Change.
The EDN Wishkeeper, a large, near battleship sized craft of about 970 meters in length, primarily designed for rescue and resupply missions, with a smaller hangar that could launch and service up to 15 craft at a time, while holding up to 60 within its interior. It was considered somewhat of a forward outpost in efforts to tend to combat damage of other vessels, or to aid in efforts to assist craft in need of aid. Such as the strange ship that was now being classified as a Vessel in distress.
Tilly, like the rest of her squad, was currently stationed on the Wishkeeper, having docked to it about an hour ago, when the Wishkeeper had caught up through the use of an accelerator gate, or, the Catapult as most would call it.
They where currently a few hundred kilometers behind the unknown vessel, with the command circle, which included Commander Alvez, Captain Carlan of the Wishkeeper, and Aria. And some of Tilly’s squad suspected that even Queen Marianna, creator of most of the Sirens on Eden, would link in through a private channel.
Stalker squad, with their light Vengeful model where send back to Haven, a large station in orbit over Eden. While Tilly and her wing-mates of the yet, unnamed squad, where made to dock to the Wishkeeper, where now they where currently awaiting new orders.
Tilly sighed, she suspected that they where held back in part because Commander Alvez was part of their squad, at least, until they received a proper command structure. A somewhat troublesome problem for the Military arm of Eden, given how peace centric their world had been for the longest of times. And the, free to do what you like, work ethic did help little there either.
The primary reason was, so Tilly guessed, that her squad-mates where composed partially of sirens, with a few human women, and men in their lineup. Stalker squad was on active duty, one of only two active fighter squadrons that was required to stay ready for other eventualities.
It left Tilly with the eerie sensation that she might be setting foot on the unknown vessel. A notion she found both, exciting, and a little annoying, considering it would likely be just her and the other Sirens, thanks to their ability to heal and adapt, granting a much higher survivability to them then humans would have.
“ That time ? “ Kira, another siren remarked, approaching Tilly whom, in her impatience had paced about, unaware that she had come to a stop in front of one of the mirrors installed within their ready room.
“ What ? “ Tilly responded, visibly surprised.
“ Didn’t you have red hair before ? “ Kira noted, leaning behind Tilly to rest her chin on the other siren’s right shoulder.
Tilly looked at the mirror now and realized that her friend was right. She had Long red hair earlier today, but now it was shoulder-long, white at the stem, and then proceed through a lavender blush, into a soft mauve tone. A much more specific kind of coloration then she had assumed before.
“ Looks like your growing into your proper self. “ Kira spoke softly, but with a grin, followed by a crude grope at Tilly’s bust.
“ Growing here too. Getting ready to get down and dirty for the first time, eh ? “ Kira openly teased.
“ H-hey ! Stop that Kira ! “ Tilly protested, blushing as she tried to remove her friends hands from her chest.
“ I wonder what your inner self may look like, it should be forming too, right ? “ Kira teased, pulling her hands away.
“ Stop it Kira ! “ Tilly said with a pout, she wasn’t quite comfortable with this issue yet, but she turned to look at the mirror again to test Kira’s assumption with a skeptical look, her light blue eyes gazing over the changes she went through.
Her hips grew a little wider, offering the perfect grip. Her chest had grown a size, and, turning to the side, her rear did remain somewhat slim, with a soft firm curve to it, which appeared pleasing to her.
“ Luxurious, lush. I like it. Make’s me wonder, Cat ? Vixen ? “ Kira went on, even guessing at what her friends inner self would show her to be, usually with the form of some human-animal hybrid that, in a way, described a Siren’s greatest desire. A form usually only shown to a mate that they submitted to. Which was considered the Bonding, the same thing her wing-mate, Calaya went through earlier today. A very rare occurrence for a Siren as they seldom remained with one exclusive mate, unless that mate managed to reach the essence of a Sirens desire.
“ Stop it ! “ Tilly demanded, openly upset now. This was moving a little quick, as much as part of her was looking forward to her first encounter, she was a little scared of what kind of person she would come to be then.
Kira would giggle, amused at the pitiful sight Tilly would give with that inner conflict clearly visible on her face. But she would lean in and hug her friend to give a bit of comfort.
“ Not yet . “ Tilly uttered more softly at her friend.
“ Well, maybe adjust your outfit. Right now, your asking for trouble. “ Kira suggested.
Tilly would take a look at herself in the mirror, and agreeing with Kira, her uniform was sitting much to snug, showing herself in a most favorable light, that was, if she intended to look for a mate.
“ Uggh. “ She grunted and closed her eyes for a moment, collecting herself, and then reshaping the uniform, which was part of her own body, granting herself a less curve promoting appeal.
“ Come on, they should be coming to a decision pretty soon. “ Kira exclaimed, still a smile on her face.
“ Your horrible, you know that ? “ Tilly muttered, much to the amusement of her friend, and, as Tilly only took note of now, some of the other team members that had watched the exchange.
It deepened the glow of her cheeks, especially with how some of the male squad members where also present. Though, at least they had the presence and the fortitude not to be charmed so easily, a positive development of the long cohabitation between Sirens and humans on Eden, one she was thankful for, given that she worried about her own ability to restrain herself if one where to show interest in her right now.
“ So, what do you think we’ll find on that ship Tilly ? “ Kira asked, noticing that her friend needed to have her mind taken onto other subjects.
“ Hmm. I don’t know. Doesn’t look Terran to me. And it seems unarmed. “ Tilly mused.
“ I mean, no visible weapon-mounts, no proper defensive shielding. “ She expanded on her thoughts.
“ Actually, that gravity shield thing, wouldn’t that be a strong defense against kinetics. “ Someone else from the team interjected.
“ Even more reason it can’t be Terran, they use diffusion-shielding too, don’t they ? “ Tilly surmised.
“ True. “ Kira agreed and adds, “ Can’t be Seltran either. They prefer small and nimble. “ She noted, receiving a nod from most of their squad.
“ That and Plasma weaponry. “ Tilly exclaimed, only then to look around as a loud but brief ringing sound called for their attention.
“ Attention, we have a new Development. Pilots to their fighter craft. Sirens please remain and prepare for a boarding op. “ Aria reported.
It prompted the larger portion of the pilots to grab their flight-gear and make their way out of the ready room, as the training squad consisted of only a few sirens amongst its members.
“ Good luck Gal’s. “ One of the female pilots called out, waving them goodbye for now as the team split, leaving only three Sirens behind. Tilly, Kira, and an older Siren called Mina, a rare case of a Siren that actually preferred to serve in the Military.
“ Damn, Calaya choose the perfect moment to turn horny. “ Mina bluntly stated, shaking her head.
“ Eh, can’t be helped. And If, it’s the commanders fault, he shouldn’t have done his job so well with her. “ Kira remarked with a grin.
“ Kira ! “ Tilly warned.
“ What ? It’s the truth, if anything, I am jealous that she got someone that got her good. “ Kira said staying her grin.
“ Well, True that. I guess. “ Mina agreed and chuckled, just to reach up at her right ear to trigger the direct link to the local Aria system.
“ Aria ? Can you give us a situation report ? “ She asked the AI, prompting it to link in to each of their comm’s unit to save time explaining.
“ About 15 minutes ago, the vessel started dumping fuel. Deuterium three by the looks of it. It used what little power it had afterwards to stabilize its orbit above the 7th planet, Lyria. And then a smaller vessel detached from the primary one. “ Aria explained.
“ Please turn your attention to the Operation-screen. “ She requested, and put onto the nearby screen the recording of how, below the ships central part, two heavy looking pieces of the hull separated, making room for a smaller vessel, shaped like a long cuboid, the front rounded, the rear holding a wider cross section to which four large chemical thrusters where attached.
The ship boosted itself in reverse for a moment to distance itself from the larger vessel, before it unsealed an armored section from which a radar dish was extended, aimed right towards the Wishkeeper.
“ Attention unknown vessel. “ A female voice send out at that point, and Kira muttered a soft, “ Thats the old Terran Imperial language. “, only to be hushed up by Mina.
“ This is the NH 03, we currently have lost all control over the main vessel, the INC Hope, two life-signs remaining on the main vessel, one in critical condition, please, render assistance. “ The message continued, and then repeated.
“ We managed to get in contact with the smaller vessel. It is an AI, the life-signs in question is a human male, and an animal. “ Aria elaborated further.
“ But, why Imperial Terran ? “ Tilly asked now, referring to the old English language that the AI was using, Terran today where still using English, and it was being referred to as Common, but it had changed over the many years.
“ Thats the thing. “ Aria responded, and then put a sideway display of the smaller vessel side by side to the picture of their founding fathers ship, the NH 01.
“ Its the same ship model as the New Horizon. The ship Jonathan Cole arrived on. “ Aria pointed out.
“ Wait, then that ship, it’s close to a thousand years old ! “ Kira gasped out in disbelieve.
“ Yes, it appears the New Horizon was, alongside two sister ships, part of this vessel, the INC Hope. We assume someone has found the ship drifting and has managed to reprogram the AI, but failed to account for the reactors, they appear to be heavily damaged, and the AI has no means to render repairs. “ Aria would go on to explain.
“ Then, what about the self repair we been watching earlier today ? “ Tilly asked now.
“ Unsure. The AI can not provide any information's in regards to that, but she can guide us to the Hope’s bridge, the last confirmed location of the human. “ Aria explained.
“ So, when and how ? “ Mina asked in a matter of fact kind of tone.
“ In 30 minutes. I need all three of you for this as even the AI can not give a definite account of the state within the Hope. So I will have a shuttle ready for you. Kira, your the best pilot, so I need you to stay on the shuttle, in case a quick retreat is needed, and I have no reach there with the large vessel interfering with my signal somehow. You’ll also be my bridge to keep contact with the two others.
Mina, you check the Reactors, see if you can patch them up enough to keep the ship stable in orbit. And see if you can find what was used to perform those rapid repairs.
And Tilly, you will head for the bridge. Render medical aid to the human, and bring him to the shuttle. If able the Animal as well, but the human is priority for now. “ Aria explained their new mission, and promptly receiving the usual “ Received “ from all three of them.