Chapter Six: All Hands on Deck

[Purr]

The Super Logan obeyed Toph's every request and landed downright unobtrusively if compared to the roaring Super Valkyrie. Even with the load of components, Toph's piloting skills combined with her technopathic link made her first landing seem like child's play (and Elinor too, for that matter).

Professor Stein repeated her question aloud mirthfully as he recalled a little Toph that hardly came up to his knee asking similar questions. "'How is that possible?' Believe it or not, my pink-haired Muppet princess, the world does indeed continue to twirl whilst you sleep! Do you think this starcrossed vessel arrived the very hour of your discovery for your benefit alone or could it be that it possesses an agenda and mission of its own?" He continued with a well-meaning smirk. "And if it were here before your discovery, might it have left a detail here and a clue there that science-based adventurers like Miss Yashida and myself picked up on?"

Hitomi put her hand on her hip, grinning like a girl meeting a rock star. "It was a race, Wild Cards. A race to see who would find the Broadsword first." She gave him a look of her highest admiration and curiosity. "And the professor was right - we did!"

"By 'us', Hitomi is referring to the Wild Cards. Not the ASC, UAL, Zeki-Zentraedi, or Ura-Meltrandi, any one of whom would have dealt much differently with the Broadsword than you have." Professor Stein opened his hands. "Well, is someone going to introduce us?"

 

[Sherwood]

Mario carefully parks his new mecha and powers it down, then climbs on out with a wide smile as he watches the newcomers to the ship look around. "Well, Professor, however you have known about it, you have now come into the mecha bay of the SCL-107 Broadsword. A ship from the future, sent back to save the Earth from a series of devastating attacks that will ravage the planet even worse than the Rain of Fire did from Lord Dolza's fleet. The Wild Cards have only scratched the surface of the ship, but this vessel is a marvel of advanced technology."

He turns and motions at the animated suits of armor. "There are no organic members of the crew, instead, the ship is run by these suits of armor that are animated somehow. How that works is one of the many questions we have that there have not been time to address yet. In any case, this is Spaceman Sam and Spacewoman Samantha. Sam, Samantha, here are our friends and fellow members of the ASC: This is Colonel Sharp, Sergeant Murphy, Hitomi, Reggie, and Professor Stein. I hope that you will make them feel as welcome as you have done with us."

 

[Purr]

Colonel Sharp indicated Iris. "Corporal? And... who do we have the pleasure of meeting here... and are they part of the crew?"

 

[Sherwood]

Mario smacks himself on the forehead. "I am sorry, Iris, that I forgot to introduce you. Please forgive me. Guys, this is Unit One, but we have started calling her Iris. She is a . . . well, how to put it? Her race was saved by Cera's band of Meltrandi and are now in their debt to them. She has an uncanny ability to blend into the surrounding area, making herself nearly invisible. Her race is also telepathic, and it was thanks to her that we were able to communicate mentally before without using our radios to give away our positions. Iris is one of the team."

 

[Purr]

Colonel Sharp paused to grasp all of this, nodded his thanks to Mario, and turned to Iris. "Ah, well, on behalf of the United Earth Government and Army of Southern Cross, I welcome to you to planet Earth, Iris and Broadsword crew! Furthermore, please accept my gratitude for assisting my soldiers on what must be one of the wildest missions I have had a part in sending anyone on."

Iris closed her eyes and seemed to quietly beam happily. Mario heard, felt, and saw her charmed reaction across the polyphonic nexus he, Shirley, and Iris shared. "Consensus reached: Like Mario Zuko, Colonel Sharp possesses unusual spiritual characteristics that make him a pleasure to interact with. Query: Is this human greater in station than the Wild Cards?"

Shirley looked over at Colonel Sharp with an admiring grin. "Oh, yes! He's our boss, Iris."

"Consensus reached: We would like your leader to know we are pleased to assist such a brave and adventurous team of Traversers! To fight against the Zeki-Zentraedi and Dolza-Zentraedi alongside of Earth's stalwart guardians is an honor we wish to continue sharing!"

Shirley conveyed this message and Colonel Sharp's expression went from cautiously optimistic to outright glad.

"There are no organic members of the crew, instead, the ship is run by these suits of armor that are animated somehow.

Spaceman Sam approached in a very mild manner, "his" tablet before him. "FORGIVE US, CORPORAL ZUKO. THIS STATEMENT IS INCORRECT. WE ARE THE ACTIVE CREW OF THE BROADSWORD. THERE EXISTS AN INACTIVE CREW INSIDE THIS VESSEL." Sam paused, then added. "SHALL WE RETIRE TO THE BRIEFING ROOM AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS THERE? THERE IS MUCH TO BE BROUGHT TO LIGHT BETWEEN US."

"I could not agree more," Professor Stein stroked MechaKitten while watching Sam. While all of the newcomers you had rescued and brought aboard the Broadsword, Professor Stein alone seemed to lack a little of the awe and enthusiasm of the others. Instead, there was something about his manner that appeared to express a touch of suspicion. "We are honored to accept your hospitality, Broadsword." He bowed to Sam who returned it instantly and as they rose together, Sam straightened last.

"Have you anything with alcohol to drink aboard this vessel?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"Sake?"

"AFFIRMATIVE."

"I thought you might... Please show us the way to the briefing room."

As the active crewmembers of the Broadsword continued to service your mecha, Sam and Samantha escorted you to the main elevator and up several levels to the briefing room. Upon entering the room, several other animated mega-suits were present bringing along drinks and MREs to the table. As you sat, Murphy had to comment.

"MREs? This the best you got?"

"FORGIVE US," Samantha replied via tablet. "THIS IS THE ONLY FORM OF HUMAN-EDIBLE SUSTENANCE WE HAVE ONBOARD."

Still, Professor Stein was served warm sake in a glass at the proper temperature along with his MRE. Unlike Murphy, he did not complain. As you ate, Shirley raised her hand and spoke. "Well, before we begin, the Wild Cards and I have to do a post-flight." T.A.S.C. pilots were very big about having pre-flight and post-flight meetings to discuss everything that happened during the mission along with things that went right, things that didn't go quite right, and ways to improve.

This conversation took all of 10 minutes and by that time, everyone save Iris (who had not eaten) were nearly finished with their meals. This brought the atmosphere to a conversational level. While there was still some tension and awe in the room, there was also a feeling of eagerness and a desire to hear and be heard.

Colonel Sharp began the meeting by rising up from his seat. The room instantly quieted as all heads turned toward him. "Soldiers, civilians, and travelers from beyond, I want to thank you for assisting Sergeant Murphy and Doctor Yashida in our rescue as well as picking up Professor Stein and private citizen Booty. While you had no way of knowing what we were up to, it was quite a nice turn of events to find you coming in to save our bacon. I can't express how much I appreciate the helping hand. I, for one, was uncertain how we were going to survive blowing up General Steele's safehouse and getting out of there in our Abrams tank with all of those Zentraedi in the mix.

Sharp grinned widely, clearly pleased. "But we did, largely in part thanks to you. Here's to you, Wild Cards." As Colonel Sharp began to applaud, he was joined by all of the newcomers and then by the Broadsword crew. Iris hesitantly patted her huge pincers together in an attempt to mimic these motions while MechaKitten stood tall and proud as if he had played some pivotal role in the whole thing...

Colonel Sharp continued. "Now, I want something to be perfectly understood here. We all have secrets. We all have bosses and duties and codes of our own that we must answer to. No one present is under any obligation to share something they feel will trespass upon any of those realms of honor. So, if you are posed a question and you cannot answer, by all means, simply raise up your left..." he glanced at Iris, "...appendage and that silence will be taken for your answer.

Sharp looked around the table at everyone. "Many of us are strangers here. Heck, I don't even know what the Broadsword is much less why it's here... from the future..." Colonel Sharp shook his head as if still trying to digest that information. "All I ask is your respect and complete honesty as we speak, whether it be in word or silence. From my years as a battlefield commander, I've learned that trust is the core of all relationships. I want us to build on that trust here and see this for the rare and historic opportunity that it is. I don't have any goals right now except to get to know you, and our overall situation, better."

Colonel Sharp took a seat. "Who wants to be first?"

 

[Kaerri]

"Blasted right, I did! How'd you know?"

"I've always suspected you were a fellow Traverser, my dear Sergeant. We've just never had the opportunity to sit down and talk about it. God as my witness, I have yet to meet a Traverser who lacked a wacky mind and you are overqualified in that regard."

Elinor was surprised to hear that Murphy was a Traverser, but at the same time, pleased. Broadsword had pretty clearly indicated that it had a real short list of people it was prepared to trust, and Murphy hadn't been listed. On the other hand, the ship had seemed willing to trust Traversers in general (though Elinor had thought that just meant the Wild Cards, Cera, and Professor Stein, which she now realized was a silly bit of hubris on her part -- what on Earth made her think the only Traversers in existence were the ones she had met, after all?). With Sgt. Murphy on the list of Traversers, Elinor figured that should make things right with Broadsword, if the ship wasn't inclined to take their (or Colonel Sharp's) word that he could be trusted.

"Hah! Mine can!" Cera shouted and punched it.

Elinor laughed. "Cera's Mjolnirs are something else, aren't they, sir?" It pleased her to hear Cera's pride in her own creations, because Elinor figured she should be proud. Brand new and only just battle-tested as they were, they seemed to be working out just fine.

"WILD CARDS. YOU ARE CLEARED FOR LANDING. WELCOME ABOARD."

Elinor's grin faded into a more solemn smile as she realized she did indeed feel as though she were coming home. It was kind of like coming back to base after a successful flight, except this base was full of people she all respected and mostly liked, which you couldn't always say about any other base.

Spaceman Sam and Samantha approached beside Iris and bowed in a Japanese fashion to all of you. They held up their tablets which read in festive colors and text, 'CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS!'"

Elinor waved at Sam and Samantha. "Thanks, you two!" She still wasn't sure whether Sam, Samantha, and Broadsword itself were separate entities or just facets of the same one, but, well, they had their own names, which she figured meant that they wanted to be considered separate, at least. And it would be rude to disregard what they wanted.

Sharp grinned widely, clearly pleased. "But we did, largely in part thanks to you. Here's to you, Wild Cards." As Colonel Sharp began to applaud, he was joined by all of the newcomers and then by the Broadsword crew. Iris hesitantly patted her huge pincers together in an attempt to mimic these motions while MechaKitten stood tall and proud as if he had played some pivotal role in the whole thing...

Much to her surprise, Elinor felt her cheeks heating up. When all was said and done, she was just a farmgirl-turned-lieutenant, not a hero. And yet... Hearing all of what they'd done spelled out like that, Elinor realized that while she might not be a hero just yet, she oughta accept that she was pretty clearly on her way, if things kept up. Just for her own comfort, though, she gave the proud little MechaKitten some headpats as if acknowledging his part in all this.

"So, if you are posed a question and you cannot answer, by all means, simply raise up your left..." he glanced at Iris, "...appendage and that silence will be taken for your answer."

Elinor nodded, making a note of that. She didn't think there was anything she needed to hide, except for what Cera or Sam/Samantha/Broadsword might require, but she figured those kinds of questions would go to them, or at least she could pass the questions on if they were asked her. With everyone present, there wasn't any need to answer for someone else, anyway.

Colonel Sharp took a seat. "Who wants to be first?"

Elinor glanced around the table, then spoke up. "Well, sir, this might be asking out of order, but something happened on the last trip and I'd like to know why, and maybe how to prevent it next time, or fix it ourselves after, if we can." She looked at Iris. "I shoulda mentioned this earlier, and I'm sorry I didn't. Just got caught up in the mood and forgot, I guess. Anyway, when Toph and I picked up the new Logans, we went to Traversing them so's to know how best to fly the things. When I got out, and maybe Toph too, we weren't part of the Nexus anymore." She glanced at Toph for confirmation. "For now, could you maybe add us back in so we can hear you too? It's weird, but I miss hearing you, Iris." Elinor smiled. Who'd've thought she'd miss having a bug in her head? "To get back to what I was saying, when I came out of the Blue World of Traversing, first thing I noticed was that I'd lost all the knowledge I'd gotten from talking to the Mjolnir, which, y'know, that makes sense. Only one memory slot or something, I guess. But what I'd really like to know is, how come I lost the Nexus, too? I never lost it while Traversing before, that I remember. Is it 'cause you were so far away from us then? How can we keep it steady so that doesn't happen again? And is there a way we can fix it ourselves, or is that something only you can do for us?"

 

[Purr]

Just for her own comfort, though, she gave the proud little MechaKitten some headpats as if acknowledging his part in all this.

MechaKitten pushed his head against Elinor's hand granting her permission to pet him. After all, she was only human and should at least get some reward for risking her life in combat. Petting his head, MechaKitten thought, was reward for them both. Besides, she had shown before that she knew how to properly pet a cat - a skill all humans should have, really... Then tiny MechaKitten noticed the rather large Professor Stein was giving him a glare as if to say, "You had better appreciate that, you twit!" MechaKitten's ego climbed down out of the clouds. In moments, Elinor found her hand being licked in great appreciation by MechaKitten's sandpapery, pink tongue. Sometimes, MechaKitten realized, even a kitten's ego needed returning to reality...

Anyway, when Toph and I picked up the new Logans, we went to Traversing them so's to know how best to fly the things. When I got out, and maybe Toph too, we weren't part of the Nexus anymore."

Hitomi nodded. "Your Logan-link replacing your Mjolnir-link is to be expected at your beginner-stage. As early as you are into this, I would be awfully surprised if you had kept it."

Sergeant Murphy gave Hitomi an odd glance. "Now, explain just who you are again?"

"Oh! Perhaps everyone but the Wild Cards should state their agency and occupation." Hitomi began again. "I'm Hitomi Yashida M.D. of Project Eternity, a low-key United Earth Government agency. I am trauma specialist, espionage agent, and authority in technopathy and Zentraedi/Meltrandi culture." Toph and Elinor might have noticed Hitomi did not mention any of her combat qualifications. On top of being a Jeet Kune Do instructor, she had shown in her classes that she knew a great deal about tactics and strategy and how they related to sniping. Hitomi turned to her students. "When you entered The Blue World, you automatically disconnected from the polyphonic nexus Iris had created just like you did inside the Assault Scout with Cera. Remember that? It doesn't seem possible for beginners like yourselves to dive into The Blue World and stay part of that communications network."

Murphy digested that. "And how d'you know alla that?"

Professor Stein brushed a hand through his large white beard turned to Murphy. "Because, Smurfy, Hitomi and I are authorized and paid by the UEG to. It's part of the reason Project Eternity exists at all. Lovely things, secret projects." Professor Stein addressed Spaceman Sam and Samantha. "I am Professor Albert Stein, head of Project Eternity. I am a long-time expert in gadget-making, intelligence-gathering, and all sorts of other adventure-related nonsense. The SCL-107 Broadsword is a Robotech Expeditionary Force vessel, or UEEF if you prefer the term. This makes our agencies allies by way of our working for the same government. Do you agree?" Both Samantha and Sam looked to each other, then nodded in unison back. "Are you able to connect to a technopathic nexus?" They shook their heads.

"All right." Stein looked up at Iris. "Miss Iris, I take it you can understand our words?" Iris nodded. "But you lack vocal chords and therefore cannot verbally reply to us?" Iris nodded again. Professor Stein put his hands together. "So you communicate only via telepathy?" Iris nodded a third time. Professor Stein took a sip of his sake and addressed all of the Traversers in the room. "Would you be willing to join my polyphonic nexus?" He stared at Murphy.

"Stein, just what in the hell are you up to now?"

"Try it," Stein replied with a devilish look in his eye. "You'll like it."

"I just hate it when you say that spooky shit. All right! Git er done!"

"Hitomi," Stein instructed. "Sit beside Sam and Samantha and relay our conversation to it, if you please?"

"Your office secretary lives to serve, oh Great One." Hitomi quipped and did as he asked.

"Oh, bother!" Hearing that, Stein made an mock-astonished face at her as he walked over to Colonel Sharp. "Here, Hiram. Wear this." Stein reached into his pocket and pulled forth a bluetooth-like device made to stay firmly on the ear.

"Another one of your gadgets, Albert?" Colonel Sharp asked.

"Yes. I call them Transceivers. They allow non-Traversers like you and Miss Yashida to enter binary or polyphonic nexuses..." Stein winked. "...like mine!"

Colonel Sharp acted normally until suddenly, he shot up in his seat and whirled to Stein with a look of absolute shock on his face. Both Stein and Hitomi chuckled. "Hitomi had the same look too when she first wore hers."

Spoiler: Wild Cards

To see when the Transceivers were first in action in Robotech: Broadsword, go waaay back to Captain Hesperus's prelude! =)

For the duration of the conversation, all parties are now able to converse, from non-Traversers like Hitomi, Sharp, and the Broadsword, to the non-verbal like MechaKitten and Iris. For the sake of keeping it simple, feel free to continue typing your posts in non-bold text. If, for some reason, one of your characters does not want to be part of Professor Stein's polyphonic nexus, let me know in Fat Gandalf's. Iris's polyphonic nexus between herself, Mario, and Shirley remains active. This means Mario, Shirley, and Iris are part of two polyphonic nexuses. Think of them like mental channels in Discord, Teamspeak, or Ventrilo!

Hitomi continued from inside Stein's polyphonic nexus. "So, Elinor, the professor and I think it's possible to keep the connection - with proper time and experience investment."

Iris spoke up to Stein, Murphy, and Hitomi. "Greetings, Traversers! We of the Scrath colonies welcome you as fellow Traversers and allies! We wish to confirm that is indeed possible, through training and experience, to maintain the nexus connection in and out of The Blue World!" While Iris spoke, Hitomi transcribed to Sam and Samantha.

"Is that sufficient, Elinor or shall we move onto the next question?" Hitomi asked.

 

[Kaerri]

Elinor stared at the transceivers, looking like a kid presented with a new toy they weren't allowed to play with yet. A kid engineer, say, and the toy was one they'd love to take apart to see how it worked and if they could put it back together again... She'd barely begun to learn how to use this Traversing ability, and now she'd found out it could have technological interfacing! How cool was that?

Hitomi's "voice" in the professor's Nexus called her back to reality (or what was passing for it these days). Quickly her brain replayed the past conversation for her. "Ah, yeah, thanks, Hitomi and Iris. Good to know. Just to add, while we're on the subject of communication, before we left on our rescue mission, we were talking about getting some devices going so that Sam and Samantha can talk out loud too, which should help. We just don't have the parts for it yet. Unless they're in the goodie crates you had us bring along, Hitomi."

She tugged on MechaKitten's ears, then glanced around at the group, clearly done with her own question and waiting for the next person to speak up.

 

[Sherwood]

Mario sits back in his seat, his head spinning with the many questions that are ratting around in his skull. "Well, one thing I would like to know, so long as it is not too personal or Top Secret some how, Sam and Samantha, just what are you? Are you robots, or some kind of consciousness of a person implanted into these megasuits? And you mentioned earlier that I was mistaken when I introduced you as the crew of the ship, saying you were the active crew. What does that mean? How many crew does the ship have, and how many can the Broadsword support?"

 

[Psychie]

Toph listens with interest as everyone comes up with their various questions, waiting patiently for her own turn to ask something. "Um, I am wondering, besides the Super Tomahawk that we saw on the Assault Scout, what mecha, if any, have you brought back with you, and what is your mecha capacity? While the Super Logan is impressive, I am curious to know if there is something in the hangar bay that puts it to shame, especially with Cera's comments on how we were stuck in our 'antique' equipment!"

 

[Purr]

Part 1 of 2 (Game Master note - the following are replies to Mario's questions. Toph's questions follow on the next post. =) Hope you're enjoying this as much as I am! This is fun! I've been waiting for this!)

Lots of heads turned toward Spacefarers Sam and Samantha as Mario asked this question. For some moments, the two seemed to stare off in Toph's direction for reasons unknown by creatures-made-of-organic-materials. Then finally, they eagerly nodded to one another, placed their twin tablets together as if to form one large screen, and directed their words toward the entire table.

"WE SHALL ANSWER AS OUR PROTOCOLS DICTATE. SPACEFARERS SAMANTHA AND SAM ARE ROBOTS. PLEASE FORGIVE US ANY TRANSGRESSIONS; WE DO NOT INTEND TO DECEIVE YOU." Sam, Samantha, and the other 8 suits bowed at the waist, deeply and most humbly.

THE ACTIVE CREW ARE SIMPLY PHYSICAL EXTENSIONS OF THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT IS THE SCL-107 BROADSWORD AS DIRECTED BY THE ROBOTECH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE'S LEADERS, ADMIRAL LISA HUNTER AND VICE ADMIRAL RICK HUNTER. THESE MEGA-SUITS YOU REFER TO AS SAM AND SAMANTHA ARE 2 OF 57 CURRENTLY-ACTIVE CREW REQUIRED FOR THE CONTINUED FUNCTION OF THIS UNIQUE SUPER DIMENSION GARFISH-CLASS LIGHT CRUISER.

"THE INACTIVE CREW ARE IN HYPERSLEEP DEEP INSIDE THE BROADSWORD. THESE ARE WHAT REMAINS OF THE ORIGINAL SCL-107 BROADSWORD CREW MANY OF WHOM WERE LOST DURING OUR DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO YOUR TIMELINE. FOR OUR MISSION TO BE SUCCESSFUL, PROTOCOL ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO OUR ARRIVAL DICTATES THAT THEY REMAIN THERE AT THIS TIME. THE BROADSWORD CAN SUPPORT 57 CREW AND 454 ADDITIONAL TROOPS AND PILOTS FOR WARTIME CONFIGURATION.

"FURTHER QUESTIONS ARE ENCOURAGED AT THIS TIME. WE SHALL ANSWER AS OUR PROTOCOL DICTATE." Samantha, Sam, and the the other 8 present suits finally straightened to standing positions.

Newcomers and friends alike all shifted and looked to each other with their own private reactions to these discoveries.

 

[Purr]

Part 2 of 2 (the responses to Toph's questions).

Murphy shot a glare at Toph. "Super Tomahawk? An' just' what in the--"

"Shush, Smurf! Later." Colonel Sharp said.

And he did.

Cera grit her teeth. "By the Black Binary, they are antiques!"

Causing Mack growled at Cera. "Cera, shut it!"

And she did.

Spaceman Sam and Samantha bowed their heads in what appeared to be sadness at this question. "THE SUPER TOMAHAWK IS THE LAST OF ITS KIND IN THIS TIMELINE. IT IS A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE ZEKI-ZENTRAEDI, AS THE ZEKI-ZENTRAEDI MAY POSSESS THE MEANS TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN MECHA AND WEAPON DESIGNS. THE BROADSWORD POSSESSES NO OTHER MECHA BESIDES WHAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT ON-BOARD. ALL 9 OF THE BROADSWORD'S PILOTS WERE LOST PROTECTING THIS VESSEL WHILE WE WERE EN ROUTE TO THIS TIME AND PLACE. THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR LIVES ALLOWED US TO ARRIVE HERE. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

"WE AGREE THAT THE SUPER STEALTH LOGAN PROTOTYPE VERITECH IS VALUABLE. IT IS NOT A MECHA WE HAVE DISCOVERED UNTIL TONIGHT. NOW THAT YOU HAVE RETRIEVED IT, WE WILL SOON HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO REPLICATE IT. THANKS TO THE BROADSWORD'S BRAVE INACTIVE CREW, WE POSSESS A LIST OF SCHEMATICS AND THE FACILITIES TO CREATE POWERFUL WEAPON DESIGNS OF MECHA FROM BOTH OUR PAST AND PRESENT. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, WE LACK THE PROPER COMPONENTS TO CREATE THESE MECHA AND MECHA UPGRADES. OUR COMPONENT STORES WERE RECENTLY USED TO CREATE AUXILIARY SPECIALIST CERA'S TWIN MJOLNIR-CLASS VERITECH HOVER TANKS.

"COMPONENTS, LIKE THOSE YOU HAVE RETRIEVED FROM YOUR LAST SORTIES, ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE, REPAIR, AND MAINTAIN ANY MECHA STORED UPON THIS VESSEL."

"WE AWAIT YOUR FURTHER QUERIES."

Colonel Sharp let out a deep breath. "Whoa..."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario looks at the twin robots of Sam and Samantha, and he asks, "Um, how is it possible that this ship is able to time travel at all? And why only one ship? And why come to this date? Why not come earlier, before the SDF-3 left for Tyrol? Then there would have been more ships here to help defend the Earth from the pending invasions."

 

[Purr]

Sam and Samantha paused and looked at one another again, then back to Mario, tablets raised. "UNDER THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, PROTOCOL DISALLOWS US FROM DISCUSSING DETAILS OF TIME TRAVEL. WE ARE ALLOWED TO SAY THIS - THIS WAS THE RIGHT TIME, THE RIGHT PLACE. TRAVERSERS ARE IMPERATIVE FOR OUR MISSION TO SUCCEED." With wide sweeps of their hands, Samantha and Sam indicated everyone at the table as if to suggest this condition had proved correct for the sheer number of Traversers now gathered at the once-empty briefing room table.

Colonel Sharp spoke up. "Are you at liberty to tell us what your mission is?"

"AFFIRMATIVE, COLONEL. OUR MISSION IS TO SAVE HUMANITY FROM THE INVID THREAT BEFORE IT TAKES PLACE."

"Invid?" Colonel Sharp looked around the table to see who else among his fellow United Earth Government people knew the word. Only Professor Stein and Hitomi returned his nod.

With this, Spaceman Sam and Samantha rose and told the story you had heard twice before, once in Eglin ASC base and again here on the Broadsword. The story of the fall of the Army of Southern Cross and with it, Earth. The utter destruction that ensued and the enslavement of humanity. It could all be avoided, so the Broadsword argued, by following their mission parameters, some of which they were following this very moment.

When all was said and done, Colonel Sharp and the other newcomers needed a few moments to digest it all. The last moments of one's planet and race was not a thing to be taken lightly. Long moments of silence passed before everyone showed signs of their readiness to continue.

"Who's next?" Hitomi asked.

 

[Psychie]

Toph asks, "Under what circumstances are you going to awaken the members of the crew currently in hypersleep? Is there anything we can do to assist in this? I would very much like to assist in the medical bay for this process, and learn more about the technology available there. As a doctor, anything that can improve my ability to help heal the sick and injured is something I am very interested in."

 

[Sherwood]

At this point, Mario looks over at the Colonel. "Sir, my next set of questions are for you. The Broadsword is going to need supplies and materials because I for one am tired of having only MREs to eat, and our mecha won't fix themselves. Where can we go to get the needed items and secure them without having to get into a firefight with allied forces in the process? Also, sir, what the hell happened with General Steele? Why did he have you arrested? And what is our status? Have we been declared deceased? Do our families think we are dead? I would like to try and get in touch with my fam and let them know I'm ok if it wouldn't put them or us in harms way."

 

[Purr]

(Gang, let's roleplay the events Toph has set in motion and once those are decided, I will move onto Sherwood's post with Mario's questions.)

Toph asks, "Under what circumstances are you going to awaken the members of the crew currently in hypersleep?

Sam and Samantha straightened in surprise. They had not seemed prepared for this subject and it showed in their body language. One long moment filled with shy, aplogetic fidgeting later (which perhaps Toph viewed as humorous as this was something her own father would do in circumstances like these; apparently it was a very Japanese method bordering on apology), they turned as one to Toph.

Their intertwined tablets lit up. "THE HYPERSLEEP PROCESS IS A MATTER OF ENGINEERING; MEDICAL SCIENCE IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS THERE IS A MALFUNCTION. AT THIS TIME, NO MALFUNCTIONS ARE DETECTED." They clasped their hands in unison as if to ask for your understanding.

"HOWEVER, THE PROTOCOLS AS CREATED BY OUR COMMANDER ALLOW US TO AWAKEN TWO OF OUR INACTIVE CREW," they nodded, "SINCE YOU REQUESTED IT. ALL OF YOU MUST AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:

1. ONLY YOU AND YOUR SQUADRON ARE ALLOWED TO VIEW THIS PROCESS. ALL OTHERS MUST REMAIN HERE.

2. YOU MUST TAKE NO ACTION TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THESE MEMBERS UNTIL PERMISSION IS PROVIDED. THE SITUATION IS VERY DELICATE; THE CREW ARE UNAWARE OF MUCH AND ARE NOT IN THEIR NORMAL STATES OF MIND.

3. WE, OF THE BROADSWORD, WISH FOR YOU TO WITNESS THIS EVENT AS A SHOW OF TRUST TO YOU. BY WITNESSING YOUR REQUEST, YOU WILL ALSO LEARN MUCH. YOU MUST AGREE TO SHARE WHAT YOU WITNESS TO NO ONE ELSE UNLESS PERMISSION IS PROVIDED. NOT FRIEND, NOT FAMILY, NOT FELLOW SOLDIER.

"WILD CARDS. DO EACH OF YOU AGREE?"

Mack was first to chime in followed by Cera.

"Cross my heart and hope to die."

"I promise this. I also promise to utterly destroy any entity that attempts to take this information from us."

"Mroooooo!! Rrrrawr!" MechaKitten waved his paw excitedly. "I promises! I swearz I promises!"

"Hold up," Mack put her hands on her hips and loomed in a very alpha-like fashion over the apparently-cybernetic feline. "Just who made you part of the Wild Cards, little fella?"

Sam tried to interject. "THIS IS NOT REQUIRED. MECHAKITTEN IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED, TRUSTED--"

"Rweeeeewr! Mrreeeawr! Meeeeeeew?!" MechaKitten pleaded with large eyes of gold. "But I wanna be a Wild Card! I haz helpded you an' I kin be good an' brave Wild Card! Pweeeeeeaze?!"

"Take him with you," Professor Stein recommended with a big-bearded grin. "Your team could use a mascot."

Mack looked at each of you. "What do you think?"

How do the Wild Cards respond?

 

[Psychie]

Toph reads the tablet intently, then nods. "I understand, and I fully agree to the terms you provide. I would just be very interested in seeing how the process works, and if there is any kind of problem, God forbid, I would be there to assist."

She then reaches over to rub the head of Mechakitten with affection. "Of course you can be our mascot! You are a member of our team, just like any other one of us!"

 

[Sherwood]

Mario steeples his fingers in thought. "My only concern with awakening the rest of the crew is this: how are we going to be interacting with them? This is not our ship, and I don't know if we are even in the same chain of command as the crew, considering that they are from a different branch of the military. I want to make sure that there is no miscommunication between superior officers. Other than that, I would be all for getting to know the other crew and having more allies in the fight."

He then looks over at the furball being loved on by Toph. "I don't mind having a mascot. I've always been a dog lover myself, but cats are cool, too. Welcome to the team, Mechakitten."

 

[Kaerri]

Cera grit her teeth. "By the Black Binary, they are antiques!"

Causing Mack growled at Cera. "Cera, shut it!"

Elinor wondered what the Black Binary was, but this didn't seem the time to ask -- lest she, too, get the order to shut it. She half-grinned at the thought.

ALL 9 OF THE BROADSWORD'S PILOTS WERE LOST PROTECTING THIS VESSEL WHILE WE WERE EN ROUTE TO THIS TIME AND PLACE. THE SACRIFICE OF THEIR LIVES ALLOWED US TO ARRIVE HERE. WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

Elinor bowed her head in memory of those brave unknown pilots, then returned her attention to the rest of what Sam and Samantha were saying.

"WILD CARDS. DO EACH OF YOU AGREE?"

Elinor nodded firmly. "I agree. Your secrets are safe with me, and your crew as safe as I know how to make them."

"Rweeeeewr! Mrreeeawr! Meeeeeeew?!" MechaKitten pleaded with large eyes of gold. "But I wanna be a Wild Card! I haz helpded you an' I kin be good an' brave Wild Card! Pweeeeeeaze?!"

"Take him with you," Professor Stein recommended with a big-bearded grin. "Your team could use a mascot."

Elinor chuckled. "Oh, why not? He has been useful, beyond our expectations." Setting aside the fact that we didn't have any...

how are we going to be interacting with them? This is not our ship, and I don't know if we are even in the same chain of command as the crew, considering that they are from a different branch of the military. I want to make sure that there is no miscommunication between superior officers.

"Like you would any officers in another branch," was Elinor's recommendation. "Seems to me that Broadsword's in charge as far as they're concerned, so Broadsword's in charge as far as I'm concerned where it regards them."

 

[Purr]

(Part 1 of 2)

She then reaches over to rub the head of Mechakitten with affection. "Of course you can be our mascot! You are a member of our team, just like any other one of us!"

He then looks over at the furball being loved on by Toph. "I don't mind having a mascot. I've always been a dog lover myself, but cats are cool, too. Welcome to the team, Mechakitten."

Elinor chuckled. "Oh, why not? He has been useful, beyond our expectations." Setting aside the fact that we didn't have any...

Spaceman Samantha and Sam exchanged what could have been construed as knowing nods at Mario's statements.

"MEEEEEEEEW!!" ("I WUV YOU ALL!!) MechaKitten filled his little lungs and was about to let out a long and happy cheer when he was interrupted. By the tapping of a foot. An Ura-Meltrandi foot.

MechaKitten gasped in horror! He had forgotten about Cera! And she hated males!! His life was over! He pleaded with such cute and piteous whines as to even get Murphy to wince. "Is he always this dramatic?"

"YES!" Hitomi and Professor Stein nodded in a great show of mock-exasperation, falling forward onto the table as if utterly exhausted. Then they laughed together.

Cera reached down and picked MechaKitten up under his forelegs. She held him directly in front of her face, but her attempts to stare in him the eye were unsuccessful, for the cat had discovered her red-brown bangs were within paw-reach and was playfully batting at them. "Meewr!" ("Oooh, hair!" )

Cera continued despite his distraction. "Do you want my vote?" That got his attention. "I will provide it on one condition!" MechaKitten gasped in dramatic suspense. "You must follow our commands as though you were the omega of this pride! Leader Mack is alpha and the rest of us are betas! You are last, omega! Will you comply?" She leaned in and glared at him. In response, MechaKitten rolled in her hands until he was on his back, neck open and bared in complete submission. "mew!"

"That's better." She turned to Mack. "I will agree to your will, Leader Mack."

Shirley just grinned and said, "Who am I to go against the pack? He's in!"

"MMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWW!!" MechaKitten jumped at Cera who fell back against the floor in surprise. Before she knew it, she had a MechaKitten on her chest licking her face with his little pink sandpaper tongue. It was the happiest you had ever seen the little fellow. It was as if he had reached godhood! Whatever the case, just about everyone capable of smiling in the room was doing so.

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2)

"My only concern with awakening the rest of the crew is this: how are we going to be interacting with them?"

Colonel Sharp had a thought and shared it. "Trooper, I don't see anything wrong with the way we've been acting currently. Aren't we all guests aboard this Robotech Expeditionary Force vessel? I don't imagine that would change whether our host was robotic or organic. The important part is - we continue to be good guests to our hosts." He opened his hand toward Samantha and Sam and the other eight animated mega-suits in the room.

At this point, Mario looks over at the Colonel. "Sir, my next set of questions are for you. The Broadsword is going to need supplies and materials because I for one am tired of having only MREs to eat, and our mecha won't fix themselves. Where can we go to get the needed items and secure them without having to get into a firefight with allied forces in the process? Also, sir, what the hell happened with General Steele? Why did he have you arrested? And what is our status? Have we been declared deceased? Do our families think we are dead? I would like to try and get in touch with my fam and let them know I'm ok if it wouldn't put them or us in harms way."

"Whoa, whoa, time out there son!" Colonel Sharp held up his hands and made the "time-out" motion. "Let me tackle each of these at a time before the Broadsword whisks you off to this meeting of yours. I'm afraid some of my news is far from good." Colonel Sharp stood and faced the Wild Cards unwilling to deliver such answers from a seated position.

"Where can we go to get the needed items and secure them without having to get into a firefight with allied forces in the process?"

"That's a very good question you ask of a lifelong military man who is used to being fed by the forces he serves. Somehow I doubt they'll let you into the PX with the IDs you currently own. Albert? You're good at this sort of thing. What do you think?"

Spoiler: PX

PX = "Post Exchange" The military's Wal-Mart.

Professor Stein gazed at the ceiling momentarily before answering. "I have answers, my good man, but I doubt you'll like them. You can either deal with the civilian market here in Florida in an incognito way and get a little food at at time (think grocery shopping), but if you want food and mecha parts by the caseload, there are only two other factions you are likely to get them from. And neither of them are friendly with the military - I'm talking about the Black Market or the Scavengers. I might be convinced to lend a hand in this matter if certain circumstances are in order."

"I know what you mean by that and I'd need the same." Colonel Sharp replied.

"Also, sir, what the hell happened with General Steele? Why did he have you arrested?"

Colonel Sharp tightened his mouth and looked at the floor before taking off his glasses and cleaning them. "Well... to put it simply... I disobeyed his direct order."

A long moment of silence drifted through the room. Shirley couldn't stand there without knowing more. "Sir?" Her hesitant but curious expression conveyed her feelings.

Sergeant Murphy sat up in his chair and encouraged him. "Go on, Sharp. Tell it to 'em straight! Ya did the right thing!"

Colonel Sharp briefly grinned at Murphy. He gave a deep sigh and looked each of you right in your eyes. "After Little Boy and Fat Man destroyed the Zeki-Zentraedi starship off the Florida coastline, I... ordered every last resource we had in attempts to find you alive or to recover your bodies. I couldn't... I couldn't leave you." Colonel Sharp turned to one side. "As some of you know, we normally require a minimum of 48 hours for these situations, but I was called off after only 2. So when directly ordered to call off the search, I failed to order the rescue teams back and had them continue searching. We stalled him as long as we could. A whole 4 more hours. But General Steele found out about the ruse and was about to take the head off of the person in charge of the helos and boats. That's when I stepped forward and advised him that it was my doing. He ordered me under 'house arrest' immediately and suspended my command until further notice. So..." he nodded solemnly, "Wild Cards, I understand if you don't refer to me as 'colonel' any longer."

Hitomi waved. "That's where the professor and I come into the story. It just so happened we were getting a tour of the motor pool when the call came over a radio we heard to bring a Janissary to the coastline and provide it armed escort. The professor had heard a familiar name, 'Hiram', and had a hunch. I distracted the head of the motor pool. The professor logged into the lead's computer and found out Colonel Hiram Sharp had indeed been willingly placed self-arrest and was the prisoner-to-be."

HItomi beamed a mocking and purely-innocent-looking smile. "That's when the professor and I parted ways. Him with Reggie to get them off-post and as far away as they could from Eglin and me hijacking the Janissary with an empty mega-suit in the passenger seat as a decoy and its motor-pool-lead owner unconscious, duct-taped, and stuffed into his smelly locker. When I arrived, Colonel Sharp boarded the Janissary alone, and I drove off and revealed who I was along with my plan of action. I took the colonel's armor and dropped him off where Sgt. Murphy picked him up in a fully-fueled Abrams and followed us at a discreet distance. I rendezvoused with the four-Ajax escort minutes later and was told to drive to a particular set of curious coordinates. Once at the Big Red Barn, I laid unconscious the two unarmored Special Forces soldiers who thought I was the hapless colonel and made them fit inside the motor pool-provided mega-suits as best I could. I stuffed them in the front and passenger seats then took a pistol and a hand grenade of theirs and took a seat in the back hatch of the APC. You probably saw Sgt. Murphy climbing out in his armor out of the tank just before that and... I think you know the rest!"

Sergeant Murphy chuckled. "And damned if we didn't get lucky! Sharp, if you hadn't called me when ya did..."

Colonel Sharp added, "True, true. Wild Cards, we didn't know who you guys were when you showed up. All we knew is that we had to act fast."

"Ah, ah, ah!" Professor Stein spoke up. "What Hiram is failing to tell you is that since he is not a prisoner of the esteemed General Steele, there is likely a Special Forces-led manhunt on at this very moment. Not that they'll be able to find him where we are. But more importantly, to the few powers that know about this fiasco, Colonel Sharp is a vigilante from justice as far as the Army of Southern Cross is concerned. By defying your General Steele, Hiram may have just given up his entire career."

"There..." Colonel Sharp sighed drearily and looked very old. "Someone finally said it."

"And what is our status? Have we been declared deceased?"

Colonel Sharp answered. "I'm afraid so. You are listed as either KIA (Killed in Action) or MIA (Missing in Action) depending on the source. Per General Steele, the ASC believes the former while some of the public media outlets out there believe the latter. As far as Eglin is concerned, the Wild Cards... are dead." He looked up. "In fact, your funeral was held just 12 hours ago. Shame you missed it."

"Do our families think we are dead?"

"Those that don't soon will with one sole exception." Colonel Sharp looked at Shirley and grinned. "Lieutenant, Jamal knows everything we've just discussed. He's even got your magnificent Corvette with him."

Shirley let out a huge breath of relief, but then looked at Mario and Elinor in dismay. Shirley looked around the room to see who could act on their behalf. "Well... we can't just their families out of the loop! They'll go through hell!"

"Lieutenant," Colonel Sharp said, "for the time being, that's exactly what we have to do or we and this vessel will be discovered. Right now, our hands are tied. While you're gone at the Broadsword meeting, we'll discuss it along with other things and... try to come up with something." He looked up. "That's the best we can do at this moment."

Spaceman Sam turned to the Wild Cards and opened his hand toward the way out of the briefing room.

 

[Psychie]

As they walk towards the door, Toph looks at the Colonel. "Sir, it would look like you are in the same boat as the rest of us. When I signed up for the military, it was with the knowledge that there may be a day that I have to make a sacrifice for the greater good. This is that sacrifice, having to give up my military career to work with the crew of the Broadsword in order to try and stop the Invid. I still don't know how we will do it, but by God I will give it my all to make it happen. And I for one will never give up on you, sir, so don't give up on yourself. You are still our Colonel, and I think I speak for all the Wild Cards when I say that we will always be turning to you for advice and leadership."

 

[Kaerri]

"MMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWW!!" MechaKitten jumped at Cera who fell back against the floor in surprise. Before she knew it, she had a MechaKitten on her chest licking her face with his little pink sandpaper tongue. It was the happiest you had ever seen the little fellow. It was as if he had reached godhood! Whatever the case, just about everyone capable of smiling in the room was doing so.

This included Elinor, who found the image just too adorable for words. She ambled over to give Cera a hand up, if she wanted one, but otherwise was clearly content to just watch.

"There..." Colonel Sharp sighed drearily and looked very old. "Someone finally said it."

Elinor let Toph answer that one, since she was doing it so well. There was a difference between Sharp's sacrifice and their own, Elinor knew; from what he and the professor had said, things had happened too quickly for it to have been the considered choice that the Wild Cards had made. All the same, it had been made, and for them. Elinor silently promised never to forget or waste the gift the colonel had given them. Bad enough for young kids like they were to give up a promising career, when they could at least try to start a new one sooner or later. How much worse was it for the colonel, who had given his life to it?

When Toph said she thought she spoke for all of the Wild Cards, Elinor made sure she caught Colonel Sharp's eye and nodded firmly, hoping her expression would let him see all the respect she had and would continue to have for him.

While you're gone at the Broadsword meeting, we'll discuss it along with other things and... try to come up with something.

"We've tried ourselves," Elinor admitted ruefully. "Best I can come up with is letter or sneak visit, maybe, but the logistics are difficult. Much as I hate it, I know we have to prioritize Broadsword's secrecy over our families' peace of mind." She sighed. "I feel real bad about it, but if there's nothing to be done, there's nothing to be done." She looked hopefully at Colonel Sharp, Professor Stein, and Hitomi, all the same. Their broader and longer experience surely could come up with something more than the Wild Cards had managed, right? Or at least new ideas to brainstorm.

 

[Purr]

She ambled over to give Cera a hand up, if she wanted one, but otherwise was clearly content to just watch.

Cera accepted Elinor's hand with an embarrassed grin.