Another Way

The inky black vessel sped through the equally dark void. Only the iridescent green highlights and dull glow of its engines betrayed its flight. There was no sound as it shot by.

Inside the vessel was anything but quiet. At the front of the Interceptor the pilot turn back to her passengers; the group dubbed "The Mentors".

"Control says we're needed now and we're not going fast enough" the exasperated pilot complained. "We're still 70 minutes out and that's even if I pull the slingshot up short and come in hot."

Farrady Irons, the Patriot, stood in the compartment learning over the pilot's chair and reviewed the monitors.

His calm was at odds with the increasingly desperate situation in their target: the city of Arcadia. "They're going down like flies. I count four teams down already. Most are struggling to keep on top of things. Can we go faster?"

The pilot cocked her head and threw her voice loudly to Patriot and his companions. "The Orpheus can put out over Mach 25 thrust and handle 20G of turn. I'm trained and rated for 10G but regular people can only handle 5 until blackout."

Farrady gave a reassuring smile. "Fortunately we're not regular people. Pour it on Flight Lieutenant."

"You're the boss Patriot" The pilot sounded unconvinced as the gentle hum of the engines changed to a whine as the thrusters increased.

Archard approached and placed a long manicured hand on Farrady's shoulder. "Not all of us are suited to what is about to happen. Perhaps the more delicate of us should head to the acceleration couches." Archard looked back as his companions. Simone and Henry nodded and started to exit the compartment for the bowels of the vessel. Dan, Adrian, Tara did not move.

Farrady turned to take in the scene of his unmoving three companions. "Solar Man, Extent, Maelstrom. Are you rated for this?"

No. Yes. No.

"There's nothing you can do at this stage. Rest and get ready."

As an unwanted counterpoint the pilot interjected. "AEGIS Control says they're getting slaughtered down there... and the Claremont teams are making things worse."

Adrian and Tara darted forward to the pilot, both crushing past Farrady Irons.

"What?"

"Who do we have?"

"Gimme that" The pilot was pushed back into her seat as the ground feed was wrested from her grasp by Maelstrom.

The pair had dropped into one of their uncanny "complete each other's thoughts" modes. Whenever this happened things moved fast... and not always for the best.

"Nexion and X-Treme" Tara smoothly noted.

"They're not ready for this." Adrian added. Tara nodded. "Where are Next Gen, X-Pose and X-ceed?"

"Unavailable. I'm not getting anything from Claremont or Prof S either."

"Damnit Prof. You better not be pretending to be dead again."

"I'm so over that shit."

Farrady awkwardly jostled in between the pair. "This is chaos. The Claremont kids are messing with Control's strategy. They're putting people in danger. Danvers can't control them. Can you rein them in?"

Tara reached into a pocket of Adrian's jacket and smoothly uncoiled a cable from a small device.

"What's that?" enquired Farrady. Tara either didn't hear or didn't care as she quickly plugged the cable into the console. 

The pilot objected "Hey, hey, hey! Don't do that. This is a secure line." 

Adrian and Tara ignored the protests as Tara checked her comm piece was in place. When she spoke her voice was filled with concern, "Lunk, we're live in 3, 2, 1." 

Abruptly Tara's voice turned pleasant, something completely at odds with the chaos they were viewing on Earth. "Hey...." she almost purred.

Farrady's hearing was exceptional. He was sure that only he would be hearing the response from the ground. It was almost a cheer from a group speakers all clamouring to speak at once. "Professor Breen!"

Adrian cut off the jubilant responses. "Hey gang." He too was met with a cheer which Patriot found somewhat inappropriate in the circumstances. 

Patriot leaned forward. "Tell them to vacate the field of engagement." He was hushed with a wave of two hands: one from Extent and the other from Tara.

Extent spoke "Why aren't you all in class?" he chided.

There was a chaotic retort of many voices.

"Okay, okay, settle down."

Patriot had to acknowledge that he was impressed with the almost immediate effect of the request. These people were starting to respond when just moments before they had been stubbornly ignoring AEGIS Control, even going so far as to mock the strategy Captain Danvers and his team on the ground was trying to establish.

"Gang," Adrian continued smoothly, "You gotta work together on this one. Just like we practiced."

Patriot wasn't sure how Maelstrom or Extent were keeping track of the multitude of almost instant responses. The speakers, presumably members of Nexion and X-Treme, sounded chillingly young and about as organised as a herd of cats. Despite this they did appear to be responding to Extent and Maelstrom who smoothly burbled along with those on the comms.

Patriot noticed Archard had not yet left the compartment. The tall man stood in silence. His eyes absorbed everything. Still seated Solar Man wore a fascinated yet puzzled expression.

"Is everything okay Aeolus?" Patriot moved towards Archard.

Archard paused thoughtfully. 

"Yes." There was suspicion and supposition lurking in that single word. It didn’t sound at all positive.

Patriot turned his friend with a gentle push on the arm. "I think we're doing all we can. You get to your acceleration couch."

Archard nodded and left. Farrady moved to the seat of Dan Byrne AKA Solar Man.

Patriot crouched down. "Hey buddy, you okay?"

Dan had not turned from the spectacle of Adrian and Tara who had now pulled up holographic displays and were idly pacing as they conversed on their comms.

"Is that... are those..." He shook himself from the mesmerising chaos he observed. "Those aren't ours." 

Patriot glanced back. "No. That's Claremont tech not AEGIS. We've got something similar but..." he paused. "Not quite like that. Apparently it's built into Extent and Maelstrom's uniforms."

Solar-Man still looked out of his depth. "What are they doing?"

"Contain and control."

"But AEGIS Control was giving the orders," Solar-Man noted.

"Danvers and his team are trying but apparently..." Patriot turned once more to watch the couple as they gently coaxed, suggested, threatened and teased those to whom they spoke. "... apparently not everyone responds to orders. Fortunately we appear to have other options. Come on, let's get you to the couch."

Patriot guided Solar-Man to his feet and steered him away.