movement precisely.
Arkhangelsk wasn't kidding when she said it looks like a giant Exosuit…
[Frankly, I don't know a thing about this metal Exosuit other than the fact that it was my original body but miniaturized.] The woman smirked. [As for how I managed to tap into the channel, you remembered that I was a member of the Foundation, technically speaking.]
Amanda mentally facepalmed. Of course, she has the Foundation's radio channel, she was with the Foundation for a decade for Godsake.
"Arkhangelsk, is that grenade launcher of yours armed?"
[Not yet, want anti-ship or anti-sub?]
"Whatever you prefer, though don't destroy the place like what you did back in the Maldives"
Arkhangelsk laughs, her voice rumbling of one that is a sailor rather than a woman.
[You just have to say that didn't you?] She loaded her grenade launcher with green-tinted ammunition from her pouches. [Anti-ship it is...]
The shipwoman then bears the grenade launcher closer to her face, aiming it toward the targets at the end of the range. Said targets are nothing more than wooden planks painted just like your average shooting target. When she was ready, Arkhangelsk squeezed the trigger which sends the grenade to propelled onto the targets, and no more than a second later the room was shaken hard.
So much so that the electronics inside the room they're occupying turned off before rebooting themselves to life.
"That was det a normal grenade," Victor commented as he recovered from hitting the nearby wall.
"Well, she said that her missiles turned into a grenade launcher, after all." Replied Amanda while she checked the electronics.
"Oh, ok…wait, what!? Why didn't you tell me that earlier?!"
"Thought you know, and you didn't ask either."
Amanda then brought the footage of the targets into the screen, finding that the whole end of the firing range was absolutely decimated. It's a miracle that the wall is still standing, considering it was only a twenty-centimeter-thick reinforced concrete.
[That's a 3M22 Zircon, a missile designed to kill a ship. Relatively new, but a weapon is still a weapon]
"Noted," Victor replied. "Any other weapon?"
[Well, I do have my one-thirty. Want to test it as well?]
"Eh, sure. But try not to destroy the wall, yeah?"
Arkhangelsk let a mischievous chuckle as she pulled her pistol out from the holster, while the grenade launcher safely slung on her right thigh. Amanda swapped the thoroughly destroyed targets with new ones using automatic systems.
[No promise.]
And with that she let her skill take over, letting each shot come out of the pistol and ripped clean through the targets. After twenty rounds were spent, Arkhangelsk stopped to reload while she and the two admire the warship's handiwork.
Ten targets, two bullets for each, headshots, and center mass only. It was today Amanda learned that Arkhangelsk wasn't someone you want to mess with.
"Alright…That's one accurate shooting." Victor commented as he documented all of the test results.
[Firing systems helped a bit.] Arkhangelsk quipped as she de-manifest her Exosuit, but not before glancing at the guards.
Is she suspecting something from them?..
Amanda shakes her head before exiting the room and approaching the shipwoman, now flanked by the two guards from before.
"How do you feel?"
"Feels great to let loose some steam, what's next?"
"Psychological test, to see if you have any problem inside your head and all that. Now, follow me please."
But instead of following Amanda, Arkhangelsk stood still on her spot and glanced her eyes at the surrounding guards again. The two guards beside her try to strong-arm Arkhangelsk to move, but it seems that the shipwoman is either too heavy or too bolted to the floor.
"Something's wrong?" Amanda asked as she followed Arkhangelsk's gaze.
"Very," Arkhangelsk whistled to one of the closest to her to get closer. "Sorry, but may I ask something?"
"Sure, what do want to know?" The guard replied as his finger inched onto the trigger of his assault rifle.
"What is your MTF designation?" Arkhangelsk asked calmly and unfazed.
"I'm with the Gamma-6, the Deep Feeders."
Arkhangelsk eyes squinted in suspicion yet again.
"Funny," Arkhangelsk stared at the guard's facemask. "I know the face and voice of the Deep Feeder members, and you are definitely not one of them. Now, tell me the trut-"
Just then, the man suddenly lashed his rifle towards Arkhangelsk intending to aim at her, but the shipwoman was having none of it. So with a fluid and trained movement, Arkhangelsk pushed the rifle aside with her left hand before delivering a hard punch onto the guard facemask with her right hand. The guard instantly staggered, an opportunity used by Arkhangelsk to grapple the man with her left arm while she right unholsters the guard secondary.
A wise move, considering his comrades soon aimed their respective firearms toward her. Unsurprisingly, some of them aimed their guns toward Amanda herself and Arkhangelsk two escorts, which are now flanking the shipwoman sides with their rifles aimed toward the impostors.
"Amanda, get behind me now," Arkhangelsk ordered as she used the guard as a living shield.
Amanda doesn't need to be ordered twice to do exactly that as she quickly dashed behind the shipwoman.
"Identify yourself, now!"