Everflame (Finished)

[HowlTheGrayWolf]

"Well, those ships must have been destroyed by those elite soldiers we saw on G7, right? They seem like the only group powerful enough to make wreckage like that."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Tabby lurched against the doorframe as the ship burst into FTL. After hearing Korius' little comments, she skipped and hummed over to the cockpit.
"I needed to get into your room, it was an emergency. Plus it ain't that bad to just check out a little of the bedroom of someone you... can't get enough of." She smiled. She then turned to Howl. "And there ain't no way military did this. Them ships weren't armed. I would 'ave seen that, you probably would 'ave too. Why would the military shoot some random ships like that?"






Over on the GA Demolition, the officer slapped Kate across the face.
"Say that again, and I won't be so kind. We need information."

[KittKat chunky~]

The slap rang through the cube room, a silence dropped in which the groan and hiss of the ship around them could be heard as Kate turned her face back to look at the officer... She licked her lip where it had split, and a single drop of crimson blood rolled down, and hit the steel floor with a quiet, drip....
"We where garrisoned on that planet, we where attacked by Triffids... we where rescued by those people... my men and I have fought our way through horrors you could never even comprehend..... I am no police officer, i knew nothing of this guys warrant for arrest..."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

The officer's face dropped into fierce indignation. He stared shocked at the fox's words, and his fist clenched.
"Don't you even try to assume that you have seen worse than I have. Your friend made sure that millions saw far worse than your bloody daffodils could ever manage!" His breathing was harsh, and he turned away, settling himself, tensing up and relaxing. He faced her again, now with utter calm, before slamming a fist into her gut.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kate doubled up in pain, her breath knocked from her, even as she was dragged upright again by the two soldiers... She coughed, taking in a breath she stared back at the officer and muttered huskily... "Friend? I already told you.... we where not working with that murderer... How many times must I say that?"

[HowlTheGrayWolf]

Howl thought about it, it doesn't take much to take down unarmed ships, but at the same time, why would anybody attack defenseless ships like that? There was something more to this, but Howl didn't know what. "I guess you have a point there, but in any case, I think I'd best go and my equipment ready for the next time we land, I have a feeling there's going to be some heavy fighting soon."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

"You'll keep saying it until I believe it," he said, before punching her again, this time in the face. "We're done for now," he said, gesturing to the guards. One opened the door, the other grabbed Kate by the arms, pushing them up behind her back to frog-march her out. "We'll get to the real interrogation tomorrow when the specialists are ready." They marched through a door to the left of the room. It squealed open to another corridor that wound away, further into the ship. The the left was a large steel door. On of the guards opened it, and it scraped along the ground screeching against the metal floor. Kate was tossed into a large sparse room with a pile of bedding in the corner, and she found with her, the rest of her soldiers. The crew of the Admiration were absent.








Tabby smiled wide,
"Sure thing man," she said to Howl. "Go to your room. Me and Korius can entertain ourselves somehow." She giggled and skipped into the cockpit, towards Korius' chair.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

The rest of the first day for Korius was spent going through his ship's recordings and shooing Tabby every 2 minutes. For the love of the hunt, this girl just does not know how to shut up. Got to turn her off. Korius thought for a second and thought of something. He reached over and pinched her neck right where it met her shoulder and she collapsed onto the floor. Korius smiled and sighed in relief as he keyed in the mic. "Mr. Howl. Please come in and drop Tabby back onto my bed and this time, strap her in as well. The code is 023."

[KittKat chunky~]

Kate wiped the blood away from her muzzle, pulling her self to her feet she waved away the two marines who tried to help her up.... She flicked her fringe out of her eyes again, a habit she had never been able to get out of; and sat down heavily on the bedding....
Kitt sat with Annie, she had curled up into almost a foetal position, resting her head on Kitt's shoulder her bushy fox tail flicked anxiously ...
The marines stayed quiet, watching their team leader as if she was a messiah, the one true leader... Kate set her back straight and forced a half smile...
"We'l pull through.. remember.."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Howl put down his his assault rifle and pushed a box of ammunition off his lap and jogged over to the cockpit, finding Tabby unconscious on the floor.
"What happened to her?" he said as he picked her up. "You didn't do anything to her, did you?"






On the GA Demolition, the cell door screeched open, revealing a large, heavily armoured guard. His helmet completely hid his head, though he had no tail. He had a bag with him.
"Here," he grunted, throwing the bag into the center of the room, spilling foodpacks across the floor. He stepped into the room and behind him came Tina, the cat from the Admiration. She was hunched over, almost cowering as she shuffled into the room. Another guard, smaller and more female than the first was behind, with a gun at the cat's back. Once inside, the smaller guard opened the visor of her helmet, it was an avian with feathers like blue flame.
"Ok listen up, because this is important," she squaked, as her gun floated its aim across the room. "At the next available opportunity, we shall be sending you to Hope's Fate. It is the highest security prison there is!" Her stare locked on Kate, so intense it could almost start fires. "All you lovely, innocent, wouldn't hurt a fly, boys and girls will be sent there to await trial. The trial will held there, and probably televised to planet Zarath, so the victims of your boss' fun will see revenge enacted." She spat out the word fun and then was infested with a deep smile. "And after the trial, you will all be shot." The large guard shot a look at the bird.
"Oi," he said. "They ain't even go to the planet yet." The bird sighed and clenched her beak, narrowing her eyes at the other guard.
"Fine, whatever, if you are found guilty then you get shot. Personally I'd rather you be burned at the stake, you filthy murderers." The large guard moved his arms to herd her back through the door, closing it behind them.

Tina looked around at everyone in the room.
"Where's Max?"

[KittKat chunky~]

The marines watched as the guards walked back out, a couple groaned, others hung their heads in despair...  Kitt hugged Annie close to him, as Kate looked up at Tina...
"Uh... i dunno, anyone seen Max?"
The question was directed to the rest of the marines, those that did look up just shook their heads, and then stared back at the walls or their feet....
Kate turned back to Tine and winced as she shrugged, apology in her eyes....

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Tina's face drained, you could see it in her eyes as they widened and quivered, like her soul was free falling. Her body was shaking hard and tears welled up as she clenched her fists tight

[KittKat chunky~]

Kate walked up to Tina, limping slightly with every step on her left leg.... she put an arm carefully around her shoulder.... she felt unsure of what to do... if a marine faltered in combat, she knew what to do, what say to get that marine back on his feet, and fighting like he'd never fought before... but this.... this was different...
"Hey... c'mon... he's gonna be fine... i'm... i'm sure he is...."

She stuttered slightly, speaking softly so only Tina could hear... Kitt looked up at the two, then hung his head... wishing he had the strength to go up and comfort her too.... he even though by rank, he was technically second in command after Kate, third in command after the late colonel Crow.... he couldnt string together a sentence, that made it seem everything would turn out fine..... he burried his muzzle in Anni's neck, she whimpered slightly, but made no attempt to shrug him off...

As the ship around them creaked, the marines despaired, for the first time... it seemed even Kate couldnt pull them out of this one....

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

Kate tried consoling her, Tina seemed to shrink, curling into a shuddering, distraught totem.
"No he's not gonna be fine, how can he be fine? How can any of them be fine? They have him, they'll kill him. Oh God, they'll all be dead and I'll be alone again and... No no no! This can't happen, stop it!" She clutched her chest as her breathing grew harsh and fast. She crouched down and held the floor, gasping for air. Eventually, she steadied herself and stood up, searching around the room. "I've got to get out, I need to... do something. I need to get out, I need to help." She pushed Kate away and walked over the the walls, searching over them, examining them.

[KittKat chunky~]

Kate stumbled back, feeling hopeless.... she watched as Tina searched across the walls, uncertain of what to do or say.... slumping down against the nearest wall she put her head in the palm of one paw, fingers at her temples as she tried to think straight.... The other marines paid little to no attention to Tina, wallowing in their own thoughts or pity... the only person who did watch her was Annie, she flicked her bushy fox tail and stood up, pushing herself away from Kitt who gave her a puzzled look...

She walked over to Tina, standing just slightly back from her.... she watched as she checked the walls scrupulously...
"Tina.... i think.... i think the best things ya can do... is have a lie down... c'mon, your tired... we'l make you up a bed... I... i just wanna help Tina... we're in the same boat now..."
She bit her lip as she lay one paw softly on Tina's shoulder.... Kitt stood up and walked up beside Annie and waited for Tina's reaction... Kate watched from where she sat, breathing slowly, her chest moving shakily up and down...