[h3][color=#FC4B6C]S[/color][color=#F34C72]a[/color][color=#EB4E79]n[/color][color=#E34F7F]r[/color][color=#DB5186]o[/color] [color=#CB5493]a[/color][color=#C35599]n[/color][color=#BB57A0]d[/color] [color=#AB5AAD]N[/color][color=#A35BB3]e[/color][color=#9B5DBA]r[/color][color=#935EC1]o[/color] [color=#8361CE]M[/color][color=#7B63D4]a[/color][color=#7364DB]r[/color][color=#6B66E1]q[/color][color=#6367E8]u[/color][color=#5B69EE]e[/color][color=#536AF5]s[/color][/h3][hr][b][i][color=#FC4B6C]F[/color][color=#F74B6F]o[/color][color=#F34C72]r[/color][color=#EF4D76]t[/color][color=#EB4E79]r[/color][color=#E74E7C]e[/color][color=#E34F80]s[/color][color=#DF5083]s[/color] [color=#D6518A]S[/color][color=#D2528D]h[/color][color=#CE5390]i[/color][color=#CA5494]p[/color] [color=#C2559A]S[/color][color=#BE569E]o[/color][color=#BA57A1]l[/color][color=#B658A4]a[/color][color=#B158A8]i[/color][color=#AD59AB]r[/color][color=#A95AAE]e[/color] [color=#A15BB5]-[/color] [color=#995DBC]V[/color][color=#955EBF]R[/color] [color=#8C5FC6]T[/color][color=#8860C9]r[/color][color=#8461CD]a[/color][color=#8062D0]i[/color][color=#7C62D3]n[/color][color=#7863D7]i[/color][color=#7464DA]n[/color][color=#7065DD]g[/color] [color=#6766E4]C[/color][color=#6367E7]o[/color][color=#5F68EB]m[/color][color=#5B68EE]p[/color][color=#5769F1]l[/color][color=#536AF5]e[/color][color=#4F6BF8]x[/color][/i][/b][hr] Sanro was putting his fatigues into the locker, fully changed, when Nero came through the door of the locker room. The former raised his eyebrows: [color=#fc4b6c][i]Cutting it close enough?[/i][/color] Nero shrugged at him; even as he spoke, he began stripping. [color=#4b6cfc]"I went walk over to the Frame; ran into Rose and some of the Rosnian contingent. Good people. Lost track of time."[/color] Nero had yet to see real combat, but he was practiced at this part, and was pulling on his skinsuit within moments. [color=#4b6cfc]"How about you?"[/color] he asked as he pulled the suit's gloves tight. [color=#4b6cfc]"How did your talk with the Lieutenant go?"[/color] Sanro stood leaning against the locker next to him, drumming his fingers against the doorframe; his only response was to make a grunting noise and avert his eyes from his brother. [color=#4b6cfc]"I see,"[/color] Nero murmured. He sealed the skinsuit up, straightened, and stretched his hands up into the air, taking a deep breath in exertion. Then he let it out, his arms dropping, and held up a fist towards his brother. [color=#4b6cfc][i]Ready?[/i][/color] Without looking, Sanro rapped the offered fist with his own. [color=#fc4b6c][i]Let's go.[/i][/color] [hr] [color=#4b6cfc]"Critical systems check, complete. Power systems nominal. Legionnaire Interconnect System fully functional."[/color] The various bits of white "armor" on Legionnaire flexed and shifted, vernier thrusters pointing in various directions as the machine vented coolant. Inside the cockpit, Nero's hands flew over the keyboard as he looked over the readings. The spherical holo-display in front of him currently showed a projection of Legionnaire, flashing various shades of yellow and orange which one-by-one turned green, and various bits of information presented themselves as they became available. In the other cockpit, Sanro gripped his own controls experimentally; his systems hadn't yet been engaged, so the machine stayed still, but the resistance of the grips set him at ease. [color=#4b6cfc]"Onboard weapons check. Assault rifle, check. Energy projection module, check."[/color] The hands of the machine glowed briefly, then went dull again. Sanro reached over, flipping his own communication set to the squad channel. [color=#fc4b6c]"Copying you both, Logic Diver, Goliath Buster,"[/color] he said, his voice calm. [color=#4b6cfc]"Drone system check. Gladius drones, one through eight--"[/color] The "feathers" of the single wing hanging off Legionnaire's back rippled and undulated as the eight drones performed systems tests. [color=#4b6cfc]"--all check."[/color] [color=#fc4b6c]"I know we don't know each other very well, but I'm counting on all of you."[/color] [color=#4b6cfc]"Parma and Scutum drones: fully charged. Augury drones alpha, beta, gamma, delta, prepped for launch."[/color] [color=#fc4b6c]"And in return, you can count on me and my brother."[/color] Nero brought his finger down one last time, and the holo-version of Legionnaire glowed green. [color=#4b6cfc]"All systems check!"[/color] He reached over, switching his coms to the squad channel as well. [color=#4b6cfc]"Remus, ready!"[/color] Sanro grinned and leaned back in his shock frame, arms crossed, as a small monitor near his knee showed the same all-good diagram. [color=#fc4b6c]"Romulus, ready. Legionnaire, ready to deploy!"[/color]