Chan
ZMF Officer 
Rear Admiral
Posts: 1,348
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Post by Chan on Feb 3, 2010 16:28:44 GMT -5
2 Days from Earth, Zeon Expeditionary Force
Facing Ohm Fleet Blockade
Lucifer’s Fury, Tivvay-class
Bridge
The bridge of the Lucifer’s Fury is void of any idle chatter. The only conversations are reports from other stations and necessary information. The second-in-command of the ship, Cmdr. Dmitry Balaganov, is standing next to empty command chair. The immensely large Russian man holds a silent glare over the rest of the bridge crew.
"...heading 290 aye, full eng-"
Suddenly a loud and insistent beeping came from the communications console
"Problem, Lieutenant?" asked Balaganov.
The beeping continues much against the wishes of the trembling communications officer.
"...F-full engine burn. Sir, Priority 1 transmission from Fleet High Command."
"You have your orders, Lieutenant. Carry them out."
"B-but sir, protocol states Priority 1 transmissions are..." insisted the junior officer.
"During combat, word of officer on deck supersedes protocol. You debate later if still alive after shooting. Carry out your orders. Ponyal?"
"Sir?"
An enormous shadow eclipses the communications console and its operator. "Do. You. Understand?"
"I-I understand, sir."
"Now, cut alarm and get to work."
Like the blade of a guillotine dropping, the doors to the bridge whooshed open.
"Dima, status?"
"Attention! Kaptain on deck!" boomed the giant Balaganov. The rest of the bridge crew responded like a well oiled machine.
"GOOD MORNING COMRADE CAPTAIN!!!" came the shout with more fear than anything.
"Good morning, comrades. I have command."
"Aye ma'am. Kaptain is in command,” echoed Balaganov as the crew gratefully went back to their work.
Captain Aleksandra “Sasha” Beria took a few steps towards her command chair but paused before sitting down. Her one good eye looked at her first officer. "Dima, why is comm officer shaking?"
The casual question felt like a gun being cocked at the communication officer’s head.
"Some idiot throw priority transmission, and Princess nearly faint."
"Oh…? Play it. I want all bad news before combat." The priority transmission begins playing before Balaganov can even glance at the communications officer.
"...It is imperative that the autonomous forces at your location stop the enemy forces from penetrating into Zeon space. All other considerations and objectives are secondary..."
A sharp crack snaps across the bridge like thunder.
The lieutenant nearly whimpers, and on pure instinct pushed the cut-off button, which does much to redeem him in Balaganov's eyes. Where the bridge was quiet with murmurs before, it now turns deathly silent out of respect for Beria's infamous wrath.
A few stare straight out the front viewports, half-expecting the edges to begin frosting over, even in space. The silence stretches for 30 agonizing seconds, the intraship comm lines becoming equally quiet as the entire ship instantly picks up on Beria's latest mood swing.
Quietly, the captain extended her right arm to the side, until it's hovering in front of Balaganov. Without asking, he fished out a pack of cigarettes from his left breast pocket and a lighter from his left pants pocket. He gently placed them on her palm like an offering to an angry goddess.
The soft tapping of cigarettes felt like an elephant stampede in the silence. The flick of a lighter caused a few people to cringe.
"...Whining children,” sighed Beria after taking a drag on the cigarette. She tossed the pack back at Balaganov, who nodded and then returned his watchful glare to the rest of the bridge crew.
Activity resumes frantically, the air feeling as fresh as after a thunderstorm. Kapitan smokes quietly, occasionally glancing at the status displays, and nodding as various sections report in.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Post by Radune on Feb 3, 2010 16:58:28 GMT -5
A Rick Dom clumsily landed into the hangar of the Tivvay-class ship called Lucifer's Fury. Time to meet the other 'Zeeks' the pilot thought. Inside of the Rick Dom, Emil Myberg is taking his time, combing his hair and fixing his suit in order to make sure he doesn't mess up the first impression.
Finally getting out of his suit, he manages to hear the conversation of some mechanics.
"Man, I heard that the cap' is totally creepy."
"Yeah, that scar of hers.. I bet she got it fighting a bear or something."
"Hahahaha! Yeah, man, with her bare hands!"
Emil figured that the mechanics probably were overreacting, but thought that it probably would be best to be careful around that captain, just in case.
After making sure his collar was looking neat and tidy, Emil started looking around the hangar. There's got to be other pilots around here, right? he thought as he was walking.
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 3, 2010 17:13:53 GMT -5
Florian was finding that his staff was rather adverse to the hanger. Which meant he was spending a lot more time silently amongst the mechanics, who, for the most part, didn't seem to mind his presence. With a normal suit on, he was even more invisible in the crowd. Which was fine with him.
Florian unclipped his helmet as the hangar closed and re-pressurized, and pushed gently towards the new mobile suit. The idle chatter of the clustered workers didn't warrant any of his attention, but the fair-haired man did. Florian watched curiously and silently as always.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Post by Radune on Feb 3, 2010 17:26:00 GMT -5
Emil could almost feel that someone was looking at him, but he wasn't sure who it was. He looked around for a while, and it seems like there's a little person, even shorter than Emil(Something that is very unusual!), staring at him. He wasn't used to people staring at him like that, but he figured that he might as well try and get along with someone around here. So, he decided to approach the little person.
After getting close to the him he stretched his arm out while introducing himself.
"Hey there, I'm Emil. Who are you, lil' guy?"
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 3, 2010 18:28:33 GMT -5
Florian retracted very slightly from the proffered arm, still growing used to such attention. His mouth twitched up into a very shy smile as he took the hand gently. His other hand carefully spelled out 'FLORIAN' in sign language. There was hesitance behind his eyes, of course - he didn't know if this 'Emil' knew how to read it at all. If not, Florian would have to find another way to communicate.
He bit back his indignation at being called 'little,' however. The blond was not that much larger than he, after all.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Post by Radune on Feb 3, 2010 21:54:37 GMT -5
"Sign language, huh? It's been quite a while since I last used it, let's see if I get this right.." Emil said before starting to move his free hand.
'HI FLORIAN' his hand said, clumsily. He really wasn't sure if he got it right, so he figured he should try looking it up whenever he has a chance. He decided to speak instead, since this Florian fellow seemed to be able to listen, at least.
"Say, judging by your outfit.. are you a pilot?"
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 3, 2010 23:30:40 GMT -5
Florian smiled, nodded, then tapped his ear a few times, indicating that he could hear the other very well.
He pointed, then, towards his white Dom, the bit pack removed and placed next to the mobile suit itself. He signed to indicate it was his, slowly. Emil seemed to understand him well enough this way, but Florian went slowly just in case. Belatedly, he gestured to his rank insignia, as though needing to prove that he was supposed to be here.
It was a bit of a relief. Nobody on his 'staff' seemed to have any more than a passing recognition of any form of sign language, which left the boy frustrated and needing to carry around a pencil and paper whenever he was around them. On the other hand, his handwriting was getting much better.
Silver lining, and all.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Post by Radune on Feb 4, 2010 13:04:27 GMT -5
Hmm, I wonder if all Zeon pilots are mutes.. Emil thought as he listened, or rather, read what Florian was saying. Florian told him about the suit he was using, and Emil thought it looked kinda like his suit.
"Hey, is that one of those Dom things? But it's all white, and it looks pretty different.. Guess you must be an ace, Florian!"
However, next to the white Dom, Emil saw something else. Something that sends fear through his entire body. Something that has been haunting his dreams ever since he saw it the first time. That devil of a Zaku.. there seems to be no way for Emil to get away from it, no matter what he does. His breathing got a lot heavier, and he could feel his heart beating like crazy. He tried his best not to look frightened, but he wasn't very good at it. Instead, he tries to find out if Florian knows anything about that machine.
"Say.. that thing next to your Dom.. who is the pilot of that thing?"
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 5, 2010 0:13:12 GMT -5
'N-A-D-I-A,' he spelled out, slowly enough for Emil to read. And yet there was a puzzled expression on his face - Doms, while still somewhat uncommon, were not new by any means. This new fellow seemed unused to them completely. The look of confusion on the boys face only grew as the other's pressure all but radiated fear.
Florian didn't try to sign anything regarding that little revelation, but the expression on his face probably asked for him.
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Radune
ZMF Officer
Ensign
The child of the sun
Posts: 428
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Post by Radune on Feb 5, 2010 0:55:27 GMT -5
Nadia... It can't be the same Nadia I met in Neo Hong Kong City. She seemed gentle and nice, not like the brutal killer piloting that thing. Right, it can't be her. Emil thought.
Emil noticed the curious expression on Florian's face. Maybe I should tell him a little.. it's not like he could tell anyone, after all. Emil thought as Florian kept looking at him curiously.
"Alright.. let's just say.. that I used to pilot a GM a while ago. You know, one of those box-shaped mobile suits the Federation uses."
Emil kept his voice down.
"And that monster of a Zaku just killed one of my friends after we tried to help their ship."
Taking a deep breath, he continued a little more.
"No matter where I went, that thing was there, waiting for me. Even when I ran to Side 6, it kept following me".
Emil looked around.
"But let's not talk any more about stuff like that."
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Isaiah
ZMF
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Moves like Acguy
Posts: 392
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Post by Isaiah on Feb 5, 2010 3:01:56 GMT -5
Man, I need a break...
Caleb carelessly tossed his helmet toward a passing mechanic, taking the young man by surprise. He'd been patrolling in the same area for days and while it provided ample time to test his prototype's settings, the lack of combat definitely got to him. As he floated away from his unit, he spotted a familiar face going towards his direction. Caleb couldn't help but show a genuine smile for once.
"How is it going?" the female mechanic asked.
"You try sitting around in space and see nothing but debris," Caleb replied.
"I was asking about your mobile suit, prick."
"Oh I'm sure you are," Caleb jested while reaching for his tablet, "Here. I've listed my observations on how to tune this thing up even to the smallest detail."
The female mechanic took the tablet without even glancing at the SAF pilot and went toward the direction of the Prototype Gelgoog. Caleb lazily scratched his chin, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Hey Jean! You wanna' grab a bite or something?"
The mechanic named Jean stopped for a while as if considering, then waved a hand dismissively at Caleb.
"Yeah, sure. Maybe later."
If Caleb saw her blush, she wouldn't hear the end of it.
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 5, 2010 9:18:44 GMT -5
Now that made him stop. GMs were the common federation suit which meant this guy was either a spy or a defector or both. Florian tensed, now somewhat wary of this fellow. He couldn't say anything about the activities of the Imp-Set Zaku, as he hadn't had any knowledge of it's wherabouts for the last several weeks (although he was very happy to see it back - perhaps Nadia cold help him hide from his staff).
So naturally, the look on his face was slightly degected when Emil asked to change the subject - he enjoyed the thought of death less and less with every sortie, and every mind-shatteringly painful headache. So he nodded a bit at the request, and poised his hands to ask something, but the arrival of another somewhat familiar pressure caught his attention before he could - The boy looked up and over his shoulder, spotting the Gelgoog's pilot, Caleb. He didn't wave. He wasn't sure how the older man felt about him. He just stared.
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Isaiah
ZMF
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Moves like Acguy
Posts: 392
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Post by Isaiah on Feb 5, 2010 13:01:00 GMT -5
Caleb was already on his way to the mess hall when he had an unsettling feeling; someone was watching and he didn't like it. He turned around while he casually reached for his pack of smokes, took one and lit it with his zippo. Caleb took a long drag and exhaled a puff of smoke while scanning the crowd.
Staff, mechanics, pilo-
Caleb paused to think as his eyes fell on Florian.
Curious.
He'd fought alongside Florian in a number of skirmishes and the kid managed to earn Caleb's respect, which was saying something. Florian was certainly capable, albeit the kid's inability to speak irked him a bit. Caleb raised his right hand to acknowledge the young pilot, then made an eating gesture and pointed in the direction of the mess hall, completely ignoring the other pilot that was talking to Florian.
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kuriboh
ZMF
Registered Newtype
Is Miang. Maybe.
Posts: 1,738
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Post by kuriboh on Feb 5, 2010 23:41:19 GMT -5
Florian blinked, then checked his watch. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He was supposed to have eaten more than two hours ago. Abruptly, he grabbed Emil's wrist, and shoved off the nearest surface towards Caleb and, eventually, the mess hall.
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Chan
ZMF Officer
Rear Admiral
Posts: 1,348
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Post by Chan on Feb 6, 2010 16:17:12 GMT -5
2 Days from Earth, Zeon Expeditionary Force
Attempting to run Ohm Fleet Blockade
Lucifer’s Fury, Tivvay-class
Bridge
“Captain. Flight control is reporting in. All units at the rendezvous point had been retrieved.”
Aleksandra Beria’s voice pierced the mutter of conversation on the bridge as she spoke from her command chair. “Dima, have crew rig ship and fleet to silent mode. Order ships to follow our course.”
“Yes Kaptain,” acknowledged the towering Balaganov. He turned towards the bridge crew and began barking out commands to each station. A chorus of acknowledgements came back as section by section, the Tivvay-class cruiser shuts down all non-vital systems.
“Captain?” The voice caused Beria to slowly turn her command chair. The watch officer who supervised the helmsman watched as her one good eye came into view.
“Yes comrade?”
The officer took a step forward before answering. “We need the navigation computer for course changes.”
“So?”
The matter-of-fact reply made him cringe. “Silent mode requires the navigation computer to be off.”
“Of course. Would that be a problem?”
A wave of unease washed over the bridge crew as the watch officer pressed on. “We cannot navigate ourselves around the Ohm Fleet’s blockade without knowing where we are captain!”
“Lieutenant, even blind man can cross street if he knows what he is doing. He must use his ears, his wits, and his feet.”
“Captain are you suggesting that we blindly fly around space hoping not to hit Ohm Fleet?”
“Comrade,” spoke Beria in a patronizing tone,” I don’t suggest it, I expect you to do it. We must leave no electromagnetic signature for the Federal dogs to track. Is this understood?”
“But captain, we never tried this before it won’t work.”
“Helmsman looks like he thinks otherwise.”
Everyone looked at the helmsman, whom is trying to be inconspicuous. The poor pilot shuttered abit. “I-it is possible, captain. With correct timing, orientation bearing, engine burn, and drift we can do it.”
“But the math-,” objects the supervisoring officer.
“Math was done with mind before machine arrived,” noted Beria as she leaned back in her command chair,” I suggest you get some paper and a stopwatch, Lieutenant…”
A wicked smile emerged on her face as the window shutters on the bridge closed with an ominous ‘klang’.
“It looks like you and helmsman will be busy. I will not tolerate failure.” The captain turned away from the helm, ending the discussion right there.
“Dima.”
“Da, comrade Kaptain?”
“I wish to see the pilots. Where are they now?”
“Deck officer says pilots in mess hall. They deserve meal after floating in space for week yes?”
A thought. “Very well, gather them after they finish eating. Not a moment later.”
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