Without the boulders around, there wasn't anything to look at - but much more to be on guard for, since who knew what was under the sand? There were also solitaire games on the datapad. Once the boys calmed down about the 'rock-fish' it was back to the monotony of taking photos through the telescope, and Ferb's shyness attacks that kept him from eating or drinking anything so the he wouldn't have to 'go potty' out in the open. Nurple spent his free time either staring through the telescope at Abaddon or staring into space and occasionally clacking his beak. Sometimes he would write out strange equations in the sand as well.
After the final night-pass, Ferb packed away the photo plates and began breaking down the telescope and camera for transport. "I never thought I would miss that claustrophobic sweaty pimple of a base, but at least the alien monsters are on the outside of it," he notes.
"Of course they are -- unless they aren't," teases the young woman. Despite her remark, she's just as glad to be heading back as the others are. While she enjoys seeing new sights, visiting new locales, and traveling the bleak and largely featureless expanse of the moon isn't what she's call a thrilling new vista. She's also been here before, although the discovery of the 'rock-fish' is new and she took some time -- more time than she strictly needed given the circumstances -- to write a report about them. The act satisfied her need for reports, allowing her to claim some facet of being on-mission while still carrying out her hidden objectives.
She scoops up her part of the equipment and makes sure it's secure before turning to the others and thumbing back over her shoulder. "Time to go home. All set?" She asks, glancing between the two.
The two boys look around, and seem to agree on which direction to go without landmarks. "Once we see the peak, we'll know where to go from there," Ferb says, and nods for Tasha to lead the way.
It's a short sprint later that Tasha is in the air. She slows her flight, not wanting to lose her team. Once they've caught up and moved in to a rough formation with her, she angles towards the direction the two men had silently agreed upon and keeps her keen eys focused in the horizon.
Aside from the barrenness, which seems to go on forever - making her wonder if every boulder on the surface was actually one of those creatures - there aren't any surprises. The important landmarks are unchanged, and the tiny lifedome eventually comes into view. All of the rocks around it have vanished as well though. Ferb seems happy about that.
Impressed as well as disturbed by the disappearance of the rock-like creatures -- and her part in it -- Tasha wonders if they're all huddled inside the planet just to escape her voice. I really am loud, she admits, realizing the fact at a whole new level of self-discovery. She can only wonder what the AI nation thinks of what's happened, ifthey noticed it and are right now pondering its meaning across countless circuits.
She hasn't that much time to consider things as the dome looms in to view. The peculiar curved horizon caused by the moon's relatively small diameter causes her to overestimate their arrival time and so she has to break her thoughts early and begin her descent, her eyes watchful for any changes in the dome since they've been gone.
Aside from the missing rocks, nothing seems changed. Scutes is there to greet them. "You all came back alive," he notes. "That isSs a ssuccessss then, yess?"
"Yep," goes Tasha, who clutches her hands behind her head and stretches her back, being a little out of shape at flying herself. Her hands fall and she runs her shoulders, head tilting. "We just need to ready the photographs for transport. After that I'm all done here -- thanks for helping me out."
"The processsor is thiss way," Scutes says. Everyone else is doing whatever it is they usually do, which involves chalkboards, whiteboards, crystalboards and looking into unknown instruments. "Didn't you guys notice the rocks vanishing?" Ferb asks, as Nurple wands over to the boards.
"RockSs?" Scutes asks, and looks through the side of the dome. "I don't Ssee any rockSs."
"Yes, that's.. ahhh.. nevermind!" the bat exclaims, throwing his hands in the air and unpacking the sealed photoplates to hand over.
"It turns out a vast amount of the boulders out there aren't boulders at all, but starfish -- you know what a starfish is? -- starfish-like creatures that can burrow. They can detect ground tremors and maybe also tremors in the air. I wrote a report on them." Tasha fishes out teh slightly crumpled copy of her datapad-entered main report as she follows along, handing it to Scutes. "They don't seem to be intelligent or hostile, so I wouldn't worry. Besides this dome is probably ancient. If they could have breached they'd have done so a long time ago."
"Not the ssort of alienSs we're hunting then," the Naga notes, bringing Tasha a boxy device with a chemical smell to it. He gets it started, and feeds the first film pack into it while reading the report. "We did not notice anything here. But we do not usually look outside, just.. up.."
"I see," Tasha remarks as she watches the smelly machine do its thing, resisting the urge to rub or cover her nose. "So what sort of aliens are you hunting, or do you mean the aliens back home?"
"Abaddon is home," Scutes notes, and gestures towards the black sky beyond the dome. "Out-there aliens. Ones we have to actually worry about."
"Ahh, Galactics. Sorry, sometimes I get everyone mixed up. I travel so much people are just people, but I know there's a line. It's an important line; politics and culture and the rest," Tasha notes idly as the machine eats one film pack after another. She finally gives in to the urge to rub her nose as she goes on, adding, "Have you detect anyone? My contacts have suggested there was at least one breach in to our Star System and there may be others."
"We haven't detected any," Scutes says. "We are sStill mapping the Phase Sspace - the volume of poSsible dimenssional transSition vectors."
"Discover anything interesting? We wouldn't mind whatever data you already have." Pack goes in, pack goes out. Tasha isn't sure if it's her exhaustion, return form days of pire boredom, or what, but she finds herself transfixed on the processing. "Eventually we may want to make use of those routes."
"Trick isS finding route that goeSs somewhere," the Naga points out. "Need sShip to probe for them. Have entry point to get here, that helpSs. Silent-Ones don't want to use it if it can be helped. For just people, that meanSs Titanian Taxi."
Tasha nods to it all, without ever really looking up. "We all love the Titanian Taxi, but I'd prefer to be more self-sufficent." her ears flick, then she asks, "I'll see about your ship. It's not a small request and of course I need to get it back here, which means the Titanian Taxi. Other than that ... that ... " Her yawn is cavernous and she shakes her head out after. "Wind and hay, I don't know how you all can stay up here. I'll be glad to get back."
"SometimesS they ssend ice-cream," Scutes notes. The last pack comes out of the machine, and he starts shutting it down. "You know how to uSe Sslidess, yess?"
"Put in to projector, put light behind?" Tasha finally looks up, brows raised. "I've seen them used before and we do have personnel that can handle them, so I'm not worried. If I don't know enough, I will soon. All that matters now is that they're secured and brough to where they need to be." She straightens fully, glancing at the pile of processes slides. "I'll start packing these, then. After that I'll just stick to my, um, 'quarters' and try to keep out of your way until the gate is ready."
"Ah, not always in projector," Scutes advises. "ThesSe are large format negatives. Sometimes, you want to look at negative directly, see things you might have misSed."
"Well, whatever it is I'll ask about it later, when we process them." The last slide goes in to the case, then Tasha slides it over her shoulder and turns back to Scutes. "I think I've had enough of slides and cameras and calculations for now. I'm going to try and rest up while I can, in case I'm needed on my return." She bobs her head. "Thanks again, you know? I apprecaite the help you've all providd. I'll see to your ship. I don't mean to be rude, but, I think I've had enough for now."
"The sSmell can get to you," Scutes says, bobbing his head. He then goes off to work on something else, so Tasha can go relax.
It's a short walk back to her part of the dome, an enclosed space of divider-walls and Katie Kaboom posters. She sets the film down, then herself down beside it. After tugged the drape-door closered with her feet, she kisses her hand and brings the kiss to Katie's head before giving up the last bit of her energy and dropping on to what serves as her bed. she considers doing more, but her mind is blank and spirit spiritless. Instead she just lays there as minutes pass to an hour, then hours, then sleep.
She eventually wakes to whispering outside of the door. It's not hard to tell that the whisperers are debating how to wake her up without actually entering the space.
Tasha listens for a while, part because they amuse her in their intriciate planning and part because she still feels too out of it to want to move. At length she sits up, deciding she'd better say something before there are graphs and equations involved.
"I'm awake," she calls in low but clear tone. "What is it?"
"We found something," one of them says. It sounds like Allan, the human. "In space," he adds for clarity.
The young woman lets the answer sink in a moment, then pushes herself up and grabs her cloak. "I'm coming, give me a report?" She bids as she pushes her way pst the curtain and out.
Everyone sort of jumps back when Tasha emerges. "Uh.. it's orbiting L5.." Allan stammers.
"Is it my hair?" Tasha asks, staring at the bewildered faces with her half-awake own. "I didn't have time," she insists, reaching back and pushing her fingers through her hair in n effort to make herself less startling. "Um. L5? Legrange Point 5? What does it look like?"
"Yes, that L5!" Allan says, looking relieved that he doesn't have to explain it. "It's.. stuff.." he then says. "The equations solved today to hint that the Lagrange 3 through 5 points could be insystem hyperspace access nodes. Hyperspace relays usually are put into L1 and L2 around a planet.. it's the closest you can get them to a gravity well and still have them work. So.. uh.. we started looking at L4 and L5.."
Tasha hesitates a moment, then her shoulders dip a little as her stance relaxes. "So, not someting we have to fight," she confirms, staring at the man a moment longer and then blinking. "Right, um, nodes. Not fight, but maybe. When you say in-system, you mean transit points between planetary bodies?"
"Hyperspace it steeper in a gravity well," Allan says. "It gets all turbulent and knotty. So for practical purposes, it can only be navigated to within a few billion kilometers of the primary, depending on its mass. But it might be possible to find a stable route to L4 or L5 for each planetary orbit.. just dangerous."
"Oh." Tasha scratches at her left ear for a long moment, opens her mouth to say something pauses, then resumes not syaing anything for several more seconds before she admits, "I remember now. L1 and L2, planetary. Three-through-five are solar. It's making more sense now. So you've detected somethig at L5, or is that just the point you've detected a transit point? Both?"
"There might be a hyperspace transit point there," Allan says, running a hand through his greasy hair. "But there's definitely something there that reflects like metal."
"Metal ... " Tasha repeats, disliking the taste of the word. Metal could mean trouble. "Size?"
"Big enough for us to see it over 225,000 kilometers away," Allan says.
"That is big," Tasha agrees, albiet somewhat uncertainly. Space explorer she may be, but space understander she is not. Not yet anyway. "Any markings? Color preferences? Discernable structures? Can I see it?"
"We'll be coming in line again in a few minutes," Allan says. "As for details.. uh.. no? We've got better views of Sinai and Ashtoreth."
"Well lets see it. Maybe I can identify it." Tasha looks around for a moment, then focuses on Allan again. "Show me to the telescope?"
The main telescope is big.. as big as could possibly be made for parts that can't be more than eight feet across anyway. Most of it is a clockwork computer assembly for keeping it focused on a point while Sheol zooms around in its orbit. So at the moment it's pointed at the horizon. There's a seat of sorts on one side, where an eyepiece is located, and another big camera at the end of it.
There is also a lot of tubing near the lens - probably part of a dehumidifier to keep the lens clear.
"Just keep my eye on the eyepiece and have the camera ready?" Tasha inquires of the aparatus, having that distinctive, itchy feeling she has when she's standing near something infinitely breakable.
There's some prep, but the telescope seems to already be programmed. Tasha is strapped into the seat, the eyepiece adjusted, and the camera trigger put into her hand (also via an elastic strap, so it can't be dropped - but Tasha can still use her fingers for other things if she's careful). What lights are still glowing are dimmed down as well. Right now the view is just of the moving starfield. "When you hear the gears start to turn, then you'll know you're looking in the right direction. It'll all be at the very center," Allan explains.
Tasha almost nods, but avoids it as her 'don't break expensive equipment' reflex kicks in -- a adventurer's talent she's learned after breaking a lot of expensive equipment. It's a sixth sense, really. "I understand," she confirms, if distractedly, as she tries to keep her eye on target. After that it's just waiting -- but at least this waiting on a telescope comes with a mystery.
Eventually the gimbals come to life, and the telescope begins to track. The air system is sucking the moisture out of the air, which makes everything a bit cooler as a result. The focusing of the telescope is also automated, which helps. It still takes a few minutes of staring into the blackness before something happens: a flicker. It's short enough that it could have just been a trick of vision, but as Sheol's angle changes the flickers are more frequent. Not always in the same place, but there are many points that flare, as if things were tumbling slowly and catching the sunlight just so on each rotation.
"I see something, it's blurry but it's definitely a reflection of something," Tasha notes as her hand radies itself around the camera control. "Should I try and catch it, or wait for greater clarity?"
"It's not gonna get any clearer," Allan claims. "I'd suggest holding the trigger down for ten seconds at a time."
"Hokay. Here we go," warns Tasha, who shifts and braces herself. Given the steady repetition of the objects rotation she's able to time it, and after counting between blips until she has the count right she waits once more and then hits the button as her new count reaches zero.
The plates are swapped out between exposures, until they've gotten a dozen to work with. "That should be enough to get a count," Allan says.
After being let out, Tasha stands and rubs the bridge of her left ring with her right hand, tilting her head back and forth. "Lets get them developed then, I'm eager to see what's lurking out there. The sooner we know what it is, the better off we may be," she insists.
The plates are processed, then inserted into the crystal chalkboard. They show up as a dozen tiles, and some manipulation gets them all overlayed onto one another and shown as negatives. The background stars are black streaks, but the central objects show up as black blotches - and there are nine of them. Shifting through the slides shows some slight rotation of the group as a whole.
"Nine, and they're rotating? A fleet would only shift in relation to us ... Nine ... A central body and orbiting platforms? A space station or ... A ship using rotating sections? That would imply it's purpose-built ... " Tasha scarcthes at ehr muzzle as she peers at the objects -- with so little to go off she can't determine much of anything, but at leasts eh can pull a few ideas out. "When I get back I can see about training our own resources at the object."
"Could be wreckage from the Expedition," Allan suggests. "L4 and L5 collect all sorts of debris.. but since this system is clean, the only debris would be stuff that came into it."
"That's true, but I don't know. We know ther Galactics take interest in us and that certain factions ahve actively interfered; there have been actual, documented incusions. Something this large could be wreckage, but it could also be used as an observation post or other base to conceal their presence. The only way to know for sure is to investigate further." The young woman leans back, then turns to the others. "Thank you for showing me this. I'll copy it to my datapad and review it with our personnel back on Abaddon."
"Well.. you probably shouldn't use radar on it then," Allan suggests. "Not if you don't want anything still active to know you've found it."
Tasha inclines her head to the mention, but then notes, "Or maybe we do? They might panic, or, they may try something else. If they're just observing then they'll probably try and remain quiet, but assume they've been discovered if we're looking right at them. It could help us figure out who they are, like scaring game from bushes, right? I'll have to work it out with the others and see how we wantt o handle it. For now, I have enough to do without worrying about it. We'll get to it, though."
"Better would be to sneak up and be ready to pounce, then have a second source do the active scan," Allan suggests with a grin.
Tasha grins back, but then shakes her taloned pointer finger at the man. "That works if what you pounce on isn't bigger than you, but it's a good idea. Stir them up, then jump them down. I'll keep it in mind. Anyway," she waves at the photographs, "lets scan these and then you can get back to your work. Just think! A few more hours and you won't have to deal with me anymore!"
The first that happens when Tasha appears back on Abaddon is that she's offered a chance to shower and change her clothes. Only after that does Dream-Chaser sign to her, "Find out what you needed?"
"Yes," Tasha confirms after a perhaps too-desperate acceptance of the offer of a shower and change of clothing. "We discovered two other items of interest and I have an offer to make. First, we detected what appears to be nine large masses in stable orbit at L5; it may be a vessel of collection of debris. Your men in the base also think there may be stable transit corridors at the L-points, so the object itself is interesting and its proximity to potential transit point only makes it more so. We will investigate. Second, we discovered life: burrowing rock-like creatures that are normally still on the surface but respond to vibration. The offer: have you considered that our two organizations would be better off together?"
"Interesting discoveries," Dream-Chaser signs back. "As for a merger, there is an obstacle. Specifically, we are a secret organization, and you are not. The general populace does not know about the attempted invasion. Our groups are certainly capable of working together, however. You have the means to explore. We have the means to be paranoid."
"Then we should continue to develope our association," Tasha agrees, smiling. She then glances towards where she rememebrs the showers to be and signs quickly, "I have a report," which she fishes out and hands over just as quickly -- normally she wouldn't create reports for members of other organizations but she was very bored -- "in case you are interested in the details. I am going to go shower now, we can speak again soon." And with that she hurries off as if drawn by inexorble forces.
After drying off, having a real sandwich (even if it has green things that might be leafy vegetables in it) and collecting her sword, it's a high speed motorcycle ride (and no, Chaser does not let her drive this time) back to the sub-basement elevator that runs back into the hotel. Liza and Strength-of-Stones are happy to see Tasha again, and Tomorrow's-Hope is disappointed that she didn't come with steak sandwiches.
"I'm sorry, the only thing I brough back is questions and discomfort," the young woman apologizes, walking over to the couch and tehn dropping herself back on it. "I hope I didn't miss anything important?" She then asks, looking up. "Maybe a ceremony to dedicate to fondly forgetting who who delivered the Reaver? Nobles lining up for duels over it? Lonevigil smiling?"
"The ceremonies are over, and the Titan is being moved back to the loading area," Liza says. "They were very quiet and dignified, and Tomorrow's-Hope fell asleep standing up. I can tell because he didn't blink." The Titan pilot cheetah does not deny any of this.
"It's probably what I would have done," Tasha admits, shooting her fellow pilot a smile. "I see you survived time with your parents, too. Or, have you come to tell us we're a corrupting influence and you have decided to follow a new path? If so, you can't have the Reaver. It's, um," she tiltsher head, ears wiggling, "it's sensitive to too much purity. How else could it be around me so long?"
"They are proud of me for being the pilot," Tomorrow's-Hope signs, and puffs up a bit. "And you were not here to tell them what I am really like. The Archon gave me many praises."
"They also introduced him to his bride-to-be," the Archon signs, looking a bit.. unhappy.. with the comment.
"See I would have just made that joke about how I was alarmed there are more people like him and then just continued to tease him, it wouldn't have helped at all," Tasha remarks but then she studies the Archon's face for a moment longer than she otherwise might have and looks between the two men before asking, "That sound slike it should be a good thing but your face says it's not. It's not good, is it?"
"It is wonderful!" Tomorrow's-Hope signs, and his smile practically beams. "Gracious-in-Victory is clever and beautiful and comes from a very good family."
"She is my younger sister," Strength-of-Stones adds.
"Oh! Oh! Exciting!" Tasha immediately sits up, almost bouncing where she perches on the end of the sofa. "Do I get to meet her? Is she goining to join us out in the Pit? Will I be able to talk behind both your backs with her?"
"It will be some time, I have only just met her myself," Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "She will certainly be visiting the Pit though."
"I will look for a position she may take within the Embassy staff," Strength-of-Stones signs. Feather-Tail rolls her eyes behind him.
"He'll have to start wearing pants more often," Liza confides.
Tasha watches Feather-Tail for a moment, then turns to the Archon. "I think I hear protest, but either way I'm excited to meet her. It's something to look forward to. Maybe after I return from my next trip." She glances over towards Liza and nods. "He will, won't he? Speaking of pants, I'm glad to be back -- for however long we're here anyway." She truns to the other and tilts her head, asking, "How long until we need to report to the airfield?"
"A few hours," Liza notes. "I haven't left these rooms, but the magic window showed me the ceremony."
"I was wondering how you saw them, what with how we sully everything," tasha remarks, gesturing broadly to the room and theri clear sullying of it. "At least we have a little time left. It's a shame we can't see more of the city. Our first visit to Star City and all we get to see are our rooms. If only we had powerful and influential men who could escort us. That would be nice. It'd be nice, wouldn't it Liza, Feather-tail?" She nods slowly at the two, brows arched.
"We might not remain influential and powerful if we did that," Strength-of-Stones signs a bit wryly. "Remember, I am considered a failure only suitable for dealing with aliens here in Star City."
"Star City is pretty but boring," Tomorrow's-Hope claims. "Elamoore is grubby and fun."
"Well you deal with us very well I think. As an alien, I appreciate your effort," tasha insists, laying a hand over her heart. "Well, if we can't tour the city -- and this makes the second city on Abaddon that's rejected me I'd like to point out -- maybe we can at least have a look around the airfield? I've never seen so many operational Titans before. Mayeb I could ask Lonevigil? I doubt they'd deny him."
"He won't be there, but Tomorrow's-Hope holds rank," Strength-of-Stones signs. "Be warned that you will draw attention as well. Someone provided me with a copy of the story-book."
"I'll tell them I am looking for the darkness and the darkness hates staying inside," insists the young hybrid, who pushes herself up and on to her hooves. "After moon base, the last thing I wnat to do is be stuck inside. Oh," she glances towards the Archon, "want me to sign your copy?"
"You do know that Katie Kaboom signs her posters with a kiss?" Strength-of-Stones signs. "Perhaps when we get back to the Pit, just in case I am searched for contraband."
"I wonder if this makes me contraband now. I'll kiss your book, though. And sign it, because I have to write something to my favorite manager-of-aliens," Tasha insists. She glances towards the door, then Tomorrow's-Hope and begins waving him that way with both hands. "Time is wasting! I won't be held responsible if I go crazy in here if we wait too long. Ask Gabriel, when I go crazy bad things happen."
"We wouldn't want that," the pilot signs, and leads the way. Liza, of course, already has all of her and Tasha's things packed, except for what Tasha brought with her to the moon.
Tasha busies herself stuffing what she took withher in their packs even as they're walking. In goes her clothes, in goes her sword. "There," she says as they head down the way to the waiting vehicles, "all done. Fresh air! Blue sk- well, sort of reddish-blue sky, shiny buildings, glaring people. Oh! Mask." On goes her mask. "Now I'm ready."
Giant-Slayer is still in the process of being connected to the crane systems of the carrier - this time a normal one instead of the fancy one they came in on. Several Lawbringers are on maneuvers, and a few of the ground armor vehicles are moving about. Several other vehicles aren't easily placed - they aren't armored, but look a bit spacecrafty.
"Who should we inflict ourselves upon while our gear is loaded?" Tomorrow's-Hope signs.
There's rubbing of hands together. "Where to look first. I see Titans, but I don't recognize their sub-model and some of their configurations. Not all of them, anyway. Captain Frane liked to use models of actual Titans. Hey, what are those?" She points at the spacecraft-like vehicles.
"Ground-effect transports," Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "For important people that need to travel very quickly."
"Oh those. They use the motor-in-ground effect." The canid woman pauses, then corrects, "Rotor-in-ground. I learned about that back during flight training; we fliers use it too. I doubt they'll let me drive one though. Lets see ... I've never seen Silent-One armored vehicles before." She points across the field towards them as they rumble along. "Unlike Titans they're mostly used in combat with otehr nations, aren't they? Plus they're not that useful in the canals, right? The Pit?"
"Mainly for advancing skirmish lines and point defense artillery," Tomorrow's-Hope signs, and heads towards one that seems to be undergoing maintenance. After a bit of curt command, the crew is standing at attention. Some of them are actually female - so even though they aren't allowed to fight, they can still have military duties.
"Hello, I am Winged-Gift. I have never seen this vehicle before and have come to know it," Tasha signs, finding the austerity of Formal Sign a little much some times. "You know my fellow pilot Tomorrow's-Hope and this is my assist, L I Z A." The hybrid gestures to her PA. "Would you tell me about this machine?"
"This is the quad-ram bunker assault variable configuration tank," the crew chief snaps off smartly.
One of the junior crew looks absolutely terrified.. by Liza.
Tasha inclines her head. "It is very impressive sounding. I take it from its description it is robust and suited to being armed in a vareity of configurations as the mission dictates? And it carries an assault team?" She risks a glance over, following the junior's gaze to Liza where upon her expression shifts, momentarily bemused.
It may have to do with the prevalence of rabbits on Abaddon as both pets and a source of meat.
"There are secondary weapon mounts on the main turret, it can carry eight commandos, and negotiate chaotic terrain," the chief reports, than taps on of the crewmen on the shoulder. The cat clambers into the vehicle and starts the motor.
The chief gestures for the observers to back up a bit.
Realizing the situation, Tasha bites her lip a moment to keep from laughing even as she backs away. "If you were selling this to me, already would I want one," she signs after she's moved away and regained her focus.
The tank's treads are in four sets, two per side. The reason becomes apparent as the rotate downward to raise the tank up off the ground. The mountings slide forward, and the treads angle out to give it a wider, four-footed stance that lets it make a zero-turn-radius spin.
"Yes, I definitely want one now," the young woman notes, her ears a'wiggle. "We do not have enough land vehicles and there is much that would eat us. I imagine most of the weaponry would need to be removed to be replaced with other equipment as needed, but it would be suitable. It is very interesting." As was the reaction and female technicians, she notes to herself.
"It has it's own specialized weapon system," the chief notes. The crewmen that boarded it pops up through the top of the turret. He waves, then spins the turret to show the snub-nosed cannon built in. But the sides extend outward and forward, revealing joints and claspers, effectively giving the turret arms. One reaches back as the turret stop, and plucks a large, multi-barreled grenade launcher from its back.
"They are not for sale," the chief signs apologetically.
"It is even more modular than I imagined. How do you manage the fittings? Locking that ... " The young woman pauses, her ears sinking. "That is disappointing but expected. I am glad to see it anyway, it seems to me a very useful machine and I will not forget it."
"Our Titans are very advanced, and we use the technology in many other weapon systems," the chief signs.
The crewman puts the grenade launcher away, and converts the vehicle back to its more compact, high-speed travel mode.
Tasha turns to Tomorrow's-Hope, signing, "Why do we not do that? I have suggested it, but we do not do it. It is disappointing." Turning back, she notes, "I am increasingly familiar with Silent-Ones Titans, perhaps I should observe their maintenace and devlopement for ideas and inspiration."
"The Pit is not conducive to such artillery," Tomorrow's-Hope explains. "We need to deal with small, fast moving threats or else very large ones. The Lawbringers are more versatile, and do not have issues of collateral damage or consumable ammunition."
"That is true, but what I was meaning ws within my own organization. I have not upgraded or adapted my Titan much at all, nor its technology. There are limitations, especially at range where melee combat is of little use. I should take this time to investigate long ranged weaponry," the cadet relates to her fellows, gesturing off to the side at the Lawbringers underway. "It is easy for me to rely upon my Titan and its advanced abilities, but I must continue to develope, learn, and upgrade to meet challenges and avodi complacency."
"I do not know of any ranged weapon that would compare to your cutting edge," Tomorrow's-Hope admits. "Have you considered practicing with javelins? It would suit your name."
"A spear for Silver-Spear?" Tasha asks, brows and ears going up. "Would javelins really be of any use?"
"Tell me again what struck and destroyed Tesla, if not a javelin?" Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "The javelin is a commonly used Titan weapon."
"It was a large chunk of dense material within a magneticly conductive shell," Tasha notes, cocking her head and arching a brow. "But I see your point. It is because I am from Sinai, I image sticks with blades on them thrown by land dwellers at food and each other. I think of this and such a weapon bouncing off what we fight and ears wiggling at my expense." Her head tilts the other way. "But I remember now seeing these javelins in the armoury and they were mentioned by Captain Frane. He did not speak much of them, it was not the elsson for weapons. Perhaps I should have a look at one now?"
The cheetah looks around, and spots a carrier with the weapon in question stacked upon it. "Thank you for the demonstration, chief," he signs to the tank chief, who sends his crew back to work.
Gesturing for the group to follow him, Tomorrow's-Hope heads for the javelin carrier.
"Thank you as well," Tasha signs, though most of the crew has alraedy returned to their duties. That done she hurries after Tomorrow's-Hope, walking fater until caught up. When they arrive, she pauses to look up, and up at it.
The rack holds several javelins. Up close.. they seem more lethal looking. The tips are shiny and sharply pointed, with flared fins like arrowheads. A third of the way along the shaft are the conical rocket thrusters, while the guidance fins are still folded in against the shaft.
"They're throwable missles?" Tasha asks, inching closer until she's next t the vehicle. She looks around for a moment, then actually starts climbing up the side of it to have a better look. "I see fins and thrusters, do they explode too?" She pauses in her climb, glancing back.
"They do not explode," Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "Some of these are thousands of years old. They are reusable. Moderate range weapons when thrown, close up weapons when held."
During the battle with Tesla, most of these weapons also trailed superconductive lines that were used to 'ground' the monster.
"I bet I could make some that explode." Tasha makes it to the top, then runs her fingers down the lenth of one as she alks along the carrier. "Does that make me sound like a Titanian? It does, doesn't it? Oh well. I'm as much an honorary Titanian as I am an honorary Silent-Ones, I should make use of it." She stops, then bends forward to inspect the engine. "These can't be thousands of years. Reusable? Now that i think about it, weren't these used to figth Tesla?"
Tomorrow's-Hope nods. "They are indeed as old as the Expedition. They can be refueled."
"That's amazing, they really knew how to build things back then. I shouldn't be surprised though. Gabriel and all." The young woman turns, then sits atop the carrier, legs dangling. "So is using them any different than throwing the smaller versions?"
"It would help to know how to throw a javelin yourself," Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "They can be difficult to master at range. But very good for skewering rotbiters."
"I've been told I am very good at throwing things," its the young pilot with a grin. "But mostly mugs. I'm sure I can learn, though. Perhaps I should have a few fabricated, or else try and make smaller copies. My Titan translats my own movements, so my own skill in combat directly translates to our skill together."
"We have practice ones at the hangar," Tomorrow's-Hope signs. "Your center of balance is very different though, so you will need to develop your own style."
Tasha nods to this. "And not impale my own wings in an emrassing way you won't ever let me forget, I know." She pushes off, landing on the ground with a clip-clop of hooves. "The Reaper's in and there are people below the carrier looking at us like they're going to come over here, I think it's boarding time."
"Let us go then, before all of the dinner rations have been used up," Tomorrow's-Hope signs.
"I hope the rations aren't rabbit," Liza notes.
"Cannibalism isn't an attractive quality in a personal assistant," agrees the hybrid woman, who turns and heads off with the others.
"But rabbit is tasty," Feather-Tail signs. "Hog is better though."
Within half an hour, the Titan carrier looses its moorings and makes its way towards the Pit of Himar. The accommodations are sparse, but at least it isn't full of sweaty young men.
For Tasha being in the air, even in cramped quarters, might as well be a palace. She doesn't keep to her room, instead spending her time on the deck drinking what warm beverages she could scrounge and watching the world pass by. While she may love her starship, she recognizes its limitations -- the breath of the sky and passing of the land being the greatest in her mind. And so she enjoys the air while she can, and the world, long after the sun has gone down.