Salvage Operations [for 3rdangel]

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim’s tried to bring them out somewhere safe. That wasn’t easy. Guessing where would be ‘safe’ was hard enough, but she only has about three sets of co-ordinates for the Pool ship to choose from. In the end she picked the one closest to their first target, and hoped that Andalite disdain for their science would keep them out of the labs.

She’s right, or lucky. The portal comes out in one of the minor labs, a small room with a work desk, a couple of chairs and a computer console, though it’s currently inactive and only a small keypad is showing. The chairs are facing one of the long walls, which currently appears transparent to show the next room over, which holds a single chair and a holoprojector. The chair in there has rather thicker arms and back, for some reason. It’s also locked to the floor.

Everything is brushed steel and sterile white – and dead silent, save for the low, almost-below-hearing hum of shipboard circuitry. No Andalites. No Controllers. No hosts running wild. Telrim lets out a slow exhale and steps quietly for the door. No running now. She just has to hope her companions aren’t about to shoot her in the back.

Comments

[darker_black]

Mikoto just nods.

Regulus thinks that, while the 'computers' he's seen so far might be amusing and occasionally useful, using them to store anything important seems to be more trouble than anything else.

[in_the_cracks]

It would be much easier if she had actual clearance for this data. As it is, the only reason she can get through the security (the reason she even knows there's data to take) is that she's a reasonably trusted subordinate.

While she works, the 'sculpture' on the desk catches her eye. It looks rather out of place in this austere environment, but she knows what it is. She takes a moment to deactivate it and shove the projector in a pocket.

At this point, Regulus and Mikoto might discover an interesting feature of this room. Despite the heavy door, the sound from outside seems to carry rather well, reproduced by a couple of unobtrusive speakers. The sub-visser had a paranoid bent, it seems. From some way down the hall ring multiple sets of footsteps: two sets of hooves and one pair of boots.

[3rdangel]

"Incoming. Strategy suggestions?" Mikoto says, keeping it brief.

Regulus frowns. Simply confunding them won't be as effective on multiple targets - they'd be much more likely to notice something's happening, since the spell has to be cast on one target at a time.

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim stops working for a minute, very still as she listens to the sounds outside. There's time: the trio appears to be working their way along the hallway, opening one door after another. They're still a couple of rooms away.

"They're sweeping the labs." She stands, draws her Dracon and lays it on the desk, close to hand. "Focus on the two Andalites. Don't waste time with them. Try to leave the human conscious: I doubt they'll be much threat."

She hesitates, then taps at the display rapidly, pulling up a file she knows to be there. "Let them get all the way inside. Then we'll strike."

[darker_black]

Regulus isn't too worried, yet, expecting he can fire off two stunners for the Andalites and perhaps an incarcerous to tie the other up before they're likely to have much idea he's there. The part that makes him frown is the suggesting of leaving the human conscious. He is not there to help them claim more hosts, if that's what she's considering.

Mikoto goes over her own world's spells, and decides they are too likely to draw attention for what is still primarily a stealth mission. She keeps one of her knives in hand just in case - though she's learned some spells from Regulus over the course of their research, including the stunner she expects he'll use, but if that doesn't work on whichever Andalite is nearest, she's just as comfortable with slitting their throat.

[in_the_cracks]

Telrim's brought up an old report, but one that ought to get the Andalites' attention. As the steps outside draw closer, she enlarges the alien text for good measure.

< Well? > The Andalite's speech seems fainter from behind the door, but the sharp tone is unmistakable. < Open the door. >

"I can't. This is the sub-visser's office." The human voice is male, bitter and frustrated. "No-one's been in there since your pets killed him. How do you expect me to open it?"

< Then I'll open it, > says the other Andalite, a little more reasonably. < Stand back. >

< And you go in first, Yeerk. >

While they argue, Telrim sets the console beeping urgently and backs off to one side, ears pricked and weapon readied. She's glad her expression's invisible. There's a high whine from the door, a white-hot glow around the locking mechanism, and then it bursts open. As promised, the human stumbles in first - but at least one of the Andalites sights the console. He makes a startled noise and shoves past the Controller unwarily.

[darker_black]

Regulus stays still, keeping his wand on the Andalite in the room, waiting for just the right moment when they can drop both of them at the same time.

Mikoto moves silently, trying to see if she can get a view of the other one. Since she's used to wandless magic, she only needs to be able to see the target.

[in_the_cracks]

< Iskillion! >

< It's fine. > The first Andalite trots to the display, leaning toward it eagerly. Telrim edges around him, her back to the office wall. < Just look at what this- >

The second follows him friend in, one eye turning back on their prisoner to say Don't get any ideas. < You dolt, the room could have been tr-! >

Telrim fires on the Andalite by the door. The Dracon's beam flashes bright and orange, the air around it heating noisily. It's stronger than a stunning bolt needs to be. she's in no mood for half-measures.

[darker_black]

The one by the display is quickly the target of a beam of red light from Regulus's wand, after which he makes sure to quickly change his position since the spell would have given it away.

Mikoto, having found herself short a target, will watch to see if the stunner Regulus used will work on these creatures. If not, she'll cast one of her own and see if that works, with the backup plan of using her knives if necessary.

[in_the_cracks]

The Andalites slump awkwardly to the floor, bumping off the walls as they go. The Controller in the doorway lifts his hands, but as his eyes dart between the fallen guards and the empty-seeming room he relaxes slowly. The calculation's visible in his expression. The Andalites must have hit a trap. Perhaps he can get away before he's blamed...

"Close the door, Yaheen." Telrim makes it an order. When he jumps and looks suspicious instead of hopping to it, she adds sharply, "Now!"

"Telrim." He keys the damaged door shut, almost laughing in relief and astonishment. "What- how?"

The other Controller's already back at the console. She is glad to see him, which is why there's a carefully measured bit of patience in her voice as she goes on. "I brought help. And yes, we're cloaked, so watch where you step. Now secure the Andalites' weapons. Mikoto, Regulus, keep him covered."

Yaheen obediently bends to retrieve the Andalites' Shredders before he realises those aren't Yeerk names. "...What kind of help is this?"

[darker_black]

Regulus doesn't have anything to say in response to Yaheen's question. He'd actually like to see Telrim have to explain why they're here, when he's still having trouble justifying it to himself. But Mikoto, whether from inexperience or arrogance, seemed to be oddly dismissive of the danger. He couldn't have let her walk into this alone. They're going to have to have a talk when this is over... if they both get out of it. For now, yes, keep the second mind-controlling slug covered...

Mikoto, meanwhile, studies the unconscious Andalites in addition to providing cover. She won't risk waking them, but it is a shame there's no way to safely collect a lab specimen. She does have a slight problem with Yaheen, however. "His visibility is a risk that should be corrected." She'll wait for Telrim's consent before casting another Invis spell. While she knows the additional visual effects of her world's magic won't be seen through the closed door, it serves no purpose to unnecessarily startle anyone by not giving fair warning.

[in_the_cracks]

"Their nature is irrelevant." Telrim works on retrieving or destroying what data remains, and the console shuts down with a few sparks as she sets off a last fail-safe installed by the paranoid former owner. She steps back neatly. "Agreed on the cloaking. Yaheen, I trust you remember how to fire one of those from touch?"

Yaheen's questions are forgotten as he finds something new to panic about, looking rather like a boy scout who's left his tent at home. "I'm a lab assistant, not a warrior. I haven't really, er- the power settings on these run backward, right?"

Telrim can't help a sigh. "Very well. We'll trade. Mikoto, give us a moment."

While she swaps the weapons (and corrects Yaheen's grip, and adjusts her new holster to a much smaller human frame) Telrim will press the younger Yeerk. "Now. Where is the crew being held? Where is Issek?"

[3rdangel]

Regulus almost feels sorry for Yaheen, before sharply reminding himself that this isn't a situation where he can afford sympathy. He wonders how much of the discussion of weapons was necessity, and how much was distraction... His best guess is that the former was more important, and the latter likely a fortunate side-effect.

Mikoto, meanwhile, just nods slightly - visible in the faint outline that can only be seen to others under an Invis spell. Then she'll continue providing cover and quietly examining the fallen Andalites. As long as she can cast Invis on the new addition before they leave the room, and avoid him shooting her out of surprise in the process, she considers most of the details irrelevant.

It's unfortunate that physical injury might disrupt the stunning spell. If she could get a blood sample or other genetic material back to her lab, it would be very interesting to analyze.