driftfleet | First Breath of November

The first Vieziri that enters the First Breath is, alas, the first one who gets to be the test subject of Tyrion's newly invented weaponry. He is the first to get the electric sword right to the chest, and the first who is shot with Tyrion's laser pistol, and the one who is shot back out of the First Breath with Tyrion's explosive bolts from his crossbow.

Tyrion takes a moment to write down a few notes on how the weapons performed, as he taps on the ship comms. "Our friends have finally arrived, just to let everyone know."

Ignis has been anxious as of late, it's true, but he knows that Tyrion, Furiosa, Kaiden, Prompto and himself are all fighters. He's not worried about their safety. No, it is for the others on the surface that he worries.

And Tyrion's announcement does bring a smile to his face.

"Finally, we've something to do then. If they've decided to try their hands with us, let's show them our hospitality, Captain."

Kaidan steps into the cargo bay in a casual fashion a moment later, tightening the gauntlet of his armor before checking over his rifle. He glances at Tyrion's small armory with a considering and vaguely impressed look.

"I guess I don't have to ask if you're armed," he said, then turned a more wary look onto the other man. "Ignis...?"

Ignis adjusts the bulletproof vest he's always worn under his suit jacket and raises an eyebrow at the newcomer. What Kaiden doesn't know is that he has a slight shuffle to his step that Ignis has learned to discern since returning from his death. It's a tell.

As such, he's steeled himself for the other man's attempt to coddle him. With a flick of his wrists, he is suddenly armed with his daggers. Another flick and they're gone. And he is all but laughing.

"Yes, Kaidan. I am coming along. We're a little short-handed at this point."

Kaidan is of course, not nearly as amused. He has to hand it to Ignis that the sleight of hand is incredibly impressive, and he makes a mental note to probably never play cards with the guy if sight weren't an issue. But that's all tactile. The part he's still concerned about is, crudely, how Ignis plans to get the pointy bit in the other guy.

"Only a little," he says, shifting around Ignis to the wall adjacent to the docking tube for cover. "Look, are you sure about this? They're going to realize their friends didn't come back in a minute and I doubt it will be one or two this time."

"You should never doubt that I always have enough weaponry to hold off a small army, Kaidan, honestly." Tyrion stated with a completely straight face, as he picked up his crossbow, speaking into the communicator.

"Do you two need back up?"

Ignis turns to face Tyrion and smiles slightly before resummoning his blades back and flicking one in the direction of Kaidan's head, shaving dangerously close but missing as intended. What he hasn't told anyone is that he can see shades fine. It's the details that are harder.

"I think we will be fine, Tyrion, but you're more than welcome to come down to the surface if you'd like to help clean up this mess."

"Oh, wouldn't I just be delighted do that. Do let me know when you boys are planning on going. I have a few surprises up my sleeves." Tyrion smirked at his communicator, "Heading to secure the bridge."

Thankfully knee-jerk violence is very intentionally not part of Kaidan's nature, but the close flash of a weapon makes his biotics crack as his barrier goes up in response. His rifle comes up as well, though only partly, as if in warning. It happens far too fast for him to do anything else. His glare is likely lost on Ignis, but it's there.

"Alright. You made your point..." he said. But whether he could fully trust Ignis after this remained to be seen.

After a beat, he thumbs his communicator, though never taking his eyes off the man in front of him. "Thank you, Tyrion. We're going to deal with this enemy ship first, but keep an eye out in case any of them sneak around behind us," he said.

The sound of scuttling footsteps on the other side of the chamber cut in a moment later, and Kaidan turned to face it.

"We'll talk about this later. Their back-up is coming. Get ready."

Ignis resummons his dagger and palms both, obviously ready to fight the intruders.

"Of course. There are more pressing matters at hand than soothing egos." His ears pick up a sound and he ducks down until he's practically on the ground.

"They have guns. This should be fun. Where are Prompto and Noct when you need them?"

Kaidan doesn't have an answer for that last question. Or rather, he had a half-formed answer about half of that question being next on their list of things to do, but that's lost in the rather sudden barrage of gunfire. Sparks fly as missed shots impact the walls around him and ripples of energy flash in a cascade as his barrier absorbs the more on-target ones. Kaidan takes a step into full cover and returns fire, forcing the Vieziri raiders to do the same.

It's alright that Kaidan can't answer the question, as it was rhetorical in the first place. He knows that Noctis isn't available and he'd rather Prompto not have to fight. His younger friend is no trained fighter. He is great in a fight, certainly, but Prompto's skills lie in his ability to click a camera's shutter.

The flash isn't lost on Ignis but he doesn't comment either. It's better to let everyone think that his world is completely dark so that he can use it in the heat of battle if the tide needs to be turned once again. However, his hearing is much better than anyone has considered and not only does he have access to both his spear and daggers, the kitchen knives are small enough to be thrown at the intruders.

Also, he has no problem using Kaidan as a human shield like he would Gladiolus so that he can take care of their enemies.

Tyrion tapped on his communicator, and drawled with good humor to Ignis. "I think you are showing remarkable initiative, Ignis. Care to join me in Engineering to see what we can do to these bastards?"

"Of course. I won't let it get around that the First Breath treats its visitors unkindly."

It's not Insomnia, but it is his domain, of a sorts.

"We have a reputation to maintain."

And before he leaves the galley, gone is his cane and out is his spear, ready for whatever action is needed.

"Very good. Engineering is secured - do you ehar anything else that we need to worry about?" Honestly would trust the man's hearing over his, nine times out of ten.

Well, Ignis is mostly blind now and relying on his hearing and smell more than anything else.

"I can hear something coming from the direction of the shuttles, but I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle."

They haven't fought together yet, but he's seen the way that Tyrion moves and he's been on this ship for months now, most of them seeing.

"Well then I'm off then - see you quite soon. You'll just hear me coming." Tyrion drawled, as he shifted his crossbow back into his grip again, heading for more invaders.

"I'm sure that's the case, since I am heading there myself. And then checking the crew quarters."

Tyrion, making sight jokes is sorta lame, you know.

"Thank you, Ignis."

Jokes about one's disabilities are always necessary, Ignis. It's half of how Tyrion survived his own childhood.

Wouldn't it just be nice to make fun of other people? That sounds like a better idea, to be honest. Not that Ignis would do that. He's far too busy taking care of other people to make too much fun of them.

"I hardly require thanks. I am a member of this crew as much as anyone. Besides, keeping an eye out for those that are resting is as vital as greeting our guests is."

Oh he'll get around to that as well. He's very much into making sure everyone is mocked, including himself.

"Oh, I think everyone should end up thanking us. Because we are, after all, slapping these fellow around nice."

They can mock each other. That would be fun for both of them.

"I'm fairly certain that our jobs are the thankless kinds, Tyrion. We will have to be satisfied with showing our unwelcomed guests how to leave."

Tyrion's rather worried about those squishy ones as well, so no worries Ignis. They'll get his family back in one unbloodied piece.

"Oh, I think we can roll out all the hospitality they can handle." Tyrion promised cheerily, "Keep this line clear, and keep me informed, if you would?"

They'd better, or there will be hell to pay when he is able to find out who's done the damage. Don't fuck with the blind man.

"Sounds like a good plan. If I need your assistance, you'll be the first person I tell, Captain."

And with that, Ignis does cut the communication link and goes to great their "guests".

_{[It's been a hell of a long time on this planet. Noctis is weary and he didn't think he'd ever miss the ships the way he does now. He likes being outside but he can say goodbye to this planet any moment now. Would not hurt his feelings at all. He and Luna were camped out together, reconvening after splitting up to double their efforts searching for wounded survivors.

He had made a campfire for them and Umbra laid out peacefully on the ground. Their food wasn't plentiful but he got what he could from the town market. He had some liquid in bottles too that he could transform into potions for anyone he found. Right now he held his wife's arm in his hand as he broke the latest bottle over the skin and watched the liquid heal her wounds. She can heal on her own but not fast enough for his liking... this planet and using her magic so much must be stressing her.]}

I've noticed... the people on this planet... the cannibals. I haven't seen them for a few days. Have you?

[ Luna can agree with Noctis; she's ready to be back in orbit. This has been a draining experience, not just for the but for everyone involved. Granted, they've been lucky -- thanks to Tyrion and a few others, they've got weapons and supplies at the ready now, at least. Things are looking up! She is trying to be positive, at least.

She's exhausted -- she's not a fighter by any stretch of the imagination, and using her magic drains her considerably. She flashes her husband a grateful smile as he breaks yet another potion over her... poor man, he's been so worried about her. ]

Thank you, love. Mm... I've heard a few of them, but I have not actually seen one. That... does not bode well. Unfortunately, it seems that quiet and downtime here are usually connected with everything bad.

_{[It's literally draining her if nothing else. And his stock of potions. However, he can always make more. He worries about her... They've been blessed with supplies and a great crew who will look out for them but he still worries about their luck here on this planet. He hopes the cannibals aren't mounting a ground offensive because then he and Luna and Umbra... they'd be pooched.

It doesn't help but he still rubs the skin where his potion had just healed her. He can't rub it in any better but he... just wants to keep her in his grip. It's been days without her. It's like he's parched and she's a wellspring.]}

It seems that way... I haven't heard from the fleet yet. Maybe... maybe we should check in soon. In the meantime, we can turtle up in the downed shuttles if it gets too bad... I say we stay together from now on.

[ Never before has she wanted to get back into orbit so badly... their world at home was dangerous, but in a different way. This whole cannibal thing is something completely new and she finds that it's not exactly something she ever wants ANY of them to experience again. Ever. Mostly she's just glad to be back with Noctis, though. This is the longest that they've been separated since... well, since his arrival to the Fleet.

She certainly doesn't mind his touch. It's a welcome reprieve considering the hellish last days, and she's missed him. Things hadn't gone according to plan, after all -- they were supposed to meet up again long before this, but they'd gotten separated. She'd been fortunate enough to run into Cloud who let her stay in his bunk a few nights while he stayed with his friends, but she hadn't exactly gotten a relaxing sleep. How could she, when she didn't know where Noctis was?

But he's here now, and they're together again and she's got no intention of separating from him again. ]

I, too, have heard nothing from them in quite some time. I agree... the longer the silence stretches on, the worse it bodes for those in the air, and I've got a terrible feeling. But you are right, I don't want to do things separately again. [ She shifts so that she can slip her hand into his. You, sir, are officially stuck now. Because there is no way that she's letting him out of her sights for that long again, not on Planet Death. ]

[Enough of AA guns are finally down that the time for the First Breath to sit in wait is over. Perhaps it would be possible to weather the coming fight without the rest of the crew but no one wants to take the chance that the Vieziri will finally get to Noctis and Luna.

It won't be easy, of course, but the path is as clear as it's likely to get. With coordinates sent to their planetside crew, the First Breath is coming down for a landing at the nearest safest clearing. The Vieziri, however, see the ship coming for a landing, and rush to intercept. The angry cannibals stand between the ship and Noctis and Luna.

As the ship nears the ground, there's a few bright flashes and the thunderous cracking of wood as Kaidan, at his weapons station, clears out a few feet of brush to make for a safe landing, clearing obstacles and possible lurking Vieziri alike. His safety harness is un-clipped even before landing gear hits the ground, and he starts towards the exit.]

Let's move. The less time we're down here the better. I don't want the Vieziri getting ideas about our ship.

[All energy and running on adrenaline, Prompto is hot on Kaidan’s heels. His friends are down there, and it’s long past time for them come home! The bump of the ship meeting the ground puts a falter in his step and he grapples briefly with the wall for balance (but no one saw that, right?)
He shifts restlessly from foot to foot, empty hands twitching at his side, but as soon as the hatch is open, there’s a gun cradled between his palms. He draws back the hammer at the first sign of Vieziri. He hates this part. But smiles anyway.]

Right behind you. Er, actually, more to the left.

[Hard to shoot the enemy from behind a guy.]

[Unless the guy is kneeling, maybe, but Kaidan clearly isn't in the mood to sit still for long. He smirks over his shoulder at Prompto, making one last compulsory check of his rifle as his biotic barrier hums to life around him, his brown eyes picking up a shimmering blue glow to match.

He isn't eager to fight, but he's at home in it, and a confidence that seems to lack in him the rest of the time slides into place as if it had never left.]

Don't worry too much about me. Just be ready and try to stay in sight. Once we hit those trees they could come from any direction.

[And then he's moving. The clearing makes it hard for them to get snuck up on, but there's also nothing for cover.]

[Damn, that's a cool ability. He doesn't have barriers. But he does have an array of projectile weapons thanks to the armiger and two fast feet. Figures, they can't hit him if they can't catch him.

The pistol isn't great for cracking through armor - like shooting at MTs, it takes a few tries. But the bigger weapons are too cumbersome and would slow him down, and he doesn't want to be caught out in the open. Especially not when recoil knocks him back, and there's no Noctis here to catch him and shove him back to his feet.

So he does what he can to avoid return fire until he makes it to the trees and cover. Good for him, and bad, because if he can hide, so can they. He reloads, checks the area for good guys, checks for bad guys, takes down one, and dives for another tree.]

Any idea how many of these guys we have to get through?

[Kaidan follows a few paces behind. The armor slows him down a little, but not much. Not when he's been wearing it so often it's little more than a second skin. Which is good. Alliance armor is made for battles on the run and this is exactly what this amounts to.

He lays down covering fire as Prompto takes a few good shots, the rifle being less adept and precision and he's never been a marksman anyway. Not on the move, anyway.

His shoulder hits a tree a few moments later and he pauses to scan the trees for movement. The Vieziri are playing it coy, it seems, or most of them aren't here yet, because he can't see anything.]

Not a clue. We're just going to have to wing this. [He doesn't sound overly concerned about this, but nor is he overconfident]

We can do this two ways, unless you have another idea - you keep going ahead of me and I'll cover you from the back. Maybe even get the jump on them. Or you hang back and let me lead, and wait for them to make a move. I can take a few hits before I'm in too much trouble. What do you say?

[Wing it. That's fine. He takes a breath and nods.

Prompto listens to their options, lips pressed together and eyes moving, gun at the ready. He can focus when he needs to.

He doesn't like the idea of Kaidan taking a few hits, even if his barrier could handle it. But Prompto doesn't wear armor. And he knows where his skills lie.]

I'm not a leader. Always been better at support. But my aim is good. I can keep them off you.

[He smile, but it's not with a lot of humor. Hard to, in this kind of situation. The only mildly funny part is that in a lot of ways he still feels the same about himself. Better at being the support and not the leader. Except he's fallen into the role more often in the last few years. Sometimes he forgets that's the case. The mantle of leader feels strange of his shoulders.]

Works for me. Don't worry, alright. Just pick your targets.

[He nods to Prompto, the sign that he's about to move.

Being the bait. This is fine...

Kaidan round the tree and starts moving. Not a run, this time, but a steady, quick pace with his rifle held at the ready as he scans the trees. It's all very close-feeling, but he ignore the hair standing up at the back of his neck. Let the Vieziri think he's overconfident. Hopefully that's not actually the case.

It takes a few minutes, the tension cut only the distant sound of gunfire. Other battles happening elsewhere. But they have to focus on this one.

And then it happens. The trees barely rustle before the first bolt fires. One hits Kaidan on the shoulder, his barrier blossoming with light for a moment, the other missing and exploding into the tree near his head. They're on both sides of him and slightly forward, their lines of fire crossing with Kaidan at the center, three or four in each group from what they can see. He dives forward to try and escape.]

[He's out of his element, but he can do this. He's been cast out of his comfort zone before. He's fought without Ignis' plans, and Gladio plowing into everything in sight, and Noctis ... plowing into everything in sight.

Gun is loaded. He's got another waiting in the armiger. It won't even take a second to switch them out.

He watches Kaidan move out, sees the first hit and winces. He can see they're coming from both sides. Prompto sees that one pokes around a tree to fire every couple of seconds, so he waits it out, lines up a headshot. He doesn't wait to watch it fall before he's skirting to the left to circle behind the grouping there. If he can take out one or two before they realize he's there, he might survive this.]

First Breath of November

Repelling Boarders

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We're all just going to ignore these Mycroft tags ....

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Mounting a rescue.... soon?

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Rescue!

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