Setting: October 2nd,
Local Time: 2:00 PM
Spirit of Fire Bridge
The Bridge of the Spirit of Fire hummed with quiet life. From the whirring of navigation equipment to the idle chatter of the bridge crew. While the scent of bridge crew's 3rd pot of coffee had begun to spread down the corridor.
"Who thought it was a good idea to bring a coffee maker onto the bridge."
The grizzled voice of the Captain rumbled out before he brought a mug to his lips.
Before anyone could answer, the Captain turned and placed the mug onto the holotable.
"Isabel, bring up the latest report on Banished activity near Theta Base."
The shipboard ai manifested on the table alongside several reports and the rotating map of the Ark.
"Banished Forces according to Major Vaughans squad members: Corporal Chloe Turpin and Lance Corporal Devon Sparks. The Banished surrounding these locations have been going onto the defensive, with some intercepted transmissions revealing that they are getting hit... Hard..."
The older Captain's eyes hardened, exhaling sharply.
"Any idea if it's these unknowns Doctor Finch and Professor Anders are investigating?"
Isabel vanished and reappeared behind the map of the Ark, just as photos from Milo's report emerged from light.
"Its... complicated, captain. The Banished at these sites have taken up a heavy defensive position almost as though they're under siege. Boomerang company is trying to get a closer look as we speak."
Cutter brought a hand to his chin, his eyes never losing focus.
"If Boomerang company is trying to get a closer look, I want reinforcements at their side by the end of the hour."
Isabel nodded.
"Sir, yes sir... and what of the investigations on these new Faction's site?"
A low hum left Cutter, the gears in his mind turning slowly as the Captain, a veteren of the Human-covenant war, made a plan.
"If the Banished are on the defensive, that means these unknowns are engaging them. Let the Banished keep testing the waters. That means Doctor Milo and Professor Anders are being reassigned. "
He paused, reaching out and interacted with the Holo-table, flicking his wrist so the transponder of Major Vaughan illuminated the holotable.
"I want those two plus Agent Finch attached to Boomerang company and his reinforcements, they are to observe the engagements and sites. They do not join the fight. I also want all our eyes and ears for any transmission the Banished send or receive."
With a salute, Isabel vanished. Leaving Cutter to take a breath and pick up the mug, only to stop halfway through, voice low and sharp.
"Damn. I really need to stop drinking this."
----------
Setting update:
Location: Theta Base
Local Time: 2:10 PM
The Laboratory within Theta Base had grown into a bundle of activity, from the buzzing of vent fans to the humming of active consoles.
At the center of the room sat Milo, adjusting the collar of his lab coat with one eye on a microscope and the other glancing to a holopad containing images of the Pluripotent metacells.
"I-i think hydration might be a core p-part of this beings biology."
He began, lifting his head to adjust the glasses sliding down his nose. Anders responded with a risen brow.
"Water is the core part of most, if not all biology. I'd be surprised if whatever we're dealing with doesn't use water."
Milo's cheeks flushed before his attention returned to the sample below.
"I-im just saying that.. the sample is using more water than most cellular samples i've seen. Th-the cells absorb 2 t-to 3 times their body size and they grow because of it."
The young scientist sighed, the exhale quickly blocked by his coat.
"S-still, the samples are bothering me. I-i've been running comparisons all morning."
Anders walked over, boots echoing off the floor.
"What about them, other than their uncanniness."
Milo leaned back into the stool he sat on.
"The structure of the cells are... familiar, much like that structure we investigated."
His eyes shifted, sharpening as the gears in his mind turned and rotated. Anders probed, taking a seat beside him, her own gaze never leaving his.
"Well? Don't leave me in suspense Milo."
His cheeks flushed another shade.
"W-well, that building h-has characteristics that share an uncanny similarity to single celled organisms like amoeboid protists."
Anders paused.
"Like... slime molds?"
Milo straightened.
"Kinda? It's not exactly slime molds, but they're close enough that the analogy works. I-ill need additional samples for further study. One or two samples aren't enough."
Anders nodded her head, bringing a hand to her chin. Milo shrunk slightly.
"O-or maybe I'm seeing patterns that.. y-ya know.. aren't there? It's difficult to put what I'm seeing into words."
Anders hummed, leaning over to the microscope for a quick look.
"Its an interesting hypothesis, the cells do hold cellular similarities to amoebas in general, this CAN explain the advanced Pluripotent and Totipotent natures we've examined."
Milo's eyes widened a bit as he grabbed a holopad containing previous observations.
"Y-yeah, their shifting from muscular to neural to digestive. It's possible that-"
Before Milo could finish his thoughts the console nearby chimed with a priority message from the bridge.
Anders approached and read the message, a slow exhale escaping her.
"It seems we'll be getting your samples soon Milo."
He tilted his head.
"A-are we being..."
She nodded, the holographic files flickering for a moment.
"We are being reassigned to the front."
Milo frowned, his earlier excitement pulling away like the tide.
"A-already? I thought w-we were getting somewhere."
Anders chuckled.
"Relax, Milo. You will get to run your comparisons again soon, after we bring you something to compare the samples to."
Milo nodded, fixing the hem of his coat before rising to his feet.
"A-alright, let's go. I n-need some things to grab before we go.
He began as the two left the lab, the squad of ODSTs waited. As the two scientists passed them, they fell into beat behind, their heavier gait echoing.
The base's scent of sanitization followed Milo while he grabbed what he needed. By the time he was heading for the airpad outside Theta Base, it had faded into a more earthy scent. His satchel hung over his shoulder.
"A little much don't you think Doctor?"
Anders said, a smirk rising on her lips.
The blush on Milo's cheeks persisted.
"W-well... i-i mean... I want to be ready to aquire samples when the opportunity arrives."
Anders simply smirked, her attention landing on the Pelican before them, It's idle engines rumbling quietly.
"It will be a little different being at the front Milo."
His gaze shifted up to Anders.
"I-i know, b-but do you know how different?"
Anders' cheeks quirked up whilst the two ascended the ramp of the pelican, the Earthy scent of the Arc's nature replaced with the metallic scent of metal, oil and fuel.
The two would sit beside one another before she answered.
"Very, think of it as another expedition similar to the structure we visited before."
Milo let out a soft hum, his eyes lowering while the quiet, dull thumps of boots echoed across the transport prior to Elara's voice softly cut through the tense moment.
"Indeed."
Milo's focus shifted to his mother, his smile returning for a brief moment before forcing himself to frown, his cheeks softly flushing pink.
"Th-thanks."
Elara huffed curtly before taking a seat on the other side of Milo as their ODST escort plus some marines walked in. One of the Marines turned to the trio, his visor lifting.
"We'll be departing momentarily, eta will be 25 minutes ma'am."
The marine saluted, lowered his visor before taking a seat across from them. The other marines and ODSTs followed, hands on their guns in a lowered ready position.
The idle engine rumbling intensified before the high pitched whine of the ramp rising pierced the moment, making Milo wince.
"I-i still can't get used to that sound."
Elara hummed.
"You will one day Milo, for now you should focus on getting some samples and making hypotheses."
Milo's expression brightened at the topic of the scientific mystery.
"Y-yeah.... s-since were going to the front, maybe we can ask what Boomerang company thinks? D-do you think they know something?"
Elara and Anders shared a look, and Milo simply bounced his focus between the two.
"W-what? D-did i say something wrong?"
"Nothing Wrong Milo."
Answered Anders before Elara followed up.
"Boomerang company had some interesting things to say... but..."
Milo tilted his head.
"B-but? Are you n-not allowed to share the info?"
Anders' smirk widened.
"She's ONI's Sections III field Oversight director."
Elara clicked her teeth and glared icily at Anders
"Am not, *Professor*, unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss my rank or position in ONI."
Elara paused as her focus landed on Milo's doe-like eyes. Curious yet eager.
"Tch.... while I'm not allowed to discuss my Xenobiological rank at Section III. What i am allowed to divulge, is that Boomerang company alongside information aquired by Omikron base, has been seeing unknown figures and vehicles similar to what was encountered some time ago..."
Milo blinked.
"W-which means?"
Elara sighed.
"It means, Milo, you can ask Major Vaughan questions when we arrive at the front. I'll give you a file."
She said, reaching into her jacket and pulled out a small camcorder sized holofile prior to handing it to Milo. His eyes glimmered and his smile widened.
"This is the compacted info we have so far, holding the already discussed material you discovered and some of the information I was able to aquire prior to my arrival on the ark."
Anders eyes widened and immediately leaned over Milo's shoulder as the Holofile activated in a quiet blue color. Revealing several images procured from Elara's investigation prior and the day of her arrival.
"W-woah... it's a very limited amount of data."
Elara sent an icy glare at Milo.
"Hey."
Milo's smile widened, his gaze lowering.
"S-sorry. B-but there's a silver lining here."
He began, pulling out his own holofile and began comparing the data of everything so far.
"The d-data provided from Elara's file prior to and day of her arrival is providing consistency to what we know, s-such as the strange 'ghost' boomerang company encountered plus the Reconnaissance Nightingale encountered."
Milo took a breath as the Pelican's engines groaned before it lifted off the ground, softly jerking, then accelerating.
"W-we can infer that the v-vehicle can be compared t-to the Warthog or the Jackrabbit, it's potentially a scout vehicle."
"Interesting hypothesis. We can only learn more when we get there."
Milo nodded at Anders' statement, turning off the holofiles as the Pelican continued it's turbulent trek toward Boomerang company.