Once More Into the Breach

[onemorebounty]

*When next Ali checks such things in Samus' era, she has a call waiting, with a "Fleet Command" tag blinking bright.*

Comments

[onemorebounty]

*When Samus arrives in the Valgish system, she scans first for hostiles; finding none, she sweeps for signs of life. The docking ring around Neurtid shows some light damage, and the debris cloud around it is consistent with a running firefight between two medium-sized ships. The ring's comm array is a slagged lump, either the victim of a wild shot or pirate strategy. She sets a sensor sweep and beacon to keep an eye out for Ali, and to greet her when she arrives, while the Hunter herself rummages her arsenal for weapons that won't fail her planetside.*

[vicioussweetie]

Ali doesn't keep Samus waiting any longer than absolutely necessary, and has Lucy run the same series of sweeps on her arrival. But when she sees Samus is already there, she opens a channel.

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting long?"

[onemorebounty]

Not long at all. How was the trip?

*Visible in the holo, Samus has foregone her usual vacsuit in favor of clothes that wouldn't be out of place on contemporary Earth.*

[vicioussweetie]

"Lovely. Can't wait to find the gift shop. I have a great desire for a snow globe." Ali gives the wardrobe change a once-over. "So what's our game plan?"

[onemorebounty]

We dock, get ground imaging of the crash site if we can, send your ship to fly survey if we can't. Once we've found it, I'll go down on the closest elevator and go overland.

*She's thoughtful for a long moment.*

I don't suppose you have any low-tech toys tucked in your cabin?

[vicioussweetie]

"Always. Nothing scares the Marines like an Admiral with a big knife," she jokes. "Do you want swords or firearms? Or some of each?"

[onemorebounty]

Sounds like you're getting into one of my favorite sports.

*She smirks.*

Everything I can carry. What about you?

[vicioussweetie]

"Well, that depends. Am I going planet-side with you, or do you want me to stay on the ring and guard it?"

[onemorebounty]

Do you think your ship and crew could handle a firefight without you, if another batch of pirates showed up?

[vicioussweetie]

"Theoretically. They're new, you know; I haven't had much time to really test them yet. But there's no time like the present, right? And if I go down with you, I can make sure we have an alternate way off-planet again. Hmm, it looks like the communications array is offline. I think I'll have Adam try and work on that and any defenses that are down."

[onemorebounty]

*She nods.*

Sounds good. You make a better medic than me in a pinch, anyway. Do you still have that low-pro carbo-nan suit? From that night out with Jubilee?

[vicioussweetie]

"I do, and you're welcome to borrow it. I'll be taking advantage of... other armor. You know how it is." With staff around, she doesn't want to just come out and say things. "Anything else you want me to pack before we rendezvous?"

[onemorebounty]

Survival gear--no telling how far we'll have to walk; food, water or something to purify it, all the rope you can carry... anything you think you'd want on a camping trip.

[vicioussweetie]

"Will do. Let me know when you choose a docking site."

[onemorebounty]

I'm looking at port A-7. It's close to the habitation section; if anyone's still alive down there, that's the best place to find them. And I'll send over the remote codes for my ship, in case your people need a second gun.

*On a tactical display of the system, the blip representing Samus' gunship arcs toward the docking ring.*

[vicioussweetie]

"We'll see you there."

Ali's a bit behind Samus again: she has to give orders to her crew, and wait for Adam to gather the tools and weapons he needs for his assignment. The larger ship provided for her use by the Fleet is left in orbit; Ali's little private ship is enough to carry two people to the ring--and it will give Adam a way out if necessary.