Phase Twelve: ...And Back Again

[emorangerpink]

[The Chalice is still moving west across the Pacific when a few familiar faces arrive in the hangar, hot on the heels of a familiar ship heaving in to range over the horizon. The Nirvana's back to supplement the Chalice's mini-fleet again, and it doesn't take long for a shuttle to bring the three tourists back aboard, along with the supplies and

Comments

[minorbeat]

(Laura! You hear silent and fast footsteps! You turn around just in time to get a flying glomp for Momo! She looks tired from all that has happened recently but right now she has one of the brightest smiles she has had in months! She gives you a big hug before backing off.)

LAURA! You're back! I missed you! I'm glad you're okay.

[emorangerpink]

Oof! [Laura's reflexes don't let her dodge the hug, even though she doesn't quite realize what it is before it connects, but they do at least let her remain standing. After a moment's surprise, she returns it.]

I missed you too! We're fine, no trouble on the trip. What about you? The Nirvana picked up talk of some sort of big attack - and it looks like the Chalice hasn't exactly been keeping out of trouble, either...?

[minorbeat]

(Momo gives Laura a big, happy smile with a bit of a blush. However, once the subject of the Chalice and trouble comes up, Momo sighs heavily and rubs her neck.)

The Chalice is a magnet for problems. You know that as well as I do...I don't want to drop bad news on you, especially since you just got back, but it is important that you know a few things...Just to be safe.

Yes, there was a rather nasty attack. We barely got out in one piece. The Chalice couldn't even move after it. It was only thanks to two old enemies that are now apparently no longer enemies that we survived. Specifically, it was two former Adventus generals who saved us, Jeremy and DJ RGNK.

Truthfully though...that pales in comparison to our recent problem...It's about Mad. She apparently had suppressed traumatic memories that have come to light and she is very unstable, especially around me and the other Desus. We...We think she might be Hana's little sister who we thought died.

[emorangerpink]

[The mention of Adventus draws a frown. The name RGNK turns it in to a look of alarm. When Momo follows it up with the explanation about Mad... well, there's not much Laura can do in response to that but put palm to face and rub at her temples.]

Oh dear.

Is... does she have anyone to help her through it? [Because as far as Laura's concerned, if Mad's unstable by Mad's standards, that's a hell of a powder keg.]

[space_mcgyver]

Welcome back! How was your trip?

[emorangerpink]

It was pretty great! We saw sights, had fun, I got to sort out a lot of things that needed sorting out...

And I'm officially registered as an apprentice mechanic, now! This might mean you need to sign things now and then.

[space_mcgyver]

Congrats! You'll have to tell me more about it, you know that.

White Chalice's a madhouse as usual. Couldn't have rejoined at a better time, really.

[emorangerpink]

That's what I'm hearing. I suppose it wouldn't really feel like coming home if everything had been quiet and peaceful...

Well, all it really means is that I keep doing what I've been doing here, take a correspondence course now and then, and once we ever eventually leave the Chalice it'll count towards a qualification Britannia and the Federation will recognize. In case I want a shot at working anywhere less, ah, unofficial than the Chalice...

[an_alpha_wolf]

"Laura Ericks!" Resnick looks happy to see her. "We disabled a naval class cannon Richard Hawke set up and were witness to him declaring war on Fuso. Then we engaged raiders at a village and were almost destroyed by a concealed pocket of explosive gas. There was an engagement against the Titans that I could not attend, probably disposing Zeon to like us more. Oh and the Watch discovered that the Word Of Blake had gotten involved in the Siberia campaign. Despite that, our settlement is a success."

[emorangerpink]

Resnick! [The mechwarrior gets a hug, because this once he'll have to put up with it.]

That's... a lot. But at least it... mostly sounds like good news...

How's Natasha?

[an_alpha_wolf]

He accepts the hug with good grace, as if indulging an enthusiastic younger sibling.

"Larger than ever. We expect no problems with releasing her. Did you enjoy your leave?"

The concept of voluntarily taking an extended period away from the battlefield not prompted by being recalled or promotion to high rank was new to him but he knew it was something that was supposed to be fun.

[emorangerpink]

[Laura nods.] It... well it was a wonderful holiday, but even apart from that, it... cleared away a lot of clouds that were hanging over me. It was exactly what I needed.

And it was a wonderful holiday. Meijire's a beautiful planet.

[chozo_girl]

[Samus looks at Laura as she goes around the hangar. She seems as stoic as ever as she approaches the smaller girl]

How did it go? [Yep, still every bit as direct as ever, seems]

[emorangerpink]

[Laura looks serious as Samus approaches. She knows the standard what-a-lovely-time-we-had recital isn't relevant here. She doesn't quite look sad, but there's a certain... wistfulness to her expression.]

A lot better than it could have. They accepted everything I had to tell them. I think it mostly just... bewildered them.

I didn't expect it all to feel so... distant. I'm just not that person any more, I suppose.

[chozo_girl]

[Nod]

You have changed much. And you did not think of it for years. It is only normal it will be different.

Whether it will be for good or ill, it is only for you to decide.

[emorangerpink]

I may not like all that's happened since, but... I'm not sorry to be who I am now. Far from it.

So... how much more will you be looking to collect from the nearest available government, after the past month?

["How many times did the world nearly blow up while I was away?"]

[not_genki_desu]

Well for one...

... Some dickbag from the Federation stole one of Celestial Being's GN Drives.

[emorangerpink]

Those things they're as careful with as Colonel Jin is about the Getter machines? [Speaking from a mechanic's eye view.] I take it that's not good at all.

Were any of the Meisters hurt...?

[If Kei wants to go right in to shop talk, Laura can indulge her.]

[not_genki_desu]

Yeah... those are the things. And we're following up a lead on them right now.

And fortunately... at least Setsuna and co. are okay. We're just trying to get it back before the Federation can reverse-engineer it or anything.

Though from what I've heard it took Celestial Being like... forty years to make those things. If we don't drag our ass we should be good.

[emorangerpink]

So long as having an example to work from doesn't make it all much easier. Or let them skip straight to making countermeasures... [Not that, in her opinion, Celestial Being's Gundams being rendered useless would be an entirely bad thing.]

Still, so long as tampering with them doesn't risk blowing up a city, we're probably not so badly off.

I hope the room didn't feel too empty with Lily and I both away?