Khari risked a glance out the corner of her eye, where she knew Killzar to be standing. Ever since stepping into that strange Odazaen for the first time, since she was struck by whatever form of recognition that machine had towards her little circle of friends, she'd been keenly aware of where they were in relation to her, spatially at the very least.
Her awareness of Killzar had only strengthened ever since the other woman had stepped into the mech that would obey no one but her.
So she was unsurprised to see that Killzar already staring back at her.
"Technically yes," she replied non-verbally over the link after a moment, "But I was only an instrument of your new mech's will, as I'm sure you can feel."
Killzar returned her gaze to the front of the room where Comdt. Aparik was still rambling on about whatever this mission was going to be about, and Khari did the same as the line went dead. She'd had years to come to terms with whatever force was inside the Odazaen at this point, so she could well imagine what Killzar was going through in the scant few weeks she'd had with it.
Eventually, the communication line pinged again, this time for a text communication. With a Longan Unit's limited power, text allowed for more than one participant, and Khari knew exactly who she would see as the texcom projected itself in front of her eyes, and her eyes alone.
KILLZAR: Now that we have the opportunity, I think it time to discuss plans of escape.
MARINOS: Well hello to you too, sweetheart. A "Hey, how are you?" too much for you?
VEL-AHLLAN: Time is of the essence. We can trade pleasantries once we're free.
Fondness for the three of them burned bright in Khari's heart, but she focused on the task at hand. They didn't have a lot of time to work with here.
KHARI: Rhea and I managed to find a solution to the Longan problem, but there's still the issue of getting out of Thalatte space itself.
KILLZAR: I believe this ship may be the solution to that particular equation. Nevara, what know you of its capabilities?
VEL-AHLLAN: It would more than serve our needs.
KHARI: Then the next issue would be the other people on the ship, especially the officers.
MARINOS: I had to do a rundown on the medical manifest when I got transferred here, so I can say with confidence that I can get something to take care of the thalatte.
KILLZAR: A poison? Their race was immune to those, as far as I was aware? Yet more propaganda?
MARINOS: Yes and no? They're not fully immune, but they do have redundancies in their biology that allow them to shrug off poisons that would kill any other species. But what they aren't immune to are general anesthetics specifically tailored to circumvent their physical resistances!
KHARI: I would assume something that strong would also work on the other races onboard?
MARINOS: Better, actually. And worse at the same time, because it would hit the other races harder. They'll wake up with hangovers instead of feeling well rested.
KILLZAR: That may be to our benefit. Disloyal to the thalatte as we four our, does that disloyalty also echo in the hearts of our fellow slaves?
VEL-AHLLAN: I'd rather it be just us that deal with this, rather than rely on outside help.
MARINOS: Alright, I think I can rig up something to dispense the anesthesia through the ship. We'll need to make sure we're not breathing that air, however.
KHARI: Whatever mission the Commandant's planning, they needed environmental suits for it. My shop had them delivered here last night, and if they're good enough for toxic environments, they'll be good enough for some medical grade gas.
KILLZAR: Can you get them to us?
KHARI: Yeah, shouldn't be an issue. You're all familiar with how to use the W.Y.R.M. model?
VEL-AHLLAN: Yes.
MARINOS: Of course.
KILLZAR: Certainly.
KHARI: Good. I should be able to get those tonight. Rhea, what would be the time frame on getting your end set up?
MARINOS: If operations run as predictably as they do on other Thalatte postings, then I could have it ready to go by tonight too. But just be aware we're not going to have a huge window of opportunity with this stuff. It needs to be administered constantly and directly to keep a thalatte under. With as widespread a dispersal as we'd be able to get with the resources we have, we'll only have minutes to deal with the officers. And on that note, how are we going to deal with them?
VEL-AHLLAN: We kill them.
KHARI: I raise my hand in favour.
KILLZAR: Likewise.
MARINOS: Yeah, oaths aside, I gotta agree with that. Alright, knock'em out then take'em out. We're going to have to figure out the when of that, however.
KILLZAR: I believe once we are in subspace will be the ideal time. Excluding the QECD, which is highly limited in terms of what it can transfer across the divide, communication with outside sources is impossible for those within that realm, so we won't have to fear a kill command coming from elsewhere.
KHARI: And speaking of the QECD, we'll have to remove it, as they'll be able to track us even through subspace with that. Knowing how the Thalatte load out their ships, we might have to gut this thing to find all the monitoring devices.
KILLZAR: Once we've a moment out from under the control of the military, we should endeavour to find the schematics of this ship to divine what we can of what secrets it has in store.
VEL-AHLLAN: I would like to keep this ship, if possible. From what I've seen of it, it may be out best chance at staying out of Thalatte hands.
MARINOS: We're finally, really doing this, aren't we?
VEL-AHLLAN: Second thoughts?
MARINOS: Not even a little bit. It's just that, when you want something so hard for so long, when the chance at getting it finally arrives, it feels a little unbelievable.
KILLZAR: Save your belief for when our plan is a success. There is every opportunity for it to fail yet.
MARINOS: Not to be dramatic, but if our little escape attempt gets found out or goes tits up, the only thing we'll have to look forward to is death, and what's that if not another form of escape? So bright side, we'll be free one way or another?
KHARI: I'd rather we all get out of this alive.
MARINOS: Oh believe me babe, me too. I'm just trying to keep my expectations from getting away from me.
KILLZAR: We'll not preemptively crown ourselves in victory, but the laurel is in sight. As the Commandant said, we'll be off to Lacertus space in short order, which is not a full Thalatte day's journey, so time will not be something in great abundance.
MARINOS: So then to recap just so we're on the same page, I'll get the anesthetic and rig it up to the atmospheric systems tonight. From the documentation I got about the onboard medbay, it looks like pretty standard Thalatte issue, so there'll be options for the rapid deployment of gasses throughout the system I can take advantage of.
KHARI: And I'll be able to get the W.Y.R.M.s tonight too. Give me your berths in the crew quarters, and I can slip them to you after curfew.
MARINOS: Buy a girl dinner first? UL11
KILLZAR: LR06
VEL-AHLLAN: UR09
KILLZAR: The Commandant's address had been more bravado than details, so may luck be on our side and have our departure time set for after we've spun these wheels into motion.
VEL-AHLLAN: If they run their ship like the rest of the captains I've served under, we'll be given a more mission-oriented debriefing with our duty assignations in the hours to come.
MARINOS: So we'll just have to hurry up and wait. Love that for us.
KHARI: We've waited years at this point, so what's a few days more?
KILLZAR: By the day next, we'll have W.Y.R.M.s in hand, and the anesthetic ready to be dispersed. Once in the air, we will have precious little time with which to act, to take out the thalatte before they get the chance to do the same to us.
VEL-AHLLAN: Officers like to be well rested before their ship returns from subspace. The majority of them will retire to their quarters, leaving only a few on the bridge to oversee operations, if any. The pilot's station is equipped with a sidearm for emergencies, so I will be able to take care of any thalatte on the bridge.
MARINOS: The officer's quarters were marked on the maps we were given with the orientation material. The three of us should meet up outside of there so we can take the rest of the officers out as quickly as possible. We won't have access to sidearms, so we're going to have to do the deed the old fashioned way - brutally. I can bring the surgical equipment we'll need to cut through their scales, so I hope neither of you are squeamish about blood.
KHARI: Even if I was, I think I'll be able to make an exception for them.
KILLZAR: A statement I can readily agree with. Time uncertain as it is for this operation, we'll do what we can to have all preparations in place no later than the morning inbound. Then it shall be the wait for subspace, where once again time stands in opposition to our efforts.
VEL-AHLLAN: It's standard protocol on ships to have a whistle that sounds at shift's end, a tradition from when their navies extended no farther than their seas. After this whistle, there will be a ten minute period - military standard timecount - where the crew will retire to their quarters. After this, lights out, and the non-thalatte crew quarters will be locked.
KHARI: I'll be able to bypass whatever they have in place.
KILLZAR: As I hoped. Rhea, how long will it take for the anesthesia to disperse, take effect, and what window will it leave us in which to act?
MARINOS: If the dispersal system in this ship is as efficient as they are in others of Thalatte make, and if I have it rigged to go at lights out, that'll give us roughly five minutes for the stuff to take effect, and again roughly five minutes before the thalatte will be able to shake it off.
KILLZAR: Then we will have to act swiftly. Nevara, you are certain you will be in the pilot's seat for the journey to subspace?
VEL-AHLLAN: Standard protocol has the most experienced pilot as the one guiding a ship into and out of subspace. The other pilots assigned to the Pelekys are good, but I'm better.
KILLZAR: Then I will trust you will be there to remove whatever officers remain on the bridge with you. While you tend to them, the three of us will adjourn to the officer's quarters to remove those abed.
"-and so we must show those savages in Lacertus lands exactly what happens when you stand against the might of the Thalatte Stratocracy!" Comdt. Aparik finally came around to the end of their speech, and the four hastily shut down their communication, wiping the records of it from their Longan before they returned to the monitored interior of the ship, "Now, my beauties, you'll be sent off to your stations for your deployment. Learn them well, and perform as exemplarily as your records led me to believe you can. Dismissed!"
The assembly broke up in orderly fashion, discipline drilled into them through long years of service. Even when assigned to a new ship, the non-thalatte crew knew that they could expect more of what they'd always had to deal with, even on a ship as unique as the Pelekys was proving to be, and so they move with all the exuberance of a workforce going through the motions.
All except for four, who moved with the sharp alertness of soldiers eager to do their duty. The Commandant made note of this, pleased that their speech had filled them with vigor for the mission ahead.
But as for Khari, Killzar, Marinos, and vel-Ahllan, it was the promise of freedom that had them marching with more pep in their step than their peers.