Chapter 20: Front 12; Rock and Fire

"So you want to be included in the meetings?" Asked the earnest voice of a young woman.

"No, no girl I don't have the time for that. No I want 'them' up top to understand that you can't just put up a new foundry and expect there not to be a massive strain on the water network understand?"
 The reply came back from a gruff but kindly, almost jolly toned man.

 

"So you think, maybe that Mr.Commander Novel should know about all the stuff below him? Wouldn't that be a bit much?"

"Not all of it Girl, just the a little bit of everything, enough to ask when he has a question ya see?"

"Oh! So you mean like Mr.Nilas then?"

The man, tall and well built if aged looking, 40 something, wearing a pair of old blue overalls seemed to give due consideration to this last question;
 "Well I suppose he ain't afraid to get his hands dirty atleast. I guess he's an alright sort yes."

The young woman opened her mouth again to ask her next question, when a call from the far side of the room broke her attention, "Una get you hide over here, 'The boss' wants us".

 Una politely apologised to the burly mechanic she had been conversing with and pushed herself off from the upper gang-walks of the under-hanger, floating back down to ground level.

Hoki watched this quietly, taking note of Una's increased comfort in chatting to members of the crew outside of her immediate circle and her more natural movements in the low gravity area. Her and Kolme had made their way from the canteen, straight to one of the service elevators and down to where they now stood in the under-hanger's personnel doorway.
 From this point they had an interesting perspective of the room, with grey crates of machine parts and supplies directly in-front of them (one of which Scarlet sat atop and another which Sabban leant on, arms folded).
 Behind the crates were the 5 mechs of the team, held in their usual cages lining the three other walls of the room, as though they to were keeping a watchful eye on everyone who came in and out of the high ceilinged space.

Next to them by the doorway her and Kolme stood partially inside of, was the service corridors - Long narrow passageways that ran around the outside of each wall of the under-hanger. Being dimly lit and seldom used they reminded Hoki of the area one could find behind a stage in most old theatre's back home.
 As expected it had been easy to find the rest of the squad whom had apparently been all three training that morning. Sabban joining Una and Scarlet's tutoring sessions was news to Hoki though not overly important at that moment in time.
 No, more pressing was the scowl on Scarlet's face as she tapped her prosthetic leg repeatedly against the metal surface of her make-shift chair, creating a grating 'clang' over and over again that echoed through-out the broad room.
 Once Una had made the short trip across and taken a position standing to attention between Sabban and Scarlet, was when Kolme began to talk - Of course not before first having to tell Una to stand at ease.

The quintet made for a somewhat eccentric grouping.
 Hoki knew she stood out most, still dressed in her full ironed-out uniform, cap atop her neatly tied brunet hair. Una was the closets to her in a mix of a similar black uniform with silver highlights, as-well as the sensitive gloves and light hiker-style boots that pilots all had for their machines.

Una was a naturally short woman compared to Hoki, with a youthful face, overly eager yet somewhat dim blue eyes and that slightly tinted, short cut hair style - Popular among young cadets back on Abhaile.

 'She looks a little happier today' - Hoki mused to herself internally.

Scarlet's fashion sense usually wasn't far off Kolme's though for all his scruffiness, he had atleast donned some of his dress uniform for the meeting that morning, his black jacket now slung over his shoulders like some delipidated cape - As he stood slightly slumped in-front of the group of assembled miscreants.

 Scarlet hadn't dressed any different to usual, with her normal light sleeveless jacket, non-descript blue jeans and knee high boots along with fingerless worn looking gloves.
 Her long crimson hair was as normal let to flow out far past the small of her back, and over her forehead. Held only slightly in place by her somewhat basic eyepatch.

As for Sabban he fell in an odd middle ground. Hoki winced as she recalled Una half-mumbling something to her about Sabban; 'Looking older then he should' - Which Hoki couldn't help but somewhat guiltily agree on.
 The boy had always been tall for as long as she'd known him, easily dwarfing the likes of Una.
 This impression seemed to be added to by his stern unyielding expression, long dark bags under his eyes and a general demeaner of dis-interest.
 If one could try not to focus on these details Sabban was a mostly healthy looking young man, handsome even. Well built with broud shoulders and an impressively imposing posture.

However getting away from the face and unkept hair generally proved too uncomfortable for most who made acquaintance with the uncaring young man.

True to form the second meeting of the day went about as well as expected.
 Kolme was to his credit a little more focused than in some of the previous lectures Hoki had witnessed from the man, but the others reacted with their usual pattern;
 Sabban simply grunted in place of any coherent answers (not that he was required to say much to begin with), Una went more and more pale at the mention of each detail and Scarlet.... Scarlet protested;
 "You're saying you want to send two Vijaik out there against a brand new Casnel? I thought you were thick Nilas but this is a new high!"

"Now look this ain't up for debate, we've got our orders and besides the two will only be a distraction.
 The Clover will 'ave two of 'ere own and the rest of the Fluchtig's team will be nearby."
 Even as he spoke Hoki could sense Kolme wasn't entirely convinced of the idea himself.

Scarlet's face scrunched in response, clearly picking up on Kolme's own apprehension.
 He'd not given them all the details of the mission yet, or his interpretation of the event but he had conveyed the most relevant parts at this stage - Causing in turn a lull in the conversation for Scarlet to capitalise on with this current 'disagreement' that had already lasted some minutes;
 "Ha, well then I guess I have to accept this farcical job then don't I?!" She proclaimed suddenly.

"Claim what?" Hoki found herself asking with a quizzical eyebrow and a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Tch, the job 'princess', can hardly let one of you kids be in charge of fighting a Casnel can I? Be like lambs ta' slaughter".

'On no...'
 Hoki turned her head to Kolme, hoping he'd divert this course of action only to find a devious grin slowly enveloping his face from eye to eye. The older man quickly nodded in Sabban's direction, "You al'igth with that Sab-lad?"
Sabban nodded his approval with a roll of his eyes, clearly catching on to what was occurring. He also offered Hoki a sympathetic glance & tilt of the head.

"Ah, er- Sir maybe we should, ah--"
 Hoki began hurriedly.

"Ah shut your trap princess, no need to get in the way when the man is finally 'bout to make the first good decision of his whole life!"
 Scarlet crowed from atop her vantage point of the packing crates.

"No but I don't think yo--" Hoki tried again, only a hint of agitation creeping into her voice.

"Enough already, get on with it old man."
 Scarlet interjected once again sealing her faith once and for all.

Kolme with that stupid grin plastered all over his face was all too happy to oblige;
 "Perfect that's settled then, Hoki and Scarlet will be the advance team!".

"Yu-you what?!" Scarlet stammered, for once at a loss for words.

"But a 'course Scarlet. After-all t'was the only thing the Captains didn't make a fuss over that Hoki had to be the only one qualified enough to use th' long range cannon. And like 'ya said - Only you are experienced enough to adequately guard her during such a dangerous task right?"

Hoki didn't know how to feel, this certainly seemed more in-line with the 'normal Kolme' than the other things she had seen of him today - She only wished this wasn't the time he'd chosen to be typical.
 Likewise Scarlet seem to grasp for a retort, caught between tackling Kolme to the ground for making a fool of her or trying to back-track her own statements.

"Ah don't make that face woman."
 Kolme said waving his hand around lazily, "T'would of always been this way, any which way, you volunteering just makes it all the more, 'fitting'. The fact is we got a chance 'ere.
 I've said it before but we don't really matter ya know? We're invisible--"

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'This speech again now of all times? What's he thinking?'
 "--It's like this, Fate can't see us ya hear? She don't want anything to do with us normal peoples, so why should we do anything in return. Screw it I say.
 Us five can make it with this, Nate's... steerable, and with that on our side we 'ave a real chance. We can watch each others back's, keep our 'eds down and all make it through this alive ya hear.
 No point any of us dieing for something stupid like destin's sake!"

At first Hoki had been more concerned with her newfound partnership to Scarlet than the words of the speech but as it continued her attention was redirected to Scarlet, whom visibly shuddered at the words.
 'I've seen this before too haven't I?'

And just like before Scarlet shoved hard against the crates, strode across the short gap between herself and Kolme (elbowing past him poignantly as she went) before disappearing out the door behind them without another word.
 Kolme sighed ruefully, stretching the arm Scarlet had pushed.
 His speech cut short Hoki could only presume that was the end of this more curt 'meeting'.
Briefings involving both Scarlet and Kolme always seemed to end when he gave that speech, but instead after a few moments the man nodded to her with the words;
 "Better go sort that eh Lass? You lot are dismissed and 'an all that. Thanks again for your 'elp today Hoki." and with a par to her shoulder, Kolme disappeared out round the doorway in the same direction as Scarlet had gone.

It was Una's docile tone that broke the silence of the young trio that remained,
 "I don't understand. All officers say that sort of stuff before battles don't they? He speaks...um, different but it's normal stuff about coming back alive right?"
 The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular and as Hoki herself was considering the same thing - It was Sabban who provided the answer;

"Sure but difference is, Kolme Means it - Every-word of it, and Scarlet knows that too."
 With that the tall man spun on his heel and began making for his machine in the opposite direction to the doorway Kolme and Scarlet had exited from.

Una glanced concernedly over to Hoki.
 'She still looks so young, no different to back in the classroom. No, maybe a little different, more wary perhaps?'

"You go on ahead with Sabban, Una. I'll just go see if I can help, I am supposed to be vice-leader after all."
 Hoki said doing her best to put on the smile she always tried to keep for when masking apprehension, while addressing her students - 'Well former students atleast.'

Una nodded politely and quickly followed after Sabban.
 Hoki took a deep breath and turned to follow after the two older pilots - 'Right, Vice-Commander, that's definitely why I'm about to stick my hand in a lions mouth......'

****

Hoki stopped just short of turning the corner and hugged the gurty doorway on instinct.
 Out the corner of her eye she had spotted her query - Scarlet had marched down one of the service passages, heading for a side doorway probably intended as a fire-escape.
 Kolme had diligently followed after her and now in the narrow echo chamber of the tall, narrow corridor Hoki could hear the two going at it once more.

"Scarlet, Scarlet! Would ya' wait just one damn minute!" Kolme jeered.

As Hoki carefully peered around the corner to get a better view, she watched as Scarlet stopped in her tracks, turned around and began striding back towards Kolme with one hand pointing insidiously towards him;
 "Where do you get off old-man eh? You think this is funny or have you just gone completely senile. This ain't some stupid game!"

Kolme held firm, standing up-straight more so then usual;
 "Don't ya think I know that for Sun's sake? I mean it, we have a chance here, and whether you like it or not I ain't letting you throw that away."

Scarlet seemed to visibly bristle, as though her long flowing hair were a mane poised to attack.
 She slammed one hand hard against the silvered walls of the space, causing a loud metallic 'clang' to reverberate out - "Excuse me? The heck do you think you are man? You think I haven't tried, I've done everything you can think of and more to keep my people alive, and every, every time they die. It's a damn war Nilas, we can't stop that, we chose to be here.
 People die, it's normal, I'd expect this from some whelp on their first tour, not a damnable old fool like you!"

"This Time's Different"

 Hoki held her breath, Kolme had said it in a completely level tone and in all sincerity, which if anything had only added to its impact as the words seemed to bounce around the walls.

 Scarlet rose her arm and strove forward - Punching in low gravity is harder than one might imagine but Scarlet made it look easy as her fist flew through the air, aimed squarely at Kolme's own visage.

In a single brisk movement Kolme's own hand swung upwards and grabbed Scarlets hand with flourish, the force of the impact pushing him all the way back to a few inches from his face, centimetres from a broken nose. His eyes never flinching, all as his loosely held dress jacket slid from his shoulders, floating dramatically into the air behind him.
 Scarlet's face seemed to snarl as she glared at the balled fist now held firmly in place by Kolme's own hand
 "This ship is good, the Vijaik's are ours ta' modify and Nate will do as We tell him. I'm telling you this is Different."

Scarlet's response was more ferocious this time, her tone held its usual bite but with an almost sorrowful edge; "And I'm telling you it won't matter, I've seen it all Nilas. I've had teams of 25 who got wiped out like dust from the corner of yere' damn eyes. Heck I've had Casnels of my own and it made no difference.
 I still always end up by someone's death-bed, do you understand that?
 That moment when you know you've failed them, when you know that every corpse is on your hands, that you have to write yet another batch of letters to grieving parents, widowed spouses and orphaned children -  'Your son died heroically in service of what he believed, & for the good of his nation', ha!
Absolutely bullshite', they died because I was wasn't good enough Kolme Nilas!"

"They weren't brave in the face of death, they were screaming, begging for their mother's as they burnt alive in metal caskets and not one, not a single one of them died for anything, we lost 9 years ago and again half that since! And we'll probably fail again this time for all I care.
 I stood by the bed-side of my own damn Namida and watched him wilt away from years of fighting and dieing and ya know what - No glory, no parade, no nothing, no one gave a shite. What in God's name makes you think this time'll be any damn different?"

Kolme paused for only a moment before answering Scarlet's Vitriol filled rant;
 "Sabban comes back."

"You What?"

"I thought I'd given up too but, Every-time he comes back, it was just me for the longest time, 'Last Nemo Standing Nilas' he called me once - And yet he's still here.
 Grumpy feck these days but that's understandable enough.
The lad always comes back in one piece and so do you and me, all of us have that bad luck don't we?
 Ain't that enough proof for ya? Enough to make it worth trying one more time, one last time to keep someone alive in these endlessly bloody wars?"

Kolme let go of Scarlet's fist, which dropped gently to her side as she stared at the man. Gone now was the rampant anger and resentment of a moment ago, replaced with something nearer disbelief.
 After another moment she turned and began, albeit less aggressively this time, to walk away from Kolme, softly shaking her head all the while.

"Scarlet, what about Hoki? I get why you don't wan'na be chummy' with me but why her eh?
 She a strong pilot, good head on her shoulders. I'd probably act the same in your position but that ain't no reason to take it out on her is it?"

Scarlet stopped once more, though not turning to make eye contact this time; "I told you, I ain't looking to drag around or teach children, especially know-it all ease droppers."

Hoki's heart fell, she pulled herself back from the corner she had been using, nearly tripping in the process.
 Despite this Kolme kept talking as though oblivious to Scarlet's last comment.

"So what about Una then? I couldn't make you tutor her, ya' chose that yourself."

Scarlet simply shock her head with more certainty, "Just killing time, that's all this is."
 Again she started walking, still not turning to face Kolme;
"I'll guard the princess, Heck I'll even try to be 'nicer' but not for your sake or anyone else's on this ship, I've got a reputation to keep that's all. Yes I'll go on your stupid mission but I will not play naïve games, their blood will not be on my hands again."

And like that she was gone, exiting via the fire escape of some kind.
 With a bit of reluctance Hoki caught the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding and peered around the corner once again.
 Both the resolve and earlier slyness had drained from Kolme's face. He stood silently with his back against the same wall Scarlet had earlier slammed.

Hoki couldn't help but think he suddenly looked very... tired. His unnaturally tanned skin with its myriad of stress lines, the sparse greying hair and his relatively small stature.
 With one hand clutched to his face, he reached the other inside his jacket in-search of something before seemingly realising it wasn't there - Removing his searching hand he let his eye's stare up at nothing in-particular, his ruffled jacket floating gracefully past his line of sight like some ridiculous slow motion black bird of prey.

Hoki decided it best not to interfere any further.

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