[open] Here's-a-sword-for-the-Rat, here's-a-sword- for-the Mole

[futureisclear]

If they were going to rebel (well, no longer a matter of if; a matter of when), Ildraniath knew that they were going to need more firepower than the average crew member tended to carry on their person. She, of course, had no need of further firepower. Her armor and her mind would serve her well enough. For many of the others, of course, they would need something more. Which was why she was paying a visit to the armory. In theory, Stacy might give her away. However, following that interesting performance at the punishment meeting, Ildraniath had reason to believe that Stacy wasn't about to give the crew away.

A gamble, of course, but Ildraniath was willing to risk it. So, the Eldar was perusing the armory. She tapped a button on her omnicomm and called up a blank document. She was going to need a list. And people to cart it all off later, but for now:

"Stacy. A list of all available small-arms and protable heavy weapons. Powered armor. Ammunition counts. And their effectiveness against heavily armored opponents."

|| Acknowledged, Ildraniath. ||

She bent over the control panel as the lists began to scroll past.

If she was going to do this, she was going to do it properly.

Comments

[futureisclear]

"Exactly. I realize not everyone is a combatant, but those of them who are aren't all going to be able to take on a kessek."

She had to reign herself in slightly, she reminded herself. While she enjoyed what she and Zouichi had together, she couldn't let it cloud her judgement or distract her. But this wasn't a distraction. Yet.

"Perhaps you should. I might be able to think of something..."

[zouichi]

"I'll hold you to that," Zouichi said, glancing up from the monitor. His voice was still lighthearted, still teasing, but when he moved his hand to trace the description inscribed beneath one of the displayed weapons, his fingers brushed lightly against hers.

He returned his gaze to the monitor, but if his attention wasn't entirely on the planning of their future battle, well... sometimes, these things happened. "I haven't seen them use any sort of long-range weaponry so far. Keeping them at arms length would also help minimize the danger posed by their strength."

[futureisclear]

"An Eldar keeps her word," Ildraniath shot back - although she sounded deadly serious this time. And it was true. Most of the time. Usually. She tapped a button, scrolling onto the next weapon in the inventory. And, just for a little while, her hand shifted to cover Zouichi's.

It wasn't as if there was someone there to watch.

"I agree. Unfortunately, the relatively tight confines of much of the ship's command and control centers precludes long-range firepower."

[zouichi]

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, wondering just a little about that sudden shift in tone.

"Are we planning to engage them in a control center?" Zouichi considered this for a moment. "It would be ideal if we could catch them in a more open space -- even close-quarters fighting would run the risk of damaging something we can't afford to lose."

[futureisclear]

"Unless we lure them into the city or hit them in the hangar..." Ildraniath clicked her tongue.

"I think we should plan for a close-range engagement. If it ends up otherwise, we can be pleasantly surprised. But plan for the worst."

[zouichi]

"The City would be better, if we can manage it. The ship wouldn't be able to interfere." Now Zouichi was thinking back to the tentacles that had swept Yavek out of the way just before he could be dealt with permanently.

"While we're on the topic of weaponry, I wonder if we might be able to repurpose some of the technology SHODAN used on us to depower the Kessek. They can deal without the use of their powers for a change."

[futureisclear]

"How do we lure the bulk of their forces there in the first place, though?" Ildraniath mused, "More problems."

And her precognition couldn't tell her anything. How irritating.

"It's possible. Do we know what SHODAN used? And more importantly, do we have access to it?"

[zouichi]

"Alendian can take someone with her when she teleports, can't she? Would she be able to kidnap one of the Daligig and bring him to the City? That should bring the guards running."

Zouichi frowned a little, remembering. "I asked one of the people in engineering about it earlier, actually; I know there were depowering devices spread throughout the City, and I suggested that examining them might help us reverse-engineer something we could use. They said they'd look into it, but I haven't heard anything further since then." Which probably meant that no progress had been made in that area.

"I'll look into it some more. I'm not sure it's feasible for the timeframe we want, but it would be one more weapon we could use to make our lives easier."

[futureisclear]

"It would be worth discussing with her. Any possible way to turn the advantage to our favor would be welcome... And if she can achieve that objective, we may potentially cripple their command structure. Or at the very least make them hesitant, confused or blinded by their own need to restore order," Ildraniath murmured absently.

That power-dampener technology could help them greatly, if they could figure out how to use it. She nodded slowly, "Find out. Even if it would take too long, it would be good to have later. And..."

Another pause.

"...what do you anticipate your role will be?"

[zouichi]

Zouichi nodded. As a fellow Eldar, Ildraniath would probably know more about Alendian's abilities than he himself would. "And the more disoriented the Daligig are, the easier our job becomes. I'll ask Lash about the dampeners this time. She's nothing if not eager to take things apart and put them back together."

"I think I've made it fairly clear to the Daligig that I'm not sympathetic to their point of view. So rather than attempt to spin a story about secretly supporting them, I was planning on being at the forefront of the attack. I've fought the Kessek before, so a second attempt should be more successful. In the meantime, I've also volunteered to fill out Neuropathy now that many of the crew have been repodded. In that role, I'll be figuring out what systems we might be able to take advantage of or disable."

He paused. "However, if there's any other task you feel needs doing..."

[futureisclear]

"No. That... should suffice," she replied, "I think you would do best in that role. If I think of anything, I'll let you know."

She frowned for a moment and then touched her fingers to her head, as if to banish a headache, "...just do try not to get yourself killed. I would... miss your companionship, Zouichi."

She raised her hand to clasp his, turned to face him. No one here to see this little moment. "I realize it is a long way off, but still. A warning cannot hurt."

[zouichi]

He smiled a little awkwardly. "You're the second person to ask that of me this week."

It went against his nature to take his own safety into account, save perhaps as a secondary concern. After all, if he was injured, he couldn't fight. If he couldn't fight, he was of little use to anyone. But he could try, couldn't he?

"I'll do my best," he said quietly, curling his fingers about hers. "But in return, Farseer, please take care of yourself. My safety doesn't really matter. But if anything ever happened to you, I would..." He trailed off, troubled. If anything ever happened to Ildraniath -- even if she was unreachable, even if his presence wouldn't have changed events either way -- he knew he would never quite forgive himself.

"...I would miss you very much," he finished. It was a little frightening how quickly Ildraniath had gone from a complete stranger to someone whose absence he... didn't care to think about.

[futureisclear]

Ildraniath had to laugh at that - but it was a small, sad little sound. Resigned. "Zouichi, you know I'd say the same. My life or death doesn't matter as long as my people survive."

The idea of not having him around to talk to, to confide in - it was strangely disturbing and although she knew she ought to control her emotions more closely, another part of her wanted to let them run unimpeded. But she couldn't let that happen, however fond she was of him and however much she found their relationship a comfort.

"But I will try. For your sake. But I cannot promise. Do not ask me to promise, because it is one I know I will not be able to keep should the time come."

Perhaps, in a way, they were doomed. And perhaps that would be better for the both of them, in the end.

[zouichi]

"Sometimes, it seems that we're a bit too similar," he said, wry. "I am being a little selfish, aren't I?"

Just as he found it difficult to recognize his own value, didn't Ildraniath make herself second to her people in almost every aspect of her life? It was something that was at once admirable and difficult for him to accept. He understood the way she felt, of course, but at the same time, he cared for her. If nothing else, he wanted her to be survive. To find as much happiness as she could, under the circumstances.

"In that case, I'll be the one making unreasonable promises here. I'm not going to die in this war. I'll make it to the end. And I'll make sure you do, as well." Don't argue with him, Ildraniath. He was a shonen hero in his past life.

[futureisclear]

"Perhaps just a bit," Ildraniath replied, "But I suppose you're allowed to be, once in a while."

She went silent for a moment, listening to Zouichi. He sounded so determined and she could feel it. He truly wanted her to be happy. For her to live.

"...thank you. I appreciate that."

[zouichi]

He smiled warmly at her, gently squeezing her hand. "And thank you. For not holding it against me."

[futureisclear]

"I'll try not to," she replied dryly. She gave his hand a little squeeze in return and then turned back to her control panel. She did let her hand linger, though.

"I just wish we knew more."

About everything, really.

[zouichi]

Zouichi nodded. "But this is the first step. At the very least, we'll be out from under the Daligig's thumb. And without them around, we may even figure out what we're supposed to be doing in this war."