Cracking Down on the Black Market! {Job: Azurius Tade/Kihia Avoa - Private}

Kihia had been sitting in the hall of the Tavern for only about five minutes after the young woman who Kihia had heard to be Azurius’s servant, had gone up to fetch him for a joint job request Kihia had found in juncture to a plan he had been developing himself. He had his white cloak on, over his normal combat gear, Icarus was leaning against the table and Kihia had been examining an odd bracelet in his hands. He sat there for a long moment, in complete silence for a minute when the tavern keeper looked at him for a moment then spoke up, “So, its true isn’t it? The Guild’s Frozen Knight has come back to us?” Kihia stopped what he was doing and frowned under the hood, “What ever I accomplished years ago… is meaningless… I don’t deserve any recognition anymore…”

The Tavern Keeper looked at Kihia with a solemn face and shook his head, “I know a few townsfolk might hold some resentment at you for not being here for when the town was destroyed… But to be honest, you must have had a good reason you disappeared… and whatever it is… I am sure a lot of people are simply glad you came back alive Former Guild Master…” Kihia formed his right hand into a fist as he held back his tears. However not long after that the servant came back down from upstairs, "Thank you for waiting so patiently, Master Tade will be down shortly." Kihia nodded and placed the bracelet into his pocket as Azurius walked over wearing a black trenchcoat concealing whatever he had on him. Kihia nodded towards Azurius from his greeting, “Thank you for agreeing to join me on this job…” Kihia then got up as he placed Icarus on his back as he listened as he had started to explain how his ship was going to be there soon when the sound of rushing thrusters cut him off.  He then stated how it was already there and walked out of the tavern saying farewell to the tavern Keeper.

Kihia simply started to walk forward when the tavern keeper simply looked at him and said, “Sir Kihia, safe travels and may the job go in your alls favor…” This caused Kihia to pause for a moment, he moved a bit as if he gently nodded as he walked outside. As he did he first noticed two drones he faintly recognized from when he returned in the middle of the street as well as the massive frame of the H.S Salvation overhead. Azurius then told him to hop on which Kihia then stepped onto one of the drone’s wings as it lifted them into the air. Kihia watched as the drone flew up and into a large hatch that lead into some sort of hanger within the belly of the ship. Kihia disembarked and got onto the Bay floor as he noticed a woman with a spiked ring above her head leaning against the wall. Kihia heard her statement as well as Azurius’s response to her. Kihia simply nodded his head, “I am Kihia Avoa… a Pleasure to meet the crewmembers who maintain this ship…” Kihia then heard another woman’s voice say she is the head of security, and for him to stay still. He was saved by Azurius who explained what her background was which then lead into banter between captain and security chief.

Kelly then walked over to Kihia and extended out her right hand offering to shake Kihia’s own, Kihia accepted the handshake with his own as Kelly then made a humerous comment towards Kihia who finally took off his hood, “Only if I find it necessary…”

Kihia then Followed Azurius to an Elevator which they all four fit comfortably in, and as they stared going up Kihia simply examined the two crewmembers, “Interesting crew you have Azurius…” Not long after that they reached what seemed to be the top floor. As they reached the Bridge Azurius spoke out their destination, an AI responded with their ETA. Kihia followed Azurius for a moment, "This ship's the most technologically advanced ship the guild has ever seen. The trade-off for that was that we couldn't fit components for better speed, at least, not without increasing the size of the ship or sacrificing fire power." Kihia paused for a moment and looked at Azurius out of the corner of his eye, “If that is what you know…” Then as they entered into the helm Kihia kept on walking and stood near the front most panels looking outward with a solemn look in his eyes. He knew for certain what waited for him in Rose Garden, and he also knew for certain, he was taking her back.

After an hour or two of standing there Kihia finally broke his own silence while not breaking his gaze. “So, do you have a plan on what you intend to do with your ship once we arrive?...” Kihia waited for a response as he looked at the glow of rose Garden rising from the Dusk lit Horizon.

Kihia had slowly turned around as Azurius responded to his question, as he then nodded when Azurius had stated that he himself was going to be staying on board his ship. That’s when Suriel spoke up that she and another member of the crew were going down on the ground for the job. At that moment another figure walked into the helm, he was wearing an armored suit, and had eyes that reminded Kihia of a beast. The man then spoke up, introducing himself as Blade as well as greeting Kihia in a very formal manner. Kihia bowed his head in respect, “A pleasure to meet you Blade…” Kihia then walked over to the group as Azurius suggested that they should share each other’s strengths and coordinate the operation.

Azurius then got into an debate with the ships AI personality, Kihia sighed as he was used to something akin to this however, When Azurius Introduced Kihia to the personality he froze. He stood there for a brief moment his eyes growing cold, “Azurius…. Don’t call me Master… I am undeserving of such respect…” Kihia then walked towards the back end of the Helm as the two of them continued to argue amongst each other. He then walked around the helm a bit when Blade suddenly spoke up, as a golden spear appeared in Blades hand. Kihia examined the Man for a moment as the magical aura seemed different than other members of the crew, he then went on to explain his capabilities. Suriel then pressed a button which caused the ships AI to stop talking, and then went on to explain her own combat style. Kihia stood there taking this all in for a moment, when Azurius pressed a button effectively unmuting Ene, who then went on and explained her tactical abilities as well as the Ships Armament.

Kihia sighed as Ene and Azurius started bickering once again when suddenly a familiar voice with a loud thud walked into the helm. Kihia turned around and nodded in greeting towards Kateri who then went on to explain her own role as well as accepted the Lacrima she handed him. Kihia gently smiled as he was appreciative of the support team that was helping out. Kihia then reached around and grabbed Icarus and unsheathed it as he begun using it as a walking staff. “As you guys have seen… I utilize two different Maker magics… And use them to augment my own fighting capabilities in a variety of ways….” Kihia then formed a small cube of his own Crystallux compound and laid it in his hand as he then grabbed a small Lacrima from one of his pockets and placed it on the cube.

The Lacrima began to glow as it then projected a map of Rose Garden onto the floor of the helm. Kihia then caused the map to zoom in on the south eastern district of the city where a large private airport was located within the districts Center. “This is the Airport the Authorities have confirmed to be our target… they are a violent Black Market Syndicate who have been distributing illegal weapons and tech to various groups in the region…” Kihia then paused as he caused four large warehouse like buildings to glow, “We have been primarily requested to search and either disable or destroy their flagship the Nightrio….” Kihia then paused for a moment before continuing, “I would like to suggest for us to split into two groups… Blade, and Suriel… I would like you to try and create a distraction near the Control tower…. Where I will try and enter in through the back of the compound and make sure there’s nothing… Volatile the Black Market syndicate can spring on us… and for that reason…” Kihia Pauses and looks at Ene, “I would like to request for the Salvation not to fire on the compound until our target appears if you would… Kateri… See if you can find a spot to support both groups… I’ll contact you all if I find something to dangerous…” Kihia then picked up the lacrima and dispelled the Crystallux cube, as he then put the lacrima back in his pocket. He then listened to Ene’s plan to drop them off at the primary port of the city, Azurius then told his two crewmen to cover Kihia the best they could which they both nodded. Then As everyone was leaving the helm Kihia looked towards Ene’s hologram, “Could you drop us off at the Central district’s south eastern park… that might give us a better entry position… If not I understand.” Kihia would wait for her response and then no matter what he said walked out of the helm to get ready to disembark the ship. As they walked Kihia simply looked behind him, “Sorry for splitting us up on the ground… I promise as soon as I make sure the Warehouses are safe I will come and assist you…”

Kihia then remained quiet the rest of the way to the shuttle bay as he then took off his cloak and hung it on a random hook. He then looked at the Drones as they prepped for launch, ready for this mission to get underway, I am coming Icer… I know you aren’t on at the moment… but I will save you…

Kihia stepped off the ship and onto the park, he then stood there as the ship then lifted off, Kihia would stand there for minute longer, and would then take off running as fast as he can. He then leapt onto a side of a building and began wall jumping before reaching the roof of one of the buildings. He then took off heading South East, towards the North Eastern corner of the private air field. After a few minutes he arrived, and looked down on the Airport from high above. He saw various patrols of armed men roaming the grounds, as well as a few black Magicmobiles near one of the Warehouses on the far side.

Kihia closed his eyes for a moment and searched for a faint magical signature only he really knew about, after a few minutes he picked up the signature in the Warehouse closest to him. Kihia gently smiled as he jumped down and landed on top of the fence of the compound before jumping down onto the grounds without a sound. Kihia then looked around, seeing no guards near by he ran up to the back of the warehouse, he looked up and noticed an open window, however lights were on inside with a few shadows moving around. Then suddenly he heard voices from coming inside, “No We haven’t had the slightest luck cracking the security of this darn thing! Hec we can’t even get inside without something activating and shooting at us! That’s why we brought it here!” “I don’t care, this ship runs on systems that my employers would love to dissect, so my dear mechanic take the entire thing apart if you have to!” At those words Kihia jumped into the open window catching a Black Market Dealer and a Soldier off Guard, “Hey Who are yo-“ Kihia quickly grabbed Icarus and slammed it down on the black market dealers head dazing him for a minute.

Kihia then continued his momentum to swing Icarus at the soldier who had already summoned a scimitar and blocked Icarus, “Don’t just stand there you Idiot Sound the Alarm!” Kihia winced as he sent a portion of his magic power to his feet, “Ice Make Terrain!” Suddenly the entire floor within the warehouse including the small office Kihia had happened to jump into got covered in ice causing the black market dealer to slip and fall slamming his face against the wall knocking himself out. Kihia then used the extra maneuverability from being on a familiar and useful surface to catch the soldier off balance and bring Icarus down onto the back of his head knocking him out cold.

Kihia nodded when he then skated over and opened the door only to hear someone running out another door and yelling for help. Within the next second a siren was blaring across the airfield, Kihia sighed and then turned his attention to his primary goal. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bracelet from before as he skated forward to the covered Vessel.

(OOC Note: Kihia is now off the magical sensor grid due to being in the Ikarones)

A Minute later two Soldiers busted into the Warehouse as the ice on the ground began to thaw with no sign of Kihia anywhere and the covered vessel seeming untouched. “Where are you Maggot! We know you are in here!”

Meanwhile…

Kihia walked further into the only Room the ship ever had, the bridge, all the lights were off and a few panels were missing off the walls, however all five original PDC’s were present as well as the piloting chair was untouched. Kihia walked up and place the Bracelet on a Lacrima on the center of the console, “Icer… Are you online?” Kihia stood the for a few minutes when suddenly a voice spoke up which had a rather annoyed tone, “I must say Sir Kihia, It is truly a pleasure to hear your voice again, but must you always appear at the most randomly convenient times?”

Kihia had placed the communication Lacrima into a specialized slot on the console as he place Icarus into a special stand next to the pilots seat as he started pressing buttons. “Icer, Status Check” After a series of beeps a low hum started to come from the core of the ship, “All Systems Operational, The only issues lie in the various parts where the hull is damaged, but I doubt that will be a problem sir.” Suddenly a large tremor could be felt from outside causing Kihia to pause, “Icer… Lets get ready to enter into Combat State Alpha,” “As you wish sir, Oh how I have waited to do this sort of thing” A minute later the Lacrima Radio picked up a conversation between Azurius and the rest of the infiltration team. That’s when Icer decided to hop on the line himself and chime in, “Underrated? My Dear Overkill is one thing everyone I know in Lamia Scale tends to do very well, Like So…” Suddenly the turrets of the ship deployed and started shooting bullets of compressed Magic Power in seemingly random directions, however they quickly dispatched the two soldiers inside the hanger as well as hitting numerous targets outside the Warehouse the started to look like swiss cheese. Kihia then placed his hands on the Control Lacrima and nodded, “Lets go Icer…” Suddenly numerous Magic circles appeared on the bottom and rear of the Ikarones as the ships engines activated with a sudden force the blew the warehouse apart as the worn, white ship lifted off the ground still spraying the ground with Magic bullets covering the ground in Ice. “Shields online, all thrusters operational, What would you like to do Sir?” Kihia turned the ship to face the giant Celestial dragon, the site of which only caused him to smile slightly, “Prep the Cannon…” Within the next minute of the Cannons deployment, Kihia had brought up a screen and highlighted several targets, the Magicmobiles and the Warehouses, “Fire!” The cannon then fired multiple times causing numerous explosions away from the Dragon and causing one of the Warehouses to completely explode due to being an Ammunition Cache. “Icer, there should be a ship in the Air Above us, try and fly up to it.” “As you wish Sir Kihia.” Icer then Angled the ship upward as it was now a 45 degree angle off the ground. The ships rear thrusters then fully ignited as Kihia was pushed into the back of his seat as the ship flew upwards as it then circled around and then slowed down to a hover not far from the H.S. Salvation. “Kihia to Salvation… You are free to bomb the field if you want… Also… Meet possibly the technological equal ship we have had for a while…” “Wait, I was forgotten about, How rude I must say, Even though its nice to know the Guild has another Ship I doubt I have anyone intelligent to talk to.” Kihia paused for a moment and glared at the central Console Lacrima. “Except for you Sir Kihia.”

Kihia sat at his chair for a moment and quickly hit a button and shut off the hacked monitor for a moment, Icer was letting off a few beeping sounds before he finally spoke up again, “interesting… however foolish prank, what I should expect from a younger, less experienced AI…” Kihia facepalmed, “Icer… don’t” “But Sir Kihia, amongst ship AI pranks are a serious matter, one much take retaliation seriously!” Icer then paused for a moment, “Why That little devil… She shut her Ship to ship communications down… Oh I will have something planned for her…” Kihia only sighed when he heard Azurius say on the Lacrima radio that he needed to talk with Kihia once they were done. Kihia simply nodded as he watched from the cockpit window as the Salvation pulled away and initiated its own bombing run. Kihia then started pressing a few buttons and was doing a full system Diagnostic, “Icer Anything come up during our initial test of speed?” Icer was silent for a moment, “Nothing seemed out of the ordinary sir, although… I must say it seemed we accelerated slower than normal…” Kihia pressed a few more buttons and seeing nothing off in the magical circuits he sighed. “Just keep an eye on it.” “Understood” Kihia then watched as the Salvation and its drones bombed what’s left of the compound to smithereens.

Kihia then heard from Azurius that new bogeys had appeared and that he was drawing them their way, Kihia closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. “Icer,” “yes Sir Kihia?” “raise the bow up a little and cut bottom thrusters…” “Sir Kihia… Have you los-“ “Switching to Manual then” “Wait Kihia!” However despite Icers Pleading he quickly lifted the bow of the ship and cut off the thrusters that was allowing the ship to hover. The Ikarones then started to fall through the sky. As they fell Kihia rapidly inputted a series of console commands causing a number of fins to extend off the stern of the ship, “Kihia! Are you serious!” Kihia sternly looked forward his left hand on an elongated Lacrima that began to glow, “Yes… After we reach mach 2 shut off the Boosters and prepare for another high speed pass…” “As you wish Kihia, prepare your stomach however!” Kihia nodded as he waited for one last minute, then the bow of the Ikarones pointed straight at the path of the ships following the salvation. Kihia then slid his hand against the Lacrima as the Ikarones’s thrusters sprang back to life with gusto. The flare off the thrusters were nearly as long as the ship itself as Kihia was pushed back into the back of his seat as the ship rapidly accelerated, reaching Mach One before passing through the middle of the six smaller ships causing the shockwave that followed to cause the six ships to fly offcourse, two ended up colliding into each another and exploded.

The Ikarones then hit Mach 2 as Icer quickly deactivated the boosters causing the added Magic Engine circles to disappear. Kihia then turned the ship in a long arch as it then sped towards the enemy ships at Mach 2. “Icer, Do A quick Target lock on the three lead ships with the turrets, the one dead ahead with the Gatling Gun and the heavy ship with the Cannon! Then Fire as we pass them!” “Yes Sir, one rapid destruction order coming up!” The ship then entered firing range as all guns then fired on their designated targets, the four small ships got their wings blown off and crashed, however the larger ship strafed to the right. “Sorry Kihia it appears we missed the big on- Wait what in the world?? Kihia Warning Immediete Engine Failure!” Kihia’s eyes widened as two magic circles on the port side of the stern suddenly exploded causing the ship to spin out of control, “Icer Emergency stop!” Icer didn’t even respond and instead activated the remaining thrusters and slowly caused Ikarones to start slowing down. When suddenly the Nightrio fired one of its cluster missiles that then flew through the air for a moment and then released its payload causing a good portion of the Ikarones’s port side to have a hole blown through it. “Icer Status check!” “Si-r It se-ems du-e to previ-ous Sys-tem Da-*#$*-mage fr-om *(#$%@ Emer-gen-cy fli-ght 012, *#@$% Th-at Le-ad to cr-as-h i*#$% Jo-ya ca-us*&#$ Sev-ere*^*)( Ma-gic Circuit-try (*&#$% Dam-age Cau-ing approx.-imate-ly ^#(% 45% lo-ss in sys-tem’s- Shie-lds offline, Engi-nes *($%# Unstable… A-I… *#%$& Shutting dooooowwwwnnnnn *beep” Kihia managed to right the ship however it was barely able to stay in the air, “Icer! Come on Dang it Reboot!”

Kihia had been rapidly pressing a series of buttons, causing numerous displays that kept flickering to appear all around the pilots seat. What he saw made him frown, The screens were displaying the Lacrima network within the ship, all the Lacrima cables, and Lacrima that helped maintained vital systems. The Core Lacrima was highlighted yellow, where has only 50% of the Engine Lacrimas were highlighted in green. The other 40% were Yellow or Orange, with the remaining ones being black. He took note that the shield Lacrima’s cables were black as well, causing the Shield Lacrima to display as grey. What in the world caused you to crash that wretched day…. And what has happened to you since then… Kihia sighed as he pressed a few buttons and redirected the Magic power from the core around the dead lines to the remaining active systems. He then heard Azurius pipe up about a mechanic coming down and doing a quick repair job. Kihia hit a serious of buttons causing the screens to die down and the ship to hold its position without his input. He then would pick up the radio Lacrima and walk towards the Starboard side of the Bridge area and took off a panel, “Rodger that… Let him know we won’t be able to get engines or systems that are offline back up until certain parts can be repaired or replaced…. Key thing is making sure Exposed Lacrima Cables are guarded and are stabilized…” Kihia then grabbed a opened ended Lacrima cable and made a lacrima stand with a plug at the base, “Kateri… I am sorry but I am going to have to modify this Lacrima’s capabilities a bit…” He then placed the Lacrima on the stand and plugged in the extra line as he then walked over to the cable box and pressed a few buttons.

Suddenly the Ikarones shook from some kind of shockwave from outside. Around the bridge a few more hatches had been opened up and Kihia was nowhere to be seen, however when the shockwave hit the ship a thud could be heard under the floor panels. “What in the!” Kihia suddenly poked his head out of an open floor panel, a few pieces of Lacrima were stuck in his hair and an annoyed expression was painted on his face. “What in the world just happened…?” Kihia sighed and jumped out of the maintenance access way and walked over to the Lacrima, noticing the slightly different coloration to it he nodded and formed a small crystal sphere in his left hand and then tuned its magical frequency to match that of Kateri’s radio Lacrima, “Ikarones to Salvation… What in the world is going on out there?” Kihia would wait for a moment and after hearing a possibly explanation and a possible argument, he would sigh and respond, “Understood… I will leave the job report to you… I am going to fly the Ikarones back to a hidden hanger located Southeast of Hargeon in a sea side cliff wall… will send you guys a suitable landing site coordinates near the ground entrance…” Kihia would then wait a moment before walking back over to the pilots seat and started to fly the Ikarones towards Hargeon with a small trail of white smoke flowing from the primary engines.