Galactic Ruins

A new message from higher in command had come in for Jack, which read:


[This is a confidential transmission from the Chairman of the Union. Do not forward this.]

Jack,

Your work has been exceptionally well-developed in accordance to your department's progress reports. I am grateful to have you as one of our personnel. On my behalf, I would like to assign you a long-term mission that requires your expertise in the biotechnology you managed to develop recently. As you may know, the Orion Project is about to launch under official operation. The Squad is set to perform their first mission soon, but haven't undergone debriefing yet. Please meet them on the first floor of the TU Headquarters in Room B2. You will not be reporting to me, but the Squad's Commander, Aurelia.

We apologize for assigning you the task on such short notice, but we feel that the Squad's probability of success will highly depend on the availability of immediate medical attention. You can think of this as an opportunity to make further studies for your technology if you wish to test its limits. As payment for your services, your department will increase your research's funding in addition to the payment the Orion Squad may receive should they complete their ultimate goal. Aurelia will explain the details in her debriefing with the others. After your meeting, the Squad will have a conference with the Terranovan Union's Chamber of Galactic Leadership, myself included, to discuss the state of things.


Sincerely yours,

Ziara Elmak, Chairwoman of the Terranovan Union and Martian High Council 
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"We were not told how many of us there are, other than it being a small number. As for the circumstances of the mission, we haven't been given a briefing yet," Mioi explained. "But I suppose I have the clearance to discuss it since my telepathy is only picked up by the people I need to speak to directly. Azumi and I are staff of the Terranovan Union, but we aren't necessarily highly ranked personnel. Technically, I'm her superior since I've been employed longer, although we answer to different people."

"At the least, I was given the proposed agenda." Mioi took out a small device and expanded the screen for a wider look, although it was written in a language other than Earth English. "In about 30 minutes, we are to meet with the Orion Squad's Commander and receive our debriefing on our mission. Though, I think we'll be assigned multiple in order to reach our ultimate goal... our first one will probably test how we all do as a unit. Most likely a simulation or something."

"I hope we get paid for this," came Azumi's voice through a communications speaker.
"Certainly. I heard that we get paid per mission anyway. Perhaps not as much as you would like, Ms. Mercenary. But you are in no position to complain."

Azumi groaned.
 
Jack thinks grabbing his Living Doctor's Kit and logs out of his computer "I trust everything been set up." Jack heads to the first level and to Room 2B.
 
"A simulation eh?" Erik scratched his chin with interest. "Guess that sounds interesting. Heh, if either of you ladies gets scared, you can just grab on to me. Trust me, there's enough of me to go around." Erik chuckled to himself. 

"But anyways, I wonder how my skills will play out in a simulation, I'm kinda curious... We should probably get a move on and we might catch on to the few others members who are in this group. Besides, your loudmouth girlfriend wants big cash, maybe if we're there early they'll spare us some pocket change. Haha!"
 
“This simulation thing sounds like a swell idea!” Mex’s eyes glittered with excitement. “As long I can get in a good fight in, the payment of the missions won’t be much of a bother.” 

Mex places her hand on Erik’s shoulders. “Well, if I’m ever in a pickle, you can jump in at any time! I hope your legs s used to running around a lot!” She pats his back, hard, multiple times, as she chuckled.
 
"Like I said, it's just a guess. But..." Mioi cracked her knuckles loudly while starting the engine of the hovercar and putting it into drive. "Don't think Azumi is my girlfriend. I have no interest in binocular lifeforms like her anyway-- only a princess among Cyclops may have my heart in such a way...." She said, poking a finger at a small picture of herself with a green Cyclops woman with purple pigtails for hair, sitting neatly on the dashboard. "Humans are too annoying for my tastes. And short. They also have mouths and depth perception, so our lifestyles are fundamentally incompatible."

Before anyone else could get a word in, a beeping noise rang in Mioi's headset, alerting her to straighten up and sit at attention. "!!"

"This is Lieutenant Avan, coming in. Mioi, Azumi, you've got orders from Headquarters to bring in the recruits you have with you now. Chairman Elmak said the preparations are done."

"Yessir... one gaggle of misfits and freaks to the building, coming up!" Azumi replied through her comms with sarcastic glee. "Your turn, boss."

"... Mm," Mioi grunted in affirmation since she was unable to use telepathy across such a long distance. Without further hesitation, she began the route to headquarters. "Must be a change in the roster..."
She began the drive down a deserted alleyway, into the busy streets by flying above all the other cars for clear passage.

Meanwhile at room 2B...


Jack was the only squad member to arrive at the briefing room, but he was not alone. 

Across the room stood a small group of people who were typing away furiously on their keyboards, whild making calls and redirecting messages. 

"Sorry about calling you here on such short notice... we weren't expecting you to take the job," a meek-looking reptilian alien man wearing a set of glasses approached Jack, gripping a clipboard in his hands. "Commander Aurelia should be here shortly, but she decided to take care of some last-minute business while waiting on the recruits to arrive. She hates repeating herself twice, so I guess she'd rather have everyone meet her at once for the briefing. In the meantime, feel free to wait..."


[Ten minutes later]​


After Mioi and Azumi secured clearance for entry into the TU Headquarters, they parked their vehicles in the designated facility and led the small group to a large elevator, operated by what appeared to be complex machinery with heavy guard detail. They flashed their badges once more into a scanner, allowing the elevator's heavy metal doors to open for entry. A small automated voice in the elevator's speakers advised them to maintain their balance during the descent deep into the actual facility, and remain aware of any changes from such depths. After several minutes, the elevator opened again to let the group leave. At such early hours, the facility had low activities in the lobby.

f2.jpg
"Finally. Alright, I think we go to room... 2B?" Azumi said after reading the same summary report Mioi was given earlier. "First floor." She jerked her thumb over to the hallway with the rooms marked with glowing fluorescent lights. Mioi gave a nod of affirmation and gestured for the other two to follow them.
 
“Man, this place is wicked.” Mex looked around as she walked along with Mioi and Azumi. “Everything looks so clean and empty—I never seen this place in the underground. You’ll be lucky to get 10 minutes of privacy without someone trying to fight ya.” 

She turns to Mioi, pressing her with a question. “Hey, back there during the ride… you seem to be spooked when the commander ranged you up. Is he strong?”
 
Erik grunted at Mex's rough handedness and knew that he was going to have a rough time being around the girls. He let out a sigh of disappointment as Mioi took them to where they had to go.

Once he arrived at the area, he was in awe of the technology around him, remaining silent throughout the short walk they took until they reached the room they needed to be in. He followed the girls with his hands in his pockets, curious to know who he will meet next.

This place is friggin' awesome. Erik thought to himself. I just wish I can spend some more time here to get myself into their system, who knows what juicy information they have locked away? I'll just have to stick around and see where this takes me.
 
"No way! Mioi's not afraid of anything!" Azumi said gruffly. "She just hates using headsets cause she doesn't talk-- lookit her, she hasn't even got a mouth! I think..."

"Telepathy does not work well with devices the mouthbreathers use over long distances." Mioi said to Mex, rubbing her head sheepishly. "But that was just the Lieutenant-- he is the Commander's subordinate... she is a different story..."

"Is the Commander the same lady who cuffed me and held me in an interrogation cell for 11 hours? I hope not, she's a real-" Azumi was turning on the heel of her boot but bumped into someone by accident. "Ack! It's YOU!" She hid behind Mioi, peeking at the new woman she bumped into.

"A real what? Finish your sentence."

The woman was tall (perhaps due to the heels of her long boots) and wore a suit that was reflective of having high status with the TU. Her long purplish hair was mostly down at the front with some of it tied back. The most distinguishing feature was the rather cold look on her face accentuated by her gold-colored eye; the other was hidden beneath an eyepatch, with remnants of a long scar running down that side of her face. Strapped to her waist was a scabbard presumably containing a sword, making her look even more intimidating. She stared Azumi down with a scowl.

"Commander Aurelia. Please excuse her unsightly manners..." Mioi said, bowing forward to greet the Commander.

"I see she hasn't changed, as expected from a junkyard punk. So, these are the recruits? Pleasure having you in our service-- we'll be having our meeting properly in a minute, but I had to take care of some business." Her neutral expression didn't change much. "I am Commander Aurelia, as Mioi said, but just Commander is fine. And your names?"

"I ain't a punk..." Azumi grumbled.
 
"The name is Erik Lebber." 

Erik walked up next to Mioi and offered a lazy two finger salute to the commander. Her emotionless face and stature intimidated him. 

Yeesh, if this Azumi chick is scared of this commander lady, she must be the real deal. Better watch my mouth around her...

"I uhh... I hope we can get along? Sorry, I ain't so good with chit-chat."
 
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