" So, how did the talks go?"
Naze sighed, leaning back on his couch. "Yeah. Our pirate friend is cocky, but he's not stupid. He knew we had Kudelia. Which means someone is feeding him information. If that's the case, we're not just dealing with some backwater scavengers. They've got backing. Probably someone with deep pockets and a bigger agenda."
I nodded, taking out my tablet and moving to some info I was sent." Initial scans for ahab reactors show nothing. We should still send out scouts but I think I already have an idea of where they may be hiding."
Moving to a map of the area, I placed the tablet on the desk and slid it over." The debris field nearby. A good place for their reactor to hide. This is only my assumption however."
" I had a similar thought. I'll send a few scouts to confirm, but if our hunch is right, we should plan for an ambush. What's your call? We bait them out, or do we go in guns blazing?"
Ooo, giving me the lead?
Was he testing me?
Or did he just want my opinion?
I leaned back, scratching the slight stubble growing on my chin. " If what I'm thinking is right, we should go directly in right now while they are still regrouping and deliberating.on our next move."
I hummed, allowing my thoughts to swirl till I finally pinned one down. "The Isaribi shall be the bait and if things go correctly, they will rush and expose themselves to try to capitalize on a golden opportunity to attack. "
I highlighted the edges of the route. "With your hammerhead of a ship, you should be able to handle some scratches and travel along the route edges a few paces behind us, using the debris as camo and make adjustments where needed to flank the enemy. A bit risky but I think even if it fails, we can handle ourselves in a head on fight, or gun it. They aren't some professional military after all."
The room was silent as Naze thought about my plan, nodding as he did so. " Decent plan. Alright, let's do it. I'll have my people prep the ships for silent running. We'll move on your signal."
He was putting me in charge? I felt excitement fill my bones at the opportunity. Always a good day when you could prove your value.
"Sure thing."
Failure was no longer an option.
Not on my watch.
*******
This suit little battle had netted us a few good scraps and a working suit. So we now had three. One for Mikazuki, Akihiro and Andre.
Oh yeah, we also saved Akihiro's brother. That was good I guess but he was currently a danger to himself and those around so I ordered that he stayed in a cell till I can be convinced he won't be a problem.
As much as he was Akihiro's brother, he was brainwashed from what I remembered and he showed signs of someone who was mentally unstable from what I've seen with my own two eyes.
Hell, the extent of his self deprecating talk alone warranted a check up but we didn't have anyone to do that and I wasn't gonna risk it, so down to the cells he went.
Akihiro didn't see my points though.
" Look Akihiro, I know he's your brother and all but that doesn't take away from what I've stated. We'll treat him well enough but you need to remember that he was taken away from you years ago and it's clearly had an effect on him." I stated, blocking Akihiro's path from trying to free his brother from the two guys holding him.
"He's not dangerous or a criminal. He's my family."
Calm down Dom Torreto.
Akihiro took a few steps forward, Andre blocking his path with a raised hand and the narrowing of his eyes, they two looking ready to fist it out.
Orga sighed, stepping in before things escalated any further. "I get it, Akihiro. I really do. But Darius isn't wrong. Your brother, he's been through hell. And right now, he's not thinking straight." He placed a hand on Akihiro's shoulder, grounding him. "We're not throwing him away. We just need to make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else while we figure things out."
Andre was the next to speak. "You want to help him? Then let this happen. If we just let him loose now, we don't know what he might do. "
Orga gave Akihiro's shoulder a final squeeze before stepping back. "Trust us, man."
After a long pause, Akihiro exhaled sharply and looked away. "…Fine." His voice was barely above a mutter.
Taking the boy down to the cells, I immediately followed. I had an idea of the pirates and where they were but it was better to confirm it.
Something Akihito's borther could confirm.
I didn't want to give him enough time to come up with believable lies so I decided to question him now.
*******
The boy wasn't all that cooperative but he answered enough questions through his reactions to confirm what I knew.
I guess they never taught these kids how to keep composure. We also got some info from the mobile suit. It had info on the ahab signatures of all their mobile suits and their ship as well as the last location of where the ship was.
So I ordered that we make a mad dash to the location. They likely moved or will be moving but we had a general location now.
Half a day or so passed when we spotted the pirate ship
It was on the move but we caught up quickly since it seemed they were trying to keep to covers, not prepared for how quickly we arrived and found them.
They were at a prime location for a bashing too, hiding next to a large chunk of rock. The hammerhead slammed into pirates ship, wedging them between the ship and rock.
Andre, Mikazuki and Akihiro were sent out to meet the enemy mobile suits while we latched onto the stuck enemy ship.
I could finally shine too.
I left Orga in charge while I would lead the assault team with David coming as deputy. I rushed into my room to get changed, startling the sleeping Harley. " Sorry. Things are about to get rough so stay in here."
She scoffed, swinging her legs off the bed. "You really think I'm gonna sit here while all the fun happens?" she asked, grabbing a pair of pink and blue pistols from the bag she brought when she claimed my room as her own.
I shot her a look as I fastened my vest. "Harley."
She smirked, standing up and stepping closer. "C'mon, I can handle myself. What, worried about little ol' me?"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Not the point," I muttered. "You're not a Tekkadan soldier. If shit goes sideways, I need to focus on the mission, not watching your back."
Harley rolled her eyes. "Please, like I need you babysitting me. I've been in more shootouts than I can count. I know how to keep my ass alive."
I exhaled sharply, debating with myself if I really wanted to allow this. Finally, I grabbed an extra earpiece from my gear and tossed it to her. "If you're coming, you listen to everything I say. No hero shit and no lone wolf shit."
Harley grinned, slipping it on. "Wouldn't dream of it,"
I sighed. God, I feel like I've already made a mistake.
Jogging to the meeting location of the assault squad, I inspected their gear, ensuring everyone was up to par. Harley got more than a few looks so I decided to address this now. " I don't want to hear anything. She's coming with us. "
David, who had just walked in raised an eyebrow, a smirk I did not like in the slightest forming. He didn't say anything, merely making a whipping motion. I was so close to shooting him then and there.
So I did what one did when they had no come back. Ignore it and focus on something else.
Checking my rifle for the tenth time and my wonder pistols, my eyes inevitably drifted to my plus one. " Would you like a vest or something?"
She was just wearing shorts, a tank top and jacket. As expected considering who she mirrored however I would rather she didn't die from an attack a vest could have stopped.
Harley smirked, twirling one of her pistols before holstering it. "Aw, worried about me, boss?"
"Would you like a vest or not?"
She sighed, rolling her shoulders. "Fine, fine. If it makes you feel better."
David brought one over, handing her a spare vest, she slipped it on, adjusting the straps and giving me a three sixty.
One I ignored.
With that worry sorta alleviated, I stood In Front of everyone, a shortish speech already cooked up.
" Shoot first, ask questions later. Assume everyone's armed and for god sake, do not turn your back to an unchecked room or hallway and especially an enemy who supposedly surrendered until you've zip tied them
We aren't the sort of army with codes of conduct nor is there a Geneva convention here. These people are pirates so they've likely committed heinous crimes. Don't be afraid to gun one down no matter how innocent they look or how much they plead if you feel your life could be in danger. Understand?"
I got a round of nods.
" We're headed straight for the command room. Any detour you decide to take is your prerogative but best know now, no one is coming to save you. I don't save dumbasses who can't follow orders. "
I accentuated my ending statement with a stern look. "My word down there is law and if you can't follow it, you're better off with a bullet in your skull than what I have planned for the undisciplined men who survive. This goes for everyone, tag alongs included."
The team stood at attention, any tomfoolery leaving their bodies. Even Harley seemed to take my words seriously.
With that, I turned. "Move out."
*******
We entered the pirate ship by blowing open one of the hulls. The initial explosion seemed to have killed or injured most enemy units in the hallway we entered.
Anyone still alive received a bullet for safe measures. Picking up a tablet that still seemed functional, I scrolled through it while the team secured the hallway.
Bingo.
It had a map of the ship. We were a floor below the command room so we would need to move up as suspected. Handing the tablet over to one of the guys, I ordered that he guide us.
Taking a loose diamond formation around him, I instructed Harely to stand close to him in the middle as we began making our way to the command room.
We encountered little resistance, only losing two guys due to surprise attacks that were quickly dismantled all the way to the upper floor.
Anyone who surrendered were either guy knocked out or cuffed. When we made it to the floor with the command room however, things could not be further from the truth.
We hadn't even left the stareway and we were already being barraged, bullets shredding the lead man to pieces.
" Shit!"
Everyone hugged the wall by the stairs in an instant.
" Are there any alternative paths?!" David shouted as he began laying down responsive fire.
The guy holding the tablet shook his head. " No sir. There is an elevator but I don't recommend it though…there might be something…."
" Spit it out man!" I shouted, taking David's place as he reloaded.
" Unless you take the vent but I don't know how viable it is!"
We were bogged down anyway and I was sure the elevator was a trap so why not try. " Can you see a possible place where we could enter the vents!"
" There's one in the room opposite the stairs!" He pointed at the door opposite our location.
I nodded then pointed at the three smallest guys and Harley. " You'll be coming with me across. David and the rest, provide cover fire!"
Everyone nodded before following orders, raining lead on the fuckers.. I was the first out, wedging open the door and just as I was about to enter, I felt something hit my back twice then a brief twinge of pain and heat.
Ah, fuck, motherfucker.
Even with adrenaline, I still felt that. Wasn't the adrenaline supposed to block the pain.
Fuck.
As painful as it was, I bet dying felt worse, so I had to push on. So long as everything was working, it would be fine.
I hope.
I managed to fully open the door and entered, the four following suit when it was safe.
Looking up, I saw a vent cover. Thank god for the lack of gravity at the moment. Jumping up and prying opening the cover, I tried to get in but I was too big as I suspected.
The guys turned out to also be to bigl, the smallest just barely able to fit but he would be moving like a worm if he did try crawling all the way through and this isn't even counting his rifle.
Harley did however fit and her pistols were no problem either. I had a thought this might be the case but it still left a sour taste in my mouth."I would like to tell you not to go but it would make no sense to do so."
I shot, pun intended, her a smile before touching her cheek. " Plus I don't think you would listen...so be careful. "
Harley grinned as she leaned into the touch for just a second before pulling away. "Damn right, I wouldn't," she said with a wink, already moving toward the vent.
Now I could only hope she didn't get herself killed. While she crawled in, we continued masking any sound she made with the sound of gunfire.
A few minutes passed and nothing seemed to have changed. I felt a slight worry spike through me but now wasn't the time to worry. I was sure she could handle herself.
And praise be to whatever deity was looking down on me, cause in the next moment, a shout came through the intercoms. " We surrender. Anyone and everyone, put your weapons down and surrender. Repeat, we surrender. Anyone and everyone, put your weapons down and surrender."
The gunfire stopped and in the next second, all the enemies came out of their hiding spots, guns placed on the floor.
I wasn't gonna risk it so I sent David and a few guys to restrain them before I came out with the rest to help out, kicking their guns away and restraining them.
I and a few more guys went further ahead and into the command room.
There standing behind the pig of a man sweating bullets sitting in his captain's seat was Harley, a smug look on. I could kiss her at
that moment but all that had a time and place.
" Secure the room and inform Orga and the mobile suits that the battle is over. We won."