Aboard the bridge of the Heca, a commotion was breaking out as they witnessed the fierce back-and-forth going on outside their windows. The unknown Lunarian machine they had brought aboard was crossing swords with what appeared to be a very small Gespenst, though from this distance it was difficult to tell from the sheer speed the combatants were moving at. Pendleton watched anxiously - they could get no closer to the battlefield for fear of the Great Axion's main gun, for as maneuverable as the ship was, it wouldn't take more than a glancing blow to send it hurtling into the mountains below.
"Can't we do something?" He turned to Kina, asking loudly-
But, she wasn't listening.
Instead, the tall Oni woman had flicked open a personal terminal, holding its holographic surface up to her head.
"Yes, sir." She said, nodding.
"XO! Did you hear me?!"
Her golden eyes took him into focus, causing the portly man to suddenly halt in his bloviating. All eyes on the bridge were on the two of them now, as it was the first time the XO had failed to respond to an order.
"He's still here, yes." She continued, "Understood - consider it done."
"XO! We are in the middle of the battle, this is no time to-"
Ka-chack.
There was a dry, metallic click, and Pendleton's outrage died in his throat as Kina raised her pistol level with his chest. Her expression was as calm as an Oni's could be - in fact, she seemed to be almost apathetic, looking at him as though he were some kind of vile slug. Cold sweat began to pour down his forehead as a single thought surfaced at the back of his mind:
I've been found out.
"Captain Pendleton. On the orders of Hyperion, your are relieved of your duties, effective immediately."
"W-wha-"
The man had barely stammered out a response before a pair of black-armored guards seized him by the arms, causing him to cry out. Seemingly satisfied, Kina holstered her firearm, slipping into the Captain's chair, folding her fingers neatly on her lap.
"Terra Sentinel has no mercy for traitors." She called out as he was hauled away;
"You'll live to regret your decision... briefly."
At length, she turned back to the rest of the bridge - who hurriedly stopped staring, and started trying to occupy themselves with something - anything other than the spectacle they had just witnessed. Kina just gave a grunt, and settled down further into the chair, flicking away pieces of residue from the chair's arm. It was high time they rid themselves of that incompetent anyway.
"Can't we do something?" He turned to Kina, asking loudly-
But, she wasn't listening.
Instead, the tall Oni woman had flicked open a personal terminal, holding its holographic surface up to her head.
"Yes, sir." She said, nodding.
"XO! Did you hear me?!"
Her golden eyes took him into focus, causing the portly man to suddenly halt in his bloviating. All eyes on the bridge were on the two of them now, as it was the first time the XO had failed to respond to an order.
"He's still here, yes." She continued, "Understood - consider it done."
"XO! We are in the middle of the battle, this is no time to-"
Ka-chack.
There was a dry, metallic click, and Pendleton's outrage died in his throat as Kina raised her pistol level with his chest. Her expression was as calm as an Oni's could be - in fact, she seemed to be almost apathetic, looking at him as though he were some kind of vile slug. Cold sweat began to pour down his forehead as a single thought surfaced at the back of his mind:
I've been found out.
"Captain Pendleton. On the orders of Hyperion, your are relieved of your duties, effective immediately."
"W-wha-"
The man had barely stammered out a response before a pair of black-armored guards seized him by the arms, causing him to cry out. Seemingly satisfied, Kina holstered her firearm, slipping into the Captain's chair, folding her fingers neatly on her lap.
"Terra Sentinel has no mercy for traitors." She called out as he was hauled away;
"You'll live to regret your decision... briefly."
At length, she turned back to the rest of the bridge - who hurriedly stopped staring, and started trying to occupy themselves with something - anything other than the spectacle they had just witnessed. Kina just gave a grunt, and settled down further into the chair, flicking away pieces of residue from the chair's arm. It was high time they rid themselves of that incompetent anyway.