GBG Session 6: Breaking News

<Darkling> A few birds chirp here and there, a red squirrel scampering from bush to bush. Lit has brought you back to the forest surrounding the base for an afternoon barbeque. since you didn't really get to enjoy it last time without being shot at. He's currently working the grill, cooking up some sausages and hamburgers. A cooler sits on a spread out sheet, stocked full of juices and ice. A nice day for this too, as the sun is beaming down through the dome and filtering through the leaves.
Wilhelm_Faustus hides in the shade of a tree, resting back against the trunk with arms folded over his chest. A subconscious sign he wants to be left alone, or just a habit? A book rests in his lap, unread so far.
Corrin stands there stifly, attention wavering between the Captain and the trees. Another exercise seems unlikely, but better to be sure. That grill does smell good...
Rasia stuffs a fistful of ice into her mouth, crunching it between sharpened teeth, water running down her chin. After a quick pit stop, it's back to hunting that squirrel.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja is resting in the shade. She has her eyes closed, but periodically opens one or both.
<Darkling> So far no agents or even other people to be seen Corrin. The coast is clear.
Rasia scrambles up a tree, the chittering of squirrels and fleeing birds signing an unsuccessful chase.
Corrin relaxes somewhat, watching the grill. The light is pleasantly warm, and he leans back against the tree. It's good.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
<Rasia> A piece of fruit gets knocked loose, landing on the ground with a 'thump'. Rasia's down soon after.
<Darkling> The sounds of grease and fat sizzling fill the air.
<Darkling> "Everyone hungry?" Lit asks, flipping a burger.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir." Corrin replies promptly, gaze moving to the burger then back to the Director.
Rasia looks at the man, her fruit filling her mouth. Is he really asking that while I'm here?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja rises, brushing stray bits of grass and dirt off of her clothing. Her eyes settle into half mast, and she halfheartedly jogs back and forth along a straight line. "Yes, sir. What they feed us in school barely qualifies as food, sir."
Wilhelm_Faustus doesn't move, staring off in the direction opposite the grill, Lit and his fellow pilots.
<Darkling> "Food's ready then. Grab a plate and come get some."
Corrin heads over quickly.
Rasia clambers over after Corrin, getting a plateful before wandering over to Wilhelm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja jogs over, mustering only a little more enthusiasm than before. She waits before taking any food, intent on seeing what her fellow pilot will get.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He glances to Rasia, briefly, then back to looking off. Not quite the same direction as last time.
Corrin carries his plate over to a nearby bare patch and sits down, putting it down in front of him. Sitting there, bent forwards slightly, he picks the burger up in both hands, holds it under his nose for a moment, then starts to devour it.
Rasia eats just as enthusiastically as Corrin, squatting down by Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." Why in the world is she eating over here?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja carries her own plate closer toward Corrin, though she still keeps a bit of distance. "Pilot Corrin. Do you object if I occupy the same general vicinity?"
Corrin swallows. "These are great." Corrin comments once the last of the burger is gone. "Sure. Pilot Lahja."
<Rasia> Munch munch munch. Were there any ribs at the BBQ?
<Darkling> No ribs at this bbq, unfortunately, just plenty of burgers and sausage.
<Rasia> Oh well. No ominous bone-chewing.
Corrin leaps up to get another burger before they all vanish down Rasia's gullet.
Wilhelm_Faustus stands and makes his way to the grill.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I was reading some interesting things about hamburgers a few days ago, Pilot Corrin." Lahja says, then takes a large bite out of her own.
Rasia promptly seats herself where Wilhelm was, finishing off the first of several burgers.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Collecting up a bit of food he finds a new place to sit, around a tree and out of view.
Corrin comes back, plate full. "Sorry. What'd you say?"
<Darkling> Lit grabs some food for himself, and makes to sit down on the ground, it's an awkward sight.
<Rasia> Rasia, of course, uses her seconds as a chance to search for Wilhelm and sit next to him again, a smug look on her face.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Hamburgers." Another bite. She takes her time chewing. "Supposedly the factories where they used to grind up the beef were allowed to have a certain number of rats in their machinery before they had to clean up."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...look. What is it you want?" He puts his plate down, turning to face her. He adjsust his glasses, looking at her over the top of them. "...the smell in my room, the roof...this. What is it?"
Corrin stops eating.
<Corrin> "I...Excus...Pilo..."
Corrin takes off at a dead run, but not fast enough. He staggers to a stop, retching, and the burgers come back up almost as fast as he ate them.
<Rasia> Her nose twitches. Another bite of meat disappears down her gullet. A long silence while Corrin vomits. "...Mine."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...what?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She lofts a brow as Corrin runs off to vomit. Then she casually resumes eating her own burger, trying not to let her amusement show.
<Rasia> Another bite. She's visibly struggling with the ideas. Or maybe it's gas.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
Corrin staggers back, paler than before, and flops down again. This time, he's noticably further away from Lahja and her meal. Pushing his own plate as far away as he can, he stares at nothing in particular, and definitely not the burger Lahja's chomping down on.
<Rasia> Unable to come up with anything, she resumes doing what she does best, leaving Wilhelm without clarification. "Mine."
<Corrin> "Didn't...need to know that, Pilot Lahja." he says after a moment.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...whatever." He looks away, turns so some of his back is to her as he returns to eating.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sowwy, Piwot Cowwin. I..." She mutters a few more words as she chews, completely unintelligible. Then she swallows loudly. "I won't talk about such things anymore."
<Darkling> "There's some salad Corrin." Lit mentions, motioning to the cooler.
<Corrin> "I just don't li-" Corrin jerks around midword. "Thank you, sir."
<Darkling> Lit nods, shoving a good half of a sausage into his mouth. It disappears behind his beard never to return.
Corrin trundles off again and returns with a platter of salad, but seems to have gone off the food quite a bit. He halfheartedly eats as he sits there.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After finishing off her hamburger Lahja rests beneath a tree. She quietly counts to herself, but loses interest somewhere down the line. "Captain, might I ask where you learned to cook?"
<Darkling> A low whine fills the air.
Rasia twists her head, looking up.
Corrin has just finished the last of the carrot slices.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands.
<Corrin> "What's that?"
<Darkling> Lit's phone rings, as if to answer the question.
Corrin gets up too, plate in hand.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...Suttung..."
<Darkling> The whine raises into a full out blaring horn. Lit hangs up the phone. "Time to go."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He's already moving for the vehicle, food forgotten.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir!" Corrin says at once, dropping the plate and running.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stands, putting on a big smile. She's all too eager to move on to business.
Rasia sprints for the vehicle, swallowing nearly half a pound of food on the way.
<Darkling> Lit drives them into the base, barbeque picnic forgotten, and rushes them to the cages.
Corrin takes his seat and straps in by rote, leaning forwards. He's hunched forwards and there's that too-rigid look to him again.
<Darkling> "Get in your suits, and head to the plugs. That's an order." He heads for the Control Room.
<Rasia> Nyoom! The look on her face isn't eager, but the way she moves...
<Corrin> "Yes, sir!" Corrin yells, already moving. "Another chance..." he adds, more quietly.
Wilhelm_Faustus heads for the lockerroom, stoic as ever as he slips into his plugsuit.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja is quick to change. She's positively shaking with anticipation and sports a questionable looking smile.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He walks out into the cage, making a last adjustment to the way the plugsuit clung to his form, then approached the plug.
Corrin rushes through the procedure, throwing his clothes off quickly and tugging the suit on. By the time he's done, he's calmed somewhat, but still all but rushes to his assigned post.
<Corrin> *sprints
<Rasia> Unit 01 growls lazily as Rasia enters the plug, prompting its pilot to reply in kind, her suit rippling.
Corrin sits there, hunched forwards. His hands are tight around the controls, and his neck is craned as he stares ahead.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He hesitates, breifly, before climbing into the plug.
<Darkling> You can see Lit in the control room on monitors, hovering over a computer and frowning.
<Darkling> The sound comes on in the plugs. "Here's the situation."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja runs toward the plug, quickly but carefully entering 04. She breathes deeply, taking in the air before the flood of LCL.
Corrin 's face is stretched into a tight, faint smile.
<Darkling> "The Jotun is attacking one of our harvesting domes. We don't know why. We have been able to get a good read on it though."
Corrin stops smiling, still staring at the blank screen.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Harvesting dome? Interesting.
<Darkling> Your displays pop up showing a massive Jotun shaped somewhat like a white gorilla rearing up and slamming its fists into the hard protective casing of the harvest dome.
Rasia growls, shifting her weight.
<Darkling> "Muninn has determined the Jotun to be classified as Suttung. It's melee based, as far as we can tell. We also think we've located the core."
Corrin stares ahead, eyes following the thing's movements.
Rasia pushes her eyebrows together. Hrm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja seems both surprised and impressed. She twitches a bit.
<Darkling> Another window opens, showing a camera from atop the dome. The face of the Jotun, Suttung, appears. Shaped much like a bat's head, but with four large gaping eye sockets that twinkle red.
<Darkling> "We do have deployment positions by the harvest domes, so we'll be sending you to those, it will take a bit of time, but you'll be released within range of the Jotun."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...advice, give its proximity to an important structure?"
<Darkling> "Aim smart, try not to blow anything up. The dome already will need repair, but we don't want to worsen things more than necessary."
<Corrin> "Yes, sir."
Corrin says, not taking his eyes off the feed.
<Darkling> "Everyone ready?" The question is more to the crew in the command room than the pilots.
<Darkling> A bridge bunny gives the okay. "Initiate launch."
<Darkling> Gears grind, locks releasing, and your Aesir are jettisoned through dark tunnels.
Rasia grunts, gripping her controls.
<Darkling> You're traveling sideways, facing upwards as far as you can tell.
Corrin continues to lean forwards, rigid and staring ahead as the plug is jostled. He's ready. He won't fail.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I imagine you knew already, Wilhelm, but the implications of this attack are fascinating for someone less well versed on the enemy."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...hard to say if it understands what exactly it's doing."
<Rasia> Sounds like someone else you know, Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...if it does, it's an unsettling amount of intelligence. Can't underestimate them."
<Darkling> You're traveling upwards now an that same immense speed.
<Corrin> "Not like chess after all." Corrin says, mind elsewhere.
Rasia growls, baring her teeth, flexing Unit 01's curled talons.
<Darkling> *FWOOSH* The bright sunlight greets you blindingly.
<Darkling> Th eJotun is ahead of you, it slams it's bulk against the dome again, concrete tumbling in massive blocks to the snow. It turns to greet you.
<Rasia> Unit 01 howls at it, as loudly as it can with its sealed jaw.
Corrin sends his Unit forwards at once, pushing down the throttles as far as they can go.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...jawohl, Suttung."
<Darkling> Lit's voice comes over the comm, "Try to get it away from the dome if you can."
<Corrin> "Come and die!" Corrin yells, hammer dropping into one hand as Unit 02 lunges. It swings...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...must you always scream at them? I doubt they understand you."
<Corrin> The hammer's head hits the thing solidly in the chest, glowing with arcs of energy as it contacts.
<Darkling> The Jotun staggers a moment, now realizing what's going on.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Blue hexagons gather in the outstretched palm of the hovering Aesir, a heated blast of AT Field slamming into the Jotunn.
<Darkling> The Jotun tears at the energy blasting it and slams forward into the space where Unit Ein used to be.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Unit 04 withdraws one of its assault rifles. Lahja carefully studies the Jotun from within 04, the Aesir taking aim and then growing eerily still.
<Rasia> Unit 01 joins the fray, grabbing the Jotunn's arm in its claws, wrenching and twisting. It isn't quite done well enough to actually get it away from the dome, but those bleeding, white-hot talons strip flesh in big chunks.
<Darkling> "Nice work Rasia. Corrin, follow her lead, get it away from the dome."
<Corrin> "Yes, sir! Right away!" Corrin replies, then slams his shield into the Jotuun, trying to physically move it away.
<Darkling> The Jotun stumbles back against the push.
Corrin leaps after it with a yell, his swing going wide as he pulls his shield back.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Another blast of super-heated AT Field slams into the Jotunn courtesy of Null Drei.
<Darkling> The Jotun swings with it's still in tact arm, narrowly missing Null Zwei.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja smiles, a look of utmost confidence on her face as 04 pulls the trigger, unleashing a single, devastating shot aimed squarely at the Jotun's nose.
<Rasia> Unit 01 jumps back into the fray, one set of claws whizzing past the Jotunn's face, only for the other set to slash open its chest.
Corrin takes advantage of the Jotuun's distraction to slam his Unit's shield into the thing's chest.
<Corrin> "Ha!" Corrin crows as the thing takes the hit. "Pilot Lahja! Hit it again!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei's eyes flash, AT Field warping to form a funnel. Lasers blast from its eyes, throwing sparks as it connects with the Jotunn.
<Darkling> Yet again the Jotun makes a desperate swipe with it's good arm, only to be distracted by Null Drei and flail incompetently.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Your help is appreciated as always, Pilot Corrin!" Lahja exclaims cheerfully, firing off another well aimed shot at the Jotun's head.
<Rasia> Oh Jesus, Unit 01 just leapt clean over Corrin's Aesir. Slamming into the Jotunn with a bloodthirsty howl, it continues to rip at any flesh it finds, splattering the ground with its own blood and Suttung's.
Corrin charges in right after the howling Unit, yelling as he brings the hammer down onto the creature.
<Corrin> "Die!"
<Darkling> The Jotun still stands, despite your commands Corrin. It is however bloodied beyond belief, only small patches of it's white fur remain untouched.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He lifts a closed fist, taking a moment to aim. Fingers spread to reveal its palm, launching a new assault with its AT Field, taking off Suttung's left arm.
<Darkling> The Jotun staggers, blood oozing out of it's left side.
<Darkling> "That's the way Pilots. Finish it!" Lit sounds quite enthusiastic.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Encouraged by Lit's cheerful demeanor and the sight of the bloodied foe, Lahja smiles as 04 unloads a hail of bullets on the wounded Jotun.
<Darkling> "Do as Lahja does, aim for the head."
Corrin throws himself forwards with a wordless yell, hammer arcing forwards and straight into the thing's forehead. There is the sharp, stacatto crack of splintering bone as the blow hits home.
<Darkling> The cracks spread down it's head as flesh and bone fall away, the bright core appearing underneath as it too cracks, splintering into a thousand shards and crumbing to the ground with the wasted body of the Jotun.
<Corrin> "Got it." Corrin breathes.
<Darkling> "Good job pilots. Secure the area and standby for orders."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei hovers forward before dropping to the snow. It kneels, a hand running through the snow to gather up some of the shards...examining them.
<Darkling> They turn to all but dust, glittering amongst the snow.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir." Corrin responds automatically. "Pilot Wilhelm, what..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> It stands and resumes floating.
<Darkling> Another voice comes over the comm, one you haven't heard before. It's gravelly, almost computerized. "Excellent show Pilots. You have my personal thanks." The voice cuts out.
Rasia growls at the voice, doing nothing to stop Unit 01 from pulling the Jotunn's corpse apart.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes, sir!" Lahja says cheerfully, a wide eyed smile plastered on her face. 04 begins looking about, rifle ready to use at a moment's notice.
<Corrin> "Who..." Corrin begins, then shakes his head, turning Unit 02. "Pilot Rasia, it's dead. We should follow our orders."
<Darkling> "We're sending units to pick you up. VTOLS are on the way." It's Lit again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei reaches back for its umbilical cable, pulling it loose.
<Darkling> "Wilhelm? What are you doing?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A rumble from inside its chest, head tilting back to stare up.
<Rasia> Unit 01 growls, hunching its back and perking its tail.
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm, answer the Captain." Corrin says tersely, procedure overcoming tiredness. Unit 02 stands still, hammer and shield lowered.
<Darkling> "Pilots, what is going on?"
<Darkling> VTOLs appear over the horizon.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Its gaze moves toward the Sun and the Black Moon. Energy collects, blue hexagons moving rapidly and heating. A blast, shaped like a cross, ignites the sky in the distance.
<Corrin> "Sir, Pilot Wilhem is unresponsive." Corrin says, only slightly hesitant. "Pilot Wilhelm, respond."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks in the direction of Null Drei, 04 turning to accommodate. She remains at attention, but doesn't seem terribly concerned. Just curious. "I'm not sure, sir."
<Darkling> "Rasia, pacify Null Drei without harming it."
<Rasia> Unit 01 barks, and leaps at Null Drei, claws bared.
Corrin is watching tensely, confused but waiting for orders.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei takes the hit, like hitting a ragdoll.
<Rasia> The Units slam into the ground together, Null Drei's head pinned down and throat bared. Sure, that counts as pacification.
<Darkling> "Stand by for extraction Pilots."
Corrin almost steps forwards at the impact, but hesitates, waiting for orders. "Yes, sir..."
<Darkling> =================================
<Darkling> Back at the base. You've had time to clean off, have a shower, and were even offered sandwiches. All except you Wilhelm. You're in a hospital bed with Freyja standing over you, performing a few unflattering tests.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I'm fine."
<Darkling> Lit's standing outside the door to the room, almost on guard, with the pilots. "You did well today." His compliment comes off half hearted from the serious tone in his voice.
<Darkling> "You are not fine." She scolds looking at the thermometer in her hand which just violated you.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I feel fine."
Corrin sits, limp sandwich in hand. He makes an effort to straighten at the Captain's comment, responding more or less by rote. "Thank you, sir." He hesitates, mouth open, but closes it again a moment later without saying anything.
Rasia lurks, staring at the Captain. Or, rather, through him, as though if she tries hard enough she'll be able to see Wilhelm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Thank you, sir. Do you believe Wilhelm will be alright, sir?" There is a certain peculiarity to her voice, an almost mechanical monotone quality.
<Darkling> "Yes well, I'm the doctor in the room." She notes a few things down. "I'll need to check on you tomorrow. I will be by the apartment." She slips the vials of blood samples she took into her coat.
Corrin remains straight-backed, eyes darting away from, then back to the Captain.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...what happened to me?"
<Darkling> "...I'm not at liberty to discuss possibilities."
<Darkling> She doesn't know, does she.
<Darkling> Lit smiles, forcefully. "I am sure he is fine."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His eyes narrow, looking away from her.
<Darkling> "You are stable and healthy enough to leave though. I will tell the others while you dress." Her heels click clack across the tile as she leaves the room.
Corrin nods, still watching the Captain.
<Darkling> The door to the hall swings open. "Give the pilot a minute to dress, then you may see him." She walks down the hall away from them, hips swaying.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He dresses slowly, frowning a bit more than usual.
<Darkling> Lit nods, frowning at the woman's back.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja watches Freyja depart. She glares daggers at the woman as she leaves, but quickly covers it up by stuffing her face with the last remnant of a sandwich.
<Darkling> After waiting what seems long enough, Lit peers in the room.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hes standing there with his back to the door...not doing much else.
<Darkling> Lit steps in, opening the door for them all.
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm."
<Rasia> Rasia sneaks in, nose scrunching in a series of sniffs.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He glances over his shoulder, and turns to face Lit.
<Darkling> "How are you feeling?" He asks.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...fine."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja enters quietly. She remains near the door, expecting she'll be asked to leave before long.
Corrin stands at the doorway, watching.
Rasia growls, actually keeping her distance from the boy.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...can we leave?"
<Darkling> Lit scowls at Rasia. "Yes. Let's head home."
<Darkling> He motions for the Pilots to head out.
Corrin moves to obey, uneasy.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja offers a quick nod toward Wilhelm before she exits the room.
<Darkling> Back to the apartment then after an unsettling, mostly quiet APC ride.
<Darkling> Lit moves to the couch. He seems upset almost, keeping quiet. He picks up the remote for the television.
Corrin steps inside, moving more carefully and slowly. If he'd had a wider base of examples, he'd have compared it to a funeral.
<Corrin> *slowly and carefully than usual
Rasia moves with similar care, bubbling with suspicion and aggression. She even picks Hel up.
<Corrin> "Sir?" Corrin blurts, regretting it at once but too late.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> The peculiar air has affected Lahja as well. Her eyes are narrowed just a tad, and her movements are quick and suggestive of irritability.
<Darkling> Lit pauses, remote raised. "Yes?"
<Corrin> "Did we...do something wrong?" Corrin continues, somehow managing to shrink back while standing at attention.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil has hidden himself away on the roof.
Corrin finishes the question reluctantly.
<Darkling> "Not at all. You all did well today."
<Darkling> He is sincere at least.
Corrin nods, tension disappearing somewhat. The confusion remains, though.
<Darkling> The screen flicks on, light filling the room.
Rasia chews on her guard, watching Hel struggle with her fingers.
Corrin turns to look.
<Darkling> The remote hits the ground.
<Darkling> *remote
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja casts a glance to the screen, then the remote, and then the screen again.
Corrin just stands there, still.
<Darkling> A blurred Null Ein tackles Null Drei to the ground on the screen.
Corrin represses a wince at the impact, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Rasia flinches, alert.
<Darkling> "Shit." Lit's gone into his room faster than he's ever moved, the couch even have slid a foot from him launching off it.
<Corrin> "Sir?"
<Darkling> The screen cuts to an emergency broadcast symbol, and emits a loud tone.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja swears under her breath. That this is bad news isn't lost on her at all.
<Corrin> "What was that doing there?" Corrin asks, somewhat rhetorically.
<Darkling> You can hear Lit in his room yelling.
Corrin is still staring after the disappeared Captain.
Rasia tenses up, shrinking away from the yelling. Hel mews at being held so close.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> The door to the balcony slides open, Wil stepping inside.
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm." Corrin greets. "Any idea what's going on?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> For around ten seconds or so Lahja is completely in train wreck mode, transfixed by the news and Lit's yelling. Then she goes to the kitchen, gets some juice, and sits down on the couch. It's great not having to worry about adult problems! Not yet, anyway...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...no."
<Darkling> That tone coming from the television has got to be annoying.
Rasia bristles at Wilhelm's return, eyeing him up and down.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He picks up the remote and turns off the television.
<Corrin> "Well...we still won. That's worth something, right?" Corrin says after a while, confusion evident and tiredness catching up to him again.
<Darkling> The yelling continues, if somewhat less.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes, Pilot Corrin." Lahja says with a sigh. "This will be sorted out somehow."
<Darkling> Footsteps down the hall, Lit reappears.
<Corrin> "Somehow." Corrin echoes. "At least the enemy-" Corrin stops mid-word, and turns, spinning to face the Director.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sir." Lahja rises from the couch, giving Lit a tired salute. Any combat high has been completely soured by now.
Corrin stands, waiting for the Captain to speak.
<Darkling> "Some bad news.." he starts, looking at them all.
Corrin listens, tensing slightly.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja simply nods.
<Corrin> "We're ready, sir."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...don't we usually get the good news first?"
<Darkling> ================END================