I open my eyes, finding myself still laying down with my cheek pressed into my pillow, laying on my left side. I slowly get out of bed, sitting upright. After rubbing my face I stand and head to the bathroom. The light comes on as I step up to the vanity. I take a look in the mirror and stretch sleepily before going about my morning routine.
After washing and dressing, I head t o the CIC for a status update, finding Galinae at the Tactical Overlay Display, or TOD (Pronounced Todd). A flat-top table with a haptic interface and a series of rails around it, with a single touch-screen control panel for power supply and mode functions on the aft portion of the TOD. "any updates, Gali?"I ask as I emerge from the elevator and lean back on the TOD console to listen. Gali shrugs "No word yet, B'Nan and I forwarded what you found in that bunker to Farsa."
I nod thoughtfully. Forwarding the information to Farsa will either allow her to decide on her next move and do her part, or backfire horribly. It remains to be seen which will play out. After a sigh, Gali looks at me thoughtfully. "Are you alright, Kara?"
After pausing a moment to think, I smile in reply "I am alright, Galinae. Do not worry about me." With that, the comm chimed on the TOD. Both of us turn to look at the display. "Farsa's calling? Interesting.." I muse softly.
"Answer it Gali." I smile.Galinae patches the comm through and a holo of Farsa smiling coyly projects atop the TOD. "Kara, interesting finds you have for me." she smiles and folds one leg up over her opposite thigh, looking at me with a pleased expression.
"Get to the point, Farsa. I am out here evading House Vansae patrols and I do not have time to speak for long least our call get traced." Farsa nods in agreement before she elaborates "I have found a point of interest for you. One of Matron Vansae's daughters is getting married in a week's time and it may be your opportunity to weaken house Vansae's position to get to the high matron."
I raise an eyebrow "we are in the process of forging invitations to the dinner party in two weeks time." Farsa smiles cryptically "I see you have been a rather… enterprising woman lately. I applaud your dedication." she clears her throat "I can get you in. I have a contact who is.. Not in agreement with Matron Vansae. So you will follow there lead, but once you are there? do what you must."
After pursing my lips, I sigh and nod "of course. Is there any security measures I should be wary of?" I expect them to have automated security. One of the mantras of Iridian security measures is that technology is reliable, people are not. So it would make sense that they would have a series of monitoring devices and other security equipment in place, perhaps even automated security functions.
"There are security sensors and a cadre of security bots on site. Do be careful, Kara." Farsa, or rather, Matron Regyn must have a reason as well for offering this information, and my look likely betrayed my question as she answers before I can ask.
"I want Matron Vansae out of the way, Kara. So our goals align still. Taking her out of the picture also removes the high matron's most trusted confidant. House Vansae will also fall into disarray and infighting is likely to take place, which gives you a window of opportunity. Do not waste it" Farsa's hologram smiles again at me.
I nod my acknowledgement in response before parting words are exchanged "do tread carefully, Kara. Matron Vansae is not a woman to be underestimated." I purse my lips then nod "one more thing, Kara. Matron Vanrea wishes to see you when this affair is all said and done." she smiles "it seems you have made an impression."
After this entire exchange, Farsa hangs up and I look to Gali "what do you suppose Matron Vanrea would want out of me?" Galinae purses her lips a moment in thought, thinking hard. "I could not tell you, really. I do not know Matron Vanrea well enough to make a prediction."
She smiles apologetically "sorry Kara, I wish I could tell you." While disappointing, this changes nothing. I still had a job to do so I can secure support from Farsa.
***
I decided after that to visit with Galinae for a few hours to unwind. A lot of eventful and impactful things had happened in a short span of time, and I needed a respite. To this end, Galinae and I were having a bit of 'girl talk' as she calls it over some wine.
"...and then you should have seen B'Nan's face! It was priceless!" Galinae was relaying a story to me from some time ago back home. I was not entirely focused on that as I was thinking about the upcoming mission I had to complete in a week.I simply nod along and sip my glass.. Swirling it pensively with the stem pinched between my right index finger and thumb atop the end table ocassionally.
After a while, Galinae goes silent and enjoys the view outside the lounge viewing wall. We were not technically looking outside, the wall had a hologram that projected on the wall that used exterior visual sensors to show us a view of the outside of the hull.
"It is quite surreal isnt it?" I finally decide to break the silence, sipping my glass slowly. After a pause, Galinae nods thoughtfully and smiles "I never expected to be part of a crew on a ship." It is true that if she never went along, Galinae likely would have been married off and living in a life of relative comfort compared to being a crew member on a stealth frigate out in space.
After a moment to reflect on this, I exhale a long sigh "and I trust that you will prefer this to a comfortable life back home?" I raise an eyebrow at her. "Oh stars yes! Noble life never sat well with me. I know mother wanted me to go on a journey for my coming of age, but I have no intention of returning." she pauses "you… promise not to tell her, right?" she smiles sheepishly.
In response, I smile coyly. Silent for a moment before a sip of my drink. Galinae's face grows anxious at my silence. "You… do. Right?" she repeats. I nod "Of course. And I will keep that word. Matron Regyn does not need to know your whereabouts, only that you are doing well."
I look back to the viewing holo at the view outside and the rings of Eridan V beset on the horizon of the Gas-giant itself. A ring of light forming just above the atmosphere from the light of the binary stars of the Eridan system. Thoughtfully gazing out at this beauty in the blackness of space.
"In that harsh, cold vacuum and the feeling of empty, it is strange that there are thousands of millions of voices and aspirations. Yet, still in all that darkness, in all that cold and empty? There is an eerie feeling of not chaos, but peace there. I look out there and I feel..Solace. Perhaps a bit of solitude" After my musing aloud, I finish my drink.
Galinae blinks "that was rather deep, Kara. are you sure that you're alright?" I smile in reply and with that, I excuse myself.
***
A week goes by and we sit in orbit of Eridan III's only moon. After a period of sleep that lasted me about 5 hours, I awaken and dress. However, instead of the casual clothing I had been getting comfortable in for the past few days, I put on combat fatigues. Camouflaged in an olive drab and light green for the jungles of the moon's surface. I put on olive green and black paint in lines across my face and open the armory hatch in my quarters. Buckling a combat vest on with pockets and pouches for spare magazines, grenades and other gear. After putting on combat boots I load up magazines with ammunition.
I decide to bring my Z&M 56 and usual sidearm, an Mk26. The same weapon I kept from that dead Chimera assailant all those months ago. I managed to find a suppressor for it as well. Safely stowing it in a small pouch on the right appendix holster the handgun fit in snugly, locked in place by a magnetic strip at the bottom of the polymer holster well.
After this, I load the 40 round stick magazines for my Z&M 56 submachine gun into pouches on my combat vest along with several spare magazines for my sidearm. I also slip shotgun shells into loops on a shell caddie before picking up my 6 gauge, Lira Arms Model S-2899 shotgun. The weapon is about 15 percent larger than a typical weapon of that type. Primarily issued to Chimera because as is, as the recoil force is strong enough to break a human's arm. Only Chimera or a sufficiently sturdy alien can wield it.
I shoulder the weapon after loading a few shells into the loading gate on the bottom and in front of the trigger. They feed straight into the tube. I rack the slide back and sling the weapon on my right shoulder, strapping my SMG with a single-point sling to my right bicep.I grab a single-shot breach-loading grenade launcher and a few grenades, stowing the grenades in an auxiliary pack on my left hip.
I look over my full-faced helmet after pulling it from its display bust. It has several signs of wear and tear over all these years with signs of having been repainted and painted over again and again for different biomes. On the face cover is a skull, a sign of what I was before; A ghost of war. A Phantom. Years have passed since my time in the Commonwealth military. They organized Chimera into small, yet skilled and highly capable, self-sufficient units for duties as a force multiplier. Sending us on missions no one else could complete.
I slip the helmet on, which covers my entire head and close the armory hatch. Turning to exit my quarters. Taking the elevator down to the hangar level. Galinae is there to greet me. After a squeak of surprise at seeing my attire, she blinks "Kara? Is that you in all that gear?"