The Ancient Ones (IC)

[Rubes]

---

Axi Prime's Orbital Station (Terran Standard: 2152)


It had been at least a week since Hexel had submitted his ad for help into the net. The station was long since abandoned, and only a few droids were left behind to do the maintenance of the station. They had no attack directives, so they just went about their business and ignored the scavenger sitting in the hanger. By this time on Axi Prime, it was winter, so it was considerably cooler on the surface than in the summertime, when one needed protective gear to negate the effects of the 50+ Celsius weather patterns. The station itself was unique in design. The hangar stations were in a ring, there were six, and were designed to allow dreadnought docking, but in reality, the only working one was X-3, the one Hexel was staying in. Inside the ring was the hub of the station, where there was an old abandoned armoury (devoid of weapons), a hab district (devoid of life and valuables), and a research centre (devoid of equipment). The ceilings usually had plates missing, walls had access panels stripped, and the floor was scarred and marked with the blood of random fights from after the abandonment.

He had made it quite homey, his light freighter docked near the shield, and a few lawn chairs spread out around a fire he had started, providing decent heat and lighting. Never really travelling outside of the hangar, he bid his time by a nearby planetary scanner he had set up, the coordinates for this archive-like structure set up on it. Hexel himself was an odd man, tall and lanky build with a cheesy slicked back black hair, and a cigarette always draped from his lip look. Gaunt features left little to the imagination, and he didn't look anything like people normally thought he looked like. His clothes were simple enough for a scavenger... An old slate grey button up dress shirt with the sleeves cut down to short sleeves, a pair of blue jeans that were patched up in different spots, and a tactical vest that provided some safety from most projectile weapons. Though his only weapon was still his most dangerous. It was an old slugthrower, ancient design, he said it could punch a hole through steel, thanks to some of his modifications.

"And now," he suddenly said, blowing a plume of smoke to the ceiling and picking up a cold beer, "It begins..." Beyond the shield he could see the first ship coming in, someone finally responded to his ad.

[Fayn]

Xuliss looked at the glowing monitor in his dark cold ship. Yes, this is the place the ad said to go, He thought to himself as he looked over his monitor. He had doubts about this mission. But he always followed an order. His sleek sheep, The Armada I was one of the fastest ships the company has ever provided him. They must truly believe this.. He shook his head as he flipped a few switches, letting his landing gear out.

"Xuliss...don't fail us." A transmission of his bosses voice came in. Xuliss had an implant of a radio in his ear.

"Have I ever failed you?" There was silence. Xuliss shook his head again. The ship finally landed near the station, air pressure could be heard releasing as the ship settled it's self. Xuliss unstrapped himself from his chair and stood. He was a tall and clean cut looking man. Though his eyes where dark and there was no shine to them. A tall tell sign of someone who has seen to much. He turned quickly, his trench coat flapping behind him as he heads for the exit.

The ship's door opens with a hiss and he steps out, the cold instantaneously gripping around him. He ignored it, letting his coat pulse with heat. Another nice little item his company provided him. He could see his own breath as he headed for the station on foot. He finally found an opening on the side and climbed in silently. His cold gaze taking in the place tell he saw a fire and headed that way. Xuliss seemed completely calm but in reality was ready to spring into action in any moment. He finally sees Hexel smoking and drinking a beer, "Like the place." He simply stats as he walks up and stops some odd ten feet away, "....Hexel I presume?"

[Sketch]

Lylith's wings get tangled in her straps as she tries to get out from her modified ship as it lands, 'S-Stupid straps!" she reaches out and picks up a laser sickle and cuts herself free, "I really need to get some new straps...." she folds her wings as close to her body as possible and climbs out of her ship. Soon after touching down, she trips and falls onto the hard floor, "Owww...."

[Enigma]

Pandora Station
Six days ago

The Valkyrii Expeditionary Office outer door swished open, admitting Toril inside. She frown, taking in the empty desk in the office vestibule. It was an older military surplus model, but had been repainted in the green and grays of the Valkyrii Expeditionary colors.

"Just a moment!" a woman called out in Terran English from the open door behind the desk. Moments later, a toilet flushed. Toril frowned, one eyebrow raised as she waited.

"Toril!" smiled Sigrid as she stepped out.
"Kvartermester Astradatter," the somber woman nodded, her wings held rigidly formal on her back but the slight curve of a smile on her face. "I am surprised you left the front desk unguarded."
"Cameras, Sersjant," Sigrid shrugged. "I can see all from back there. I only sit in front so the customers know we are open. What can I do for you?"
"I am in need of supplies, and a new job."
"Still single?"
"My ship is small."
"It worries me that you're out there alone."
"Please do not concern yourself."
"I will concern myself as I feel necessary, Sersjant!" Sigrid scolded, her wings tensing, then she relaxed with a sigh. "Plus, there are not as many jobs for singles. You would do well to pair up."
"Then I shall consider it."
"Liar," Sigrid laughed, sitting down in the low chair behind the desk, adjusting her wngs as she reached out to touch the desk surface to bring up her work screens. "Let's see what we can find."


"Axi Prime?" Toril frowned.
"An abandoned station, but should still be functional. And just five days transit if you push your ship. I can have the supplies you need delivered in two hours. But it's the only opening - unless you want to wait for something... better?" Sigrid asked, cocking her head slightly as she smiled at the younger woman. Toril froze, what little color she had in her cheeks disappearing.

"Toril?" Sigrid reached out to take the younger woman's hand, but Toril pulled back with a rustle of wings.
"I am fine," she lied. "Please Kvartermester, have my supplies delivered immediately."
"Would you stay for dinner, at least?" Sigrid pleaded, her shoulders and wings drooping.
"N..no, I can't."
"How long has it been since you have talked to a sister, little one?"
"You are the first in three months," Toril admitted, feeling her cheeks burning.
"You should not isolate yourself. Perhaps you should return to Valkyria...?"
"It would be the start of winter in the Home Sector," Toril shook her head. "If I take this job, I can return at the start of Spring."
"Will you?" Sigrid asked, concern in her voice.

Axi Prime
Present Day

Toril frowned as she saw a second ship moving towards the station. They looked to be pulling up to the docking ports. The Valkyrii mercenary frowned. Only one of the hanger bays was functional - but as long as there was a working airlock, it was of no concern. Erring on the side of caution, she decided to bring her ship in, angling for Hanger Bay 6 to give herself a little room.

She eyed the sleeker ships of the visitors in the display as she crept by. Hers was a surplus modular supply transport, left over from some alien war and going cheap, so of course the Valkyrii High Command purchased all they could get their hands on. Each ship was reconditioned before being sent out, modified for the Valkyrii pilots and soldiers who used them until the High Command purchased new ships to replace them.

But instead of scrapping them, the salvageable ships were sold to Expeditionaries who were mustering out of service. The High Command had a reason for that, as well as a vested interest in keeping these old ships in top condition and supplied for their small crews. Mercenaries picked up all the gossip as they traveled. One could learn a lot that way.

Hanger bay six hung open, exposed to space. Some ship leaving the hanger bay had buckled the doors, preventing them from opening or closing. Sized for a dreadnaught, her tiny ship had no problems slipping inside and landing on the deck, the electromagnets in the landing struts clamping down securely.

Minutes later, the tiny supply transport's airlock cycled and Toril slipped out in her armored vac suit, wings tightly folded up on her back. Securing the hatch, she leapt for the catwalk on the edge of the bay and crossed over to the airlock, entering the station, her pistol strapped to the side of her suit as a precaution.

[Rubes]

Hexel grinned almost stupidly as he saw his first teammate casually stroll into the spotlight. Not even moving from his seat, he gave a long chuckle. "Thanks! Furnished her myself. Yes sir I am, but people take a fancy to callin' me Forlon, on the'a account that I've been sitting my ass down in this here station for the last four years scanning one district of Axi Prime," he said, before blowing a smoke ring and letting a wider smile, showing off some gold teeth. "I reckon ya'll had a trip to get here, ass end of the'a galaxy, so sit you down a spell, have a beer, chat a little with me. I'mma eager to know whom I'mma be workin' with in this here abandoned shithole of a planet." His hand then motioned to one of the chairs strewn about lazily.

His eyes then went up to meet the next landing vessel, it wasn't exactly a perfect landing, but Hexel got a good chuckle when Lylith fell down onto the floor. Slapping his knee and knocking his beer off the arm of his chair, he kept laughing his ass off until she got up. "Oi! I'mma Hexel, now get yer ass over here and sit a spell before ya'll end up breaking some of my machinery, and don't drink any beer, I'mma reckonin' that ya'll be trippin' on air as soon as it hits yer liver," he hollered out to her, before looking to Xuliss. "Bet ya six bucks that little number trips the'a first trap..."

And finally came an odd ship, this one he had to see, sitting back and tossing his cigarette into the firepit he had going. Eyes carefully watching the figure step out, seemed ready incase of a fight at that! "Well my momma be damned in Hell, a Valkyriian decided to'a graced us with their presence," he said in his stupidly joking tone.

[AlikaKamashi]

Alex slept soundly in the bunking area of her ship. Despite it not being too long of a drive she despised space travel it was her least favorite part of her job. As the girl slept laying on her stomach, tail curled around her form; the ship auto piloted. The auto pilot would awaken the dragon-kin if an emergency arose where she had to take wheel, in truth this rarely happened unless power was running low. However none the less this fail safe made it useful.

A female voice over the intercom of the ship spoke, its electronic tone sounding sweet as it spoke ‘Miss Alexandra docking to the station hovering over Axi Prime will commence in about twenty minutes. Please awaken and be prepared.” With the Alex rolled over in her sleep, rubbing her eyes as she carefully sat up from her cot. Stretching out her wings one by one, the mixture of leather and scales reaching out as if to say ‘hello’. The dargon-kin looked at herself for a moment her nap clothes would not work if she was to be professional.

Alex arose undressing right there as she figured no one else was on her ship so why bother going elsewhere this was after all her bedroom. Alex grabbed the clothes she had pulled out earlier. After a few minutes and wrestling with her coat that she had pulled out (since she did have wings despite being able to wear the altered thing it was a hassle) Alex was ready. Looking herself once over in small mirrors the girl smiled. She looked professional and prepared; definitely excited to finally explore this planets wonders.

Alex looked at the time she still had about eight minutes. The girl wandered over to the area in which she kept her equipment. Despite being a small ship it used space very efficiently. Alex grabbed her gun holsters, which actually had on one side a small area to place her knife. She attached the leather material to her thighs making sure it was in fact secure. It was then that she grabbed her guns, giving them a good look over before placing them along with two extra sleeves of ammo in her holsters. Finally came the knife, its blade still sharp but the hilt grudge up, and worn. The item had seen use in several strange times, so why not take it.

Alex looked over at the time once more realizing that in a matter of seconds her ship would land. The girl grabbed her backpack with the rest of her needed equipment, looking it over. The backpack itself instead of the normal adjustable straps had leather fasteners so that she could take it on and off ten times easier with her wings; inside was a notebook, some pencils, a small portion of rope, a flash light, and some small vials incase she decided to take any samples of curious items. Putting the item on, Alex felt as the ship docking.

Now the reasoning behind taking all of her equipment now was simply if the man who put out this ad wanted to leave quickly they could. Alex was not one who liked to return and grab items when she could have gotten then and been prepared. Not too soon after did she exit, her long green hair tied back into a pony tail, her wings and tail matching the color of her hair, long goldenrod colored horns protruding from her skull.

Looking around Alex seemed almost confused as she entered the station; it was strange none the less. There were two men, one seemed far too relaxed almost strange to have put out the ad, was he simply someone who answered it? The other man next to him seemed serious, calm and collected. The man sitting drinking was laughing unfortunately for her she had not come in when he announced his name but rather soon after. Arriving after the Valkyriian who recently boarded the station.

Alex’s tail swayed for a moment before wrapping itself around her waist the gorgeous color of her scales making a heavy contrast to her outfit. Instead of assuming who was who Alex simply approached, a smile on her face and her wings closed up tight on her back, almost hiding the small backpack. “The ad asked for a scientist?” She questioned hoping that the one who sent out the add would respond.

[Sketch]

Lylith stands up brushing herself off, her assault rifle has still at her hip but her chain and sickle had clattered to the floor, after noticing everyone saw how much of a klutz she looked like she quickly pulled her weapon together and hurried over to the group. I look so uncoordinated now...and I'm the last one there...
"S-sorry about that...I'm Lylith, Lylith Ven." she looks at the others slightly sheepishly. Ugh what's wrong with me today...

[Enigma]

The airlock cycled, the tiny chamber thundered briefly as air rushed in. To the side of the inner doors, the red light went out and the green light above it lit up. Toril glanced at her wrist omni, which sampled the air and confirmed it was a breathable mix at a decent pressure. Apparently the atmospheric processors were still working. Satisfied, Toril thumbed the release, then let her hand drift back to the butt of her reserve gun as the heavy inner door slid open.

Toril stepped inside the station, her eyes sweeping the observation lounge for threats. Finding none, she reached up and cracked open her helmet's face plate, taking a deep breath. The air was chilled, with the slight acrid smell of smoke. Catching the faint glimmer of firelight from Hanger 3's direction, she frowned. A small fire, someone must have overridden the fire protocols - or from the look of things, some other scavenger had taken the sensors, heating panels and whatever potentially valuable part they could gleam from the docking area.

With a sigh, she took off the helmet, tucking it under her left arm, wishing she brought her bigger gun.

"This is a job interview," Toril reminded herself. "We do not want to scare the client."

At least not yet. Some employers seemed to think hiring a Valkyrii entitled them to unsolicited personal services. She often wondered if this was the true reason for the hand-to-hand combat skills her instructors had drilled her in.

Glancing at her reflection in a window, she needlessly brushed her auburn hair with her gloved hand by nervous reflex. It was still trimmed to a short crop, as per service regs. Giving herself a nod, she turned and headed up the curved corridor towards Hanger 3 at a good pace, slowing only when she heard the faint mummer of voices ahead.

There were four there - two human males, and two alien fems like herself - a Dragon-kin and a Vamira, all standing around a small fire pit. It was beginning to sound like the start of some wildly improbable bar story.

"Greetings Gentles," she called out in lightly accented Terran English from a respectful distance. "I am seeking one 'Hexel Omin' about a job he posted?"

[Fayn]

Xuliss frowned slightly as he looked around. This mission was getting more strange by the minute. He had never seen so many different types of species on one setting. He would have to be careful from this point on. Xuliss smiled slightly at Hexel, "I am Xuliss, a do a little bit of everything. I found your ad on the net...and so here I am." He held out a gloved hand, his grip like steel if Hexel shook it. The norm for Human greetings. His dark eyes looking everyone over for a moment. Looks like the Valkyriian will be my main worry. The rest of these fools do not concern me. He thought to him self as he introduced him self to everyone. After the introductions he stood a bit back from the crowd as to get some air. Letting his eyes roam the area, as to record everything around him in detail.

[Rubes]

Hexel just grinned as he looked over all the people that came for his ad. "Well I'mma Hexel, nice to meet ya'll," he said in a loud voice, "I reckon it's about time I brief ya'll on the Vault!" He then hopped out of his seat, stumbling a bit at first. So much alcohol, he thought to himself as he managed to walk over to the console that held up a hologram of the planet, Axi Prime. His fingers then glided over the image, and increased the zoom on one area, near the South Pole of the planet, which was a giant, polluted sea basically. His fingers then tapped twice on a small island just off the shore of the sea. His eyes then gave it one more glance, before stumbling back a bit and motioning them over. "Tug some chairs on up here, it'll be a sec to explain it all..."

During this he took one second to give them each a long glance, inspect their stance, their voices, just about every aspect to him. He always worked alone for a good reason, primarily his heavy drawl that seemed to throw people off, and aliens tended to never get along after a while of being stuck together in such a small team. Yet when he shut his eyes as he waited, all of those feelbads went away, and he got another one of his stupid grins. "And uh, it'll be a bit of a rough ride, the'a only transport small enough to make the'a landin here is an old action trooper transporter, meant for suborbital drops, so we'll'a have to cut the'a engines halfway down atmo, or it'll shit out."