The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Chad32]

<Prince Commander Ennoryma?> Claxter said, bewildered. He didn't even know she was in bad shape. This was very bad, especially if she didn't get better. They had so few already, and not one Andalite on the ship could replace her in skill or experience. He made his way towards the med bay, as Prince Ossanlin had earlier instructed. He would perhaps try to get more answers, but this wasn't exactly a conversation to be made to the general public. He hoped to hear good news, and that morale didn't drop. He didn't know her very well, but she was worthy of a lot of respect, and he had hoped to learn from her.

[Myitt]

Niko hugs Rythil and Firin lightly, stepping back with a somber nod.

"Yeah, well...Reven and James..." He looks down again. "I wish they were here, it feels like we're lost without them." He glances up at Rythil with a hollow expression. "When the base was destroyed, they were still there, trying to get people to safety."

He looks over at Valerie, startled by her sudden appearance, her sudden touch on his arm shaking him out of his depressing thoughts.

Then he grins.

"Valerie," he sighs, hugging her, too. "I'm so glad you're safe. Gene would be so glad you're alright."


Pacing down the hallway, Myitt finds herself confronted with a small crowd in front of the med bay doors.

She slows, then stops, looking Aetheas up and down, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets.

"I heard my people have returned," she murmurs blandly, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. She clears her throat, tilting her head slightly. "I'm sorry, I don't recognize you. Are you one of Prince Ossanlin's soldiers?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Firin feels immediate dismay at the words, understanding their meaning without pause.  It takes Rythil a bit longer before his eyes widen.  "You can't mean...no no...that's not possible!"  Rythil presses a hand to his midsection and walks a few paces past Niko, leaning against a nearby tree with his other hand.  Then a thought occurs to him.  He turns back to Niko.  "But the Andalites took some prisoners, we saw it!  He could be with them..."  The hopeful look in his eyes fades a bit.  "...wherever they are.  I bet the blue-furs on this ship would know, though.  If they'll tell us, maybe we can rescue them!  Maybe James and Reven are there!"  Rythil forces a small smile.  Tenuous though it is, the hope is still a thread to grasp at.

<<I don't think...>>

<<Don't be rotten wood...it's possible.>>

<<Rythil...think about what Niko's said...and what we already know.>>

<<...what are you getting at?>>

<<We saw Myitt get captured...>>

[Aluminator (Kit)]

<She has long suffered from Stimulant Syndrome,> Aetheas explains to Claxter absently, regurgitating the knowledge that he himself has only recently acquired. <She was a fighter pilot back when narthicyl use was widespread. It's finally caught up with her.>

He moves towards the door to the med-bay, intending to finally go in, but halts, almost gratefully, when he's addressed by a human. He turns one stalk eye towards her, then the other when he realizes who it is. <You are Myitt,> he replies matter-of-factly. He shows no emotion externally, save for the way he subconsciously takes a step back. Internally, however, he is a roiling sea of curiosity and turmoil. This is the Yeerk who apparently has deeper ties to Captain Ossanlin than most Andalites. The Yeerk who's apparently convinced him to bring... he glances at Keshin... to bring another who once almost killed him aboard. The Yeerk for whom, as far as Aetheas can tell, they've sacrificed everything, and he finds himself itching to know more about her than what he's read in the logs.

<I...> he begins hesitantly, still absorbed in his thoughts. <Yes, the scouting mission to the second rendezvous point has returned,> he says, now eying her more intently. <They brought a number of humans and presumably Yeerks with them. I believe they are gathering in the dome.>

At her question, he hesitates, unsure how to answer. <I am aristh Aetheas-Emelen-Sirinial. I am...> he hesitates again. <I am a member of the crew of the Tyrennian, yes.>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin follows the Andalite back to the med-bay tentatively, wondering what's going through the guy's head. He just told him that he nearly killed Ossanlin, and the Andalite seemed bewildered by the close relationship between the War-Prince and Myitt One-Nine-Five. Keshin hardly was---he'd learned firsthand exactly how close the two were. But he supposed from a normative standpoint it was weird. He didn't realize, in a sense, so long out of the War...how different outcasts were from most people.

<No freakin' duh, Kess. I coulda toldja that.>

<...>

Keshin's eyes widen as he notices, of all people, Myitt in the med bay just in front of War-Prince Ossanlin. The Andalite introduces himself as Aetheas, which at least tells them what the Andalite's name is. "N-Nice to see you," Keshin manages to get out, unsure of what to say. Myitt had been grieving in her room a long time.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin shuts off his ARC holo-emitter as a goodly number of people, both human and Andalite, enter the med-bay.  He'd been looking over Varekil's preliminary report regarding Enorryma.  He glances at each of them...Aetheas, Myitt, Keshin, and Claxter.  He nods...perhaps it would be good for Myitt to hear this too.

<Thank you for joining me.  As you can see, Prince Commander Enorryma has become...indisposed .  She will live, and should regain consciousness, but with the limitations aboard the Tyrennian, it will likely take a minimum of several months, and perhaps years.  Neural damage is not easy nor quick to repair.  I'm afraid she finally fell victim to Stim Syndrome.>  He pauses a moment before continuing.  <Her loss will be felt keenly...she had no peer.  I was relying upon her heavily.  However I do not have time to grieve, nor do the rest of us.  I need a Tactical Officer, and I need one who could one day live up to the Prince Commander's potential.>

Ossanlin looks straight at Aetheas with his main eyes.  <Aetheas, you have a gift for strategy and incredible potential for growth.  From this day onward, your training will intensify.  I'm afraid you'll not have much time to yourself.  Prince Lieutenant Claxter will continue to give you lessons, but only when he can as his own training on the helm will be intensified.  Others will give you lessons as well.  I'm tasking you with a huge undertaking, Aetheas.  You will have to learn every bolt, weld, wall, and rivet on the Tyrennian.  You will study tactical situations and your mettle will be tried a thousand times over and more.  If there is even one shred of doubt in your mind that you are able to become a worthy Tactical Officer, speak up now.>

[Chad32]

Claxter stood, masking his emotions, as Ossanlin confirmed that Ennoryma was gone. Temporarily, but the coming months or more would be much harder without her. He almost missed his new rank. He was being promoted, as well as Aetheas, who he was sure wouldn't tun down such a promotion. The guy had a lot of potential. Still, this was not the way that Claxter wanted to be promoted. Ideally his promotion would come because he had proven himself. Not because someone was near death. It was not unheard of in war, though.

[Myitt]

Niko pulls back from Valerie slightly and swallows hard, a bleak expression on his face as he regards the big Hork-Bajir Controller. "I hope you're right, Rythil," he murmurs. "I hope you're right, for the sake of all the people we still can't find. But Reven..." He lowers his gaze, a hand still on Valerie's shoulder. "We'll mourn for him and James in our own way."


"My name is Myitt One-Nine-Five," says Myitt, "and my human friend you see here is named Tara LaFauci. We are pleased to meet a friend of Ossanlin's, Aetheas." She winces, internally cursing how stilted her Galard has become from relative lack of use. English, it had been lately--a lot of it, with its colorful turns on language.

She paces into the med bay and nods at Ossanlin with a sad smile, watching as Ossanlin explains the dire situation with Enorryma.

<<Never much liked her,>> she comments to Tara internally, <<but then again I never much like Andalites. She and I could have gotten along, maybe. She was bright, and liked math.>> She shrugs outwardly, and touches Ossanlin's shoulder.

"I'm sorry about your friend, Ossy," Myitt says softly, in English. "Please let me know if I can help you while she recovers, I'm...I'm here to listen and...and all that stuff." She deflates a little, her gaze wandering to the rest of the room.

Myitt stiffens a bit and gives Keshin a hard look. "Keeping out of trouble, turelek?" she intones under her breath, propping herself up lightly on the balls of her feet.

[Shenmue654]

Keshin watches the events of Aetheas' promotion unfold, but decides it's best not to congratulate him. This isn't the way anyone would want a new job, not even the resentful Andalite. Still, he had to admit that he had been slightly frightened of Enorryma. He had only met her in tense moments and very briefly, but he recognized her as the officer with the intimidating air to her. He imagined he'd be far luckier with the Tactical Officer.

<Yeah, but he doesn' like you either. Now that he knows what we're about.>

<....I think I have sowed a seed of interest in him. We will see.>

Keshin's posture stiffens as soon as Myitt leans near him. He definitely heard her say "Keeping out of trouble." Did she always suspect him of something at this point? Probably--- it was warranted. He hadn't gotten in trouble....yet. The deal with Salem might or might not be on. He mutters "More or less" quietly in the Yeerk's direction.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas stands shock still for a moment, Ossanlin's words not really reaching him. The TO position... of course it's something he can do, but it's a position he'd expected he'd have to work towards for years. Nearly every Andalite on this ship is his senior, and he'd have expected the position to go to one of them. But then... none of them is more qualified than he was for the position, he feels sure of that. He feels a sense of awe, even as the world seems to roll beneath him with the shock of the offer, that the Captain had recognized this in him. He knows War-Prince Ossanlin has seemed to be showing him special attention, but this... this is unexpected.

<Captain-Prince Ossanlin,> begins Aetheas, finally remembering to lower his tail in the presence of a superior officer, <I will accept this undertaking. I...> his stalk eyes find Enorryma, and he feels a pang of regret. True, as an officer, she'd left some very large hoof-prints to fill, but the loss to him is two-fold. Of all the members of this crew, she's the one he'd been most looking forward to learning from, the one whose knowledge he respects the most greatly. The loss of her as an officer means less to him, personally, than the loss of her as a potential teacher. <I will attempt to live up to the standard set by Prince Commander Enorryma.> How under the suns am I supposed to surpass her without learning from her?

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods.  <Very good.  You will not be taking the position immediately, nor will you be taking it before I feel that you are ready.  And you are not as things currently stand.  How quickly you assume the mantle of Tactical Officer will be up to you, but you'll do no good to anyone if you burn yourself out on training.  One of the others will fill the post in the interim, but if we're to be successful in our venture, I don't need a satisfactory TO, I need an exemplary one.>

He moves his main eyes back to Claxter.  <I'm sorry we cannot have a proper ceremony at the moment, Claxter.  We will when we can, but for now I bestow upon you the privileges and responsibilities of the rank of Prince Lieutenant.  Consider it a battlefield promotion, and please understand, I would not award it if I did not feel it was deserved.>  His stalk eyes catch one of his Warriors entering the med-bay.  He takes the two hand-span sized boxes and nods as the Warrior retreats.  He opens the first to reveal the glint of platinum and gold, the belt insignia of a Prince Lieutenant, the chevron marking officer rank standing out in the bright lights of the medbay.  He hands the box to Claxter.  <Here you are, Prince.  I could wish this were under happier circumstances, but it is deserved no matter the surroundings.>

He opens the second to reveal a platinum Warrior's insignia.  This box he hands to Aetheas.  <This is long over-due, Warrior Aetheas.  As with the Prince Lieutenant, we will have a proper ceremony when we can.  Learn quickly, Warrior, I know that you are capable.>

He nods, tail-saluting Claxter and Aetheas both in turn, and moves his main eyes to Keshin.  <You tried to warn me, didn't you?  Not the behavior I'd expect from you, Keshin.>  He glances at Myitt before returning his eyes to Keshin.  <I do have an Escafil aboard the Tyrennian.  Unfortunately, I'm unable to access it at the moment.  The locking field only disengages for a dual verification by two of the three commanding officers aboard the ship.  My First Officer is no longer aboard, and my TO is in this suspension pod.  Until an official promotion is made in the Tyrennian's database for either a First Officer or Tactical Officer, the field will remain sealed.>  He pauses before continuing.  <When a promotion is made, what guarantees would I have that you wouldn't simply abscond in one of my Tail Fighters once you've been nothlitized?>

[Chad32]

Claxter made an involuntary shiver when he heard the words battlefield promotion. He didn't like that phrase one bit, briefly flashing back to what happened soon after his first battlefield promotion from Aristh to Warrior. He accepted the new insignia respectfully. <Thank you my Prince.> He salutes in return to Ossanlin's salute.

[Shenmue654]

"Your guarantee is in my common sense," states Keshin, nodding to Ossanlin when the War-Prince reaches him. This was going to have to be pretty convincing, as Keshin honestly had not worked out what they were planning to do yet. It would make sense to run off in a Tail fighter once they got ahold of the plans for the ship, but that would take some planning and leeway that they didn't have. Not yet, anyway.

"This ship probably has the equivalent of cameras running through it, and there is likely a person manning those cameras at all times. We're also outnumbered. As a human nothlit, Joanne would still be a capable gunman but not capable enough to run from that many people."

Keshin pauses and levels his eyes with Ossanlin's main eyes, as if attempting to bring back their shared....experienc e. "You know this yourself. And we would owe you one."

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas stares at the box offered him for a moment. A battlefield promotion? It does make sense-- the ship is hardly fully crewed at the moment, and his own promotion is long overdue, but the circumstances of this promotion are less-than-ideal.

He steps forward, his hearts hammering. He reaches for the box, miming Claxter's own acceptance of the insignia. Definitely long overdue, he thinks. <Thank you, my Prince,> he says, saluting. <I will learn quickly. I will do all I can to become the TO this ship needs.> He subconsciously drifts towards the door, eager to begin his training now as if he believes he can power through everything he needs to know and begin the job tomorrow. <My Prince,> he says to the Captain, <with what should I begin my training?>

[Chad32]

Derrel had been looking for Myitt, and caught a glimpse of her just as she left for somewhere else. If she was busy, he figured he'd check out on of the rooms. Since they were isolated to the Dome, the rooms must be adjacent, and he found an empty one. There was a bed made of force fields, and Xevec took over to look over every inch of it. Occasionally he would open and close the door, just to make sure it wasn't locked. When he was satisfied, he sat down to try to relax. This was the last place he ever expected to see, but this is where he'd be spending his time until their situation improved. Or untill they were shipped off to a prison or killed.