"Excellent. Lieutenant Vaun, please escort your Captain to his quarters, I'm sure he is in desperate need of rest after his last mission. We will return tomorrow to finalize the preparations for our departure then." Officer Rene turned away from Gage's stone-like expression as she was accompanied by the Hunters on her way out.
"..." Doing nothing in response, Gage watched as she walked out and the doors slid closed behind her.
"I don't think I could recall the last time I saw you that mad, I mean I would have stopped you if you tried anything, you're just a Terran after all…"
"Lieutenant, you did well to subdue me in my rashness." An expression of respect that was the last thing Rayce thought we came out of the entire situation, he had no way of responding, except taking his data slate and walking over to the Inventory Terminal, where he began to work.
"Why don't you take the night off, the sooner I can finish up this work, the sooner I can enjoy the Procellan nightlife." Before his Captain could offer his assistance, Rayce simply sent him on his way, reminding him to check on the rest of the Sword Company.
"She's going to want to know, let her hear it from you." Making no attempt to ignore the obvious situation they would need to deal with. One he understood would weigh on him, even though in his mind, Vronica was nothing more than a machine.
After passing through the bulkheads of the Armory, Officer turned the corner to reach the railing guarding elevated platform of the subsurface elevator, emptying her stomach of her last meal, with her quickened breath prompting the other Hunters to hold her steady the chills subsided.
"Ma'am."
"It's fine. All things considered, I would say leaving with my nerves intact was the unintended gain of the whole interaction. I'm still disappointed in your response time, all of you."
"The training programs severely underestimated actual interactions with those things. The way they move…"
"You can share your assessment in your report, one I'll be expecting from each and every one of you. You might have lost your nerve however there was certainly something to be gained from this."
"And.."
"Yes, ma' am?"
"Once they've returned to their bunks, I would like you to complete a request for 7th Grade VUs. There should be two requests for 5th Grade VUs as well prepared for me in case the need arises to subdue our Blank.
The Silver Council believes it may be necessary, I thought it would have been excessive but I don't think there's any doubt anymore."
Within the bustling markets of the Greater Rim of Procella, the rest of the Cloudjumpers slowly made their way through the list of tasks.
They managed to finish their general procurement of resources and supplies, giving them a bit of time for any individual tasks they felt might need attention before they were away from the moon.
Thella was comfortable with returning to Camp Insularum, hoping to get some rest before they were sent on their way, urging them to all do the same, however Ridge and Vronica were quick to respond in their own way.
"That sounds like it could be fun, I can drop you off anywhere you'd like if…" Before he could finish his thought, Vronica added her own thought.
"And what should I do?"
"Well, Vronica, you still need to make sure your in prime condition" Thella, turned her focus from Ridge, as she wondered how after all this time, the idea of a break was so hard for Vronica or their Captain to grasp, but the idea of him gave her a slight chuckle as she worked the idea in her head.
"Might I put in a request to visit White Cradle for a full diagnostic assessment?"
"I'm thinking of some place more local. I'm certain the Leonis Biomancers have a facility right here in Procella, though you'll have to take a trip to the Lower Rim. They should have everything they need to make sure you are in good shape."
"My Ghost is of greater concern than the vessel bearing it. I do not believe I would find any capable Cognition Architects in Procella."
"Thella's not wrong. You need to go, even if it's just for a check up, just like us. The Captain and I got a few scrapes from the mission on Titan and we got treatment for it, but Thella and Rayce still need to get looked over, and you do too. Or do you want to worry him, we both know he's going to worry."
"If anything, it'll put his mind at ease to know that we're all in good health before our next mission."
"...I will make the preparations for a consultation. I will leave a diagnostic imprint on the ship."
"Great, I'll have EJ make the copy before I take her in. It shouldn't take long. Oh, and don't forget your exchange chip, I've heard that they can be pretty pricey." She picked up the sleek card with a silver finish and golden circuits along the edge.
"Why am I paying for this myself?"
"Because we aren't on base, and we can't just use other people's facilities unless we gain clearance from Silver Command, now take a seat and I can start the imprinting process."
While the process didn't take very long, it was essential for any functional Pygmy, and a common practice adopted by their crew after the last time Vronica had to undergo forced diagnostic repairs.
Essentially, the imprint functions like a physical backup of the protocols, routines and personalized settings that make each Pygmy unique. While their memories are stored and regularly uploaded to their homeworld of White Cradle, protecting and ensuring their viability, and consistency.
But anytime a Pygmy experiences severe damage, they undergo a forced process wherein they are completely incapable of interaction until the repairs are complete, with the unfortunate result of purging the memory trying to remove any potential digital threats and or infections.
So if the Pygmy is not within range of their homeworld, they may be reduced to their Nascent settings with none of their original memories.
As she settled in her seat, EJ produced a port beneath her console.
"Here, I'll help you." Ridge stood up, and went searching in the collection of random bits and wires beneath his station before producing a noticeable thicker cable, wound several times around with a silver and black material, ending at the cable's tip with a unique, needle-like adapter.
Moving around to her side, before inserting one end into the back of her head, and the other into the port the ship produced. The process was one Ridge has grown accustomed to, a necessity he took upon himself at the request of his Captain.
"If you could make sure her Ghost remains functional at all times, I would appreciate it."
"I understand, Captain, but she, I think she is fine. White Cradle's protocol would take care of it without any input from my end.?"
"No, Ridge. I am asking you to do it."
"Sir…"
"We look out for each other, Ridge. No one gets overlooked and now gets treated as an afterthought, not under my command." Ridge recalled the conversation as he watched as the last 1% of the imprint profile was complete. With a skilled hand, he managed to remove the capable with barely a notice from her.
"Now Vronica, if you experience any lapse in memory or the sudden appearance of unfamiliar engrammatic sequences, let me know and I'll get started initiating a complete diagnostic test." Ridge assured her as he returned to his console, easing into his seat as the EHJ cruised over the spaceport near Surface Plaza of Northern Procella.
"Don't you want to take Thella with you?"
"While I would appreciate Sergeant Oswin's presence, I cannot make such a poor use of her time on my part. She is set to recover, an aspect of your Terran physiology that should not be understated. I will return to meet with her at the barracks after my trip. Does this suffice, Sergeant?"
"If you need me, for anything, and I mean anything, don't hesitate to establish an immediate data stream and I'll be there." She said after embracing her from behind, , feeling the cool wave that would radiate from the Pygmy's chassis.
"Do you still think that's enough of a safety precaution, Thella?"
"You can get her checked out, but you can't complain about how she does it. She'll be fine on her, now hurry up, the sooner we drop off Vronica, they sooner I get to sleep"
Vronica took the Skip, flying over to the clinic, leaving it hovering over the building while she descended for a check-up on her Ghost, with the first thing she was offered was a seat before the specialist could see her, and a catalogue for the latest augmentations the clinic was offering.
The attending specialist makes a suggestion after noting that she is a companionship and support Pygmy, by observation alone.
"I am certain that you will find something to satisfy yours or your master's tastes" A smirk curled up the attendant's lips.
"My masters? I have no master, I am a dutiful servant of the Silver Council, serving our Sovereigns as the pilot of the Sword Company, Cloudumpers. A venerable Blade of the Sol System."
"And proud. It is a sight to see whenever I come across an excitable member of your race." A comment that caught the Pygmy off guard, as the violet light of her eyes dimed to match her surprise.
"Would our venerable Blade of the esteemed Cloudjumpers like to see our exclusive models. We see that you are registered under a Platinum data-cred plan." The attendant mocking tone trialed off after they learned of her financial standing.
"Ms...no, Sergeant, apologies for my earlier decorum, the masses of this rock tend to wear you down when they sense a hint of civility" The switch would have had her convinced that the attendant was instantly replaced with a more compliant member of her kind.
The same attendant led Vronica from the main sitting area to another room, one that better filtered out the bustle of the busy Procellan lanes, a room of earthy tones to accompany the succulents decorating the room, with a wide veranda to the open night-sky, as if a quaint beach house was parked on the Lunarian sands.
With various servings of all kinds of drinks made available to her, Vronica was offered a comfort seat across the now personable attendant.
"Sergeant, as a platinum member of the A.C.E Holdings, it is my responsibility to ensure that you providing with the service experience our establishment can offer."
"I see." Vronica , remembering how Ridge was insistent on her having data creds on hand, wondered how many times he would have dealt with this before learning the convenience of money.
'Perhaps all humans are familiar with the convenience money offers?'
"Sergeant."
"Yes. However I have no need for an additional chassis. The tasks I am assigned are well within the capabilities of my current form." Noting the attendants curious gaze as he glanced up and down at her.
"The master you serve would oppose to having two of you, I would have to meet the man."
"Two of me? Why would Captain Gage have need for a another Pygmy?"
"Having satisfied several clients, I can assure you that no man would be opposed to the idea of having more than one woman at his side"
"I have no master. I willing stand at the side of Captain Gage. And if I failed in any capacity, Captain Gage would not hesitate to instruct me on the best way to improve."
"Would it not be better to simply acquire a more advanced form when made available. Your programming would drive you to constantly seek improvements in function and efficiency." Vronica, strangely, showed a composed form when the suggestion was made, with a façade more fitting of her kind, she answered:
"Yes, a great imperative, is to seek improvement and efficiency in my ability to accomplish my tasks. However, my programming is not static and what is newer will not always be better. What's appropriate is what matters."
"But is not the best tool the most desired?"
"Captain Gage does not see me as one." A remarkable smile brought a glow of almost human charm to her as she held to her resolve.
"Then why not test it? If I am right, your Captain will be more than pleased to have another companion, and if you're right, you can always return the chassis?"
"All right. I will have a look."
At the edge of Copernicus Crater, the Lunar terrain shifted from the lively and vibrant scape of bright varied light illuminating the skyways and the roads below, with the steady hum of underground rail moving the masses from one populated center to another. But here, near Procella's border was an interesting shape.
A mountain of composites and alloys stand sentinel to shield Procella along its circumference. Standing just short of 50m in height, the fortifications are said to be as old as the first colonizers, built not to protect the colony, but to shield them from the assault of debris with the frequent and aggressive launches of early propulsion technology.
By the time of the collapse of the First Expansion, mankind had fallen back to infighting, cutting themselves of while their homeworld leaders on Terra sought to establish their own rule as law, it was then that the Lunarians resorted to further fortifying their defenses against any would be threat.
Though the walls never met opposition during the conflict for Luna remained loyal solely to the leadership of Terra second before their own, much like the rest of the Inner Rim planets, choosing to rely upon themselves until the day the war would end, and efforts to reconnect the lost colonies of man brought them together.
The Storm-Wall now stands as a landmark, noting humanity's presence on the satellite, and to the betterment of the Imperial Stellar Transport Regulations Offices: T.R.I.O.S Installation, they serve as headquarters of many such imperial and governmental boards for foreign and local organizations that call the Sol System one of their many homes.
T.R.I.O.S is responsible regulating, managing and maintaining addressing all matters regarding spacecraft that venture forth through Imperial controlled territories. Beyond that, the responsibility falls into the hands of the Silver Council, and outside of their controlled systems, you are at the mercy of the forces that command that region of space.
With T.R.I.O.S in place, matters such as non-standard modifications to spacecraft, both in instances involving performance and armament changes are made aware to the proper authorities, for the kind of chaos that erupt is unimaginable when criminals have free access to military-grade equipment or vessels.
While Ridge had the modifications on the Enduring Hope done by the approved Shipwrights of Titan, they still need to comply with the standards set by Silver Command to ensure parity and structure across all their stellar vessels.
As the spacecraft came to roost after entering the gapping maw of the grey-metals gates, guarding entry into the hangars of the installations.
"EJ, can you draft up a manifest of all of our inventory. I don't want to get a fine for something Rayce brought on board."
"Yes sir. A scan of my inventory shows no signs of contraband aboard."
"Oh, do you have access to the shipping codes for unapproved goods?"
"Yes sir. I was rebuilt by the Shipwrights of Luna, under the express orders and specifications of Silver Command. I function to their requirements."
"Huh, that makes sense…" Their short exchange was interrupted by the establishment of a new data stream, coming from their Company leader. Wasting no time in approving the connection, communication was established.
"Captain?"
"Ridge,I need you to return to base."
"I'd love to but I need to put on my game face and get ready to lie my ass–"
"S.C.A.I.R officer, Rene has forced our hand. I hope the preparations have been made, we will need to prepare for our departure."
"Her again, well I'll make sure to swing by once I get EJ through her regulations check–"
"EJ, by the order of Captain Pierce Christophe Gage, of Sword Company, Cloudjumpers, I grant you full clearance on additional modifications cleared by Sergeant Ridge Essern."
"Yes sir. I require the authentication of your commanding officer." The ship's A.I responded almost instantly.
"You may approve authentication with Captain-General Thalia Camejo." His mention of their figure had Ridge blink twice at what he heard, but before he could share his colliding thoughts, a third voice, far too familiar to ignore, joined in.
"IMS-EHJ 07771, I am Captain-General Thalia Camejo, I grant my full authentication."
"Yes ma'am, one moment." Following his statement, the commanding officer signed off the data stream, while Ridge waited in silence.
"Full clearance of additional modifications to the IMS-EHJ has been granted. The T.R.I.O.S Installation has been notified, would you like to commence with your appointment, Sergeant Essern?" The A.I alerted the pair.
"Sir...EJ…"
"Thank you, EJ. Ridge, please make your way as soon as possible"
"Eh…sh…sure, I'll get right now that. Thella is resting in the barracks so I'll just have to pick up Veronica–"
"That is quite alright. I will meet with Sergeant Vronica"
The moment he heard how Pierce addressed their pilot, Ridge knew something was off, but before he could ask, the data stream was cut.
Activating the ship's systems once more, the startup process commenced as the hull hummed with the rumble of the engine's heartbeat, slowly kicking in. A few moments of peace bringing a concerning thought to his mind: 'Sergeant Vronica…I wonder if she's in some sort of trouble…maybe she did something to piss the Captain off.'