Aliapanacea

  Home means something different for everyone, but it’s especially important for the members of the Vanguard. For many, it’s the pce they settle dorotect. For others, it’s the people that they’ve e to love. Regardless, the home of a samurai creates a sort of bubble for humanity around it, a safe pce where theoretically, they should be free of worry.

  It makes it all the more devastating when that bubble pops.

  From the dotary ‘Gehenna Gulf’, released mid-2057***

  I sit oop of one of my big guns, trying and failing to catch my breath from a particurly inte of movement. Turns out, I don’t have the required stamina to fight against an endless horde of Antithesis. I mean, I never really expected for them to run out of fodder in the first pce, but this is sort of absurd. At least my girls are doing a really good job of keeping them off of me and the sub.

  I soon perk up when I hear Prism say my name, her anxious voice a nice ge in the mixed cacophony of war.

  [“E-Emme, since we’ve gotten a floor out now, I’m leaving the SADS on watch up here so that I e help you out for a bit.”]

  I chuckle, shaking my head at how warm her being like this makes me feel. “Don’t rush yourself, Prism. We’ll probably be fine for a few more minutes, I’m on a break anyways.”

  Nyvi clears her throat, then asks, [“Actually, while you’re free, could you go a bit more into detail on the ship idea you have? We hem to get an accurate point total for trag purposes.”]

  I grin, then lean bay arms as the guns fire beh me, a surprising ck of vibration following afterwards. Thank you grav ptforms.

  “Yeah sure! I think it’d be best to get the ship and engine first, we work on the ons ter.” I pause, then pat the top of my current ride. “Hell, we take these guns and stick them onto the ship itself right?”

  Achys sighs, then shoots off to pierce a stray Model One. [“Keeping the onry of the ship modur is a real option, but I think it’d be prudent to get some stationary point defence guns as well. If you’ve learned anything from this situation, that is.”]

  I tilt my head for a moment, then whack a Model One away. Lissa is the o chime in, still sounding as exhausted as she did twenty minutes earlier:

  [“Also, make sure there are pces for the guns to shoot out the side and bottom of the ship as well.”]

  Nodding in agreement, I state, “Both are fair, but keep the PDCs repceable if we o s them out.”

  To my surprise (and slight delight), Prism then murmurs, [“U-Um, would it be possible for it to have fortable individual living spaces on the ship?”]

  [“Holy, would have expected one of the sisters to add that oo the list,”] Achys replies as she flutters through the mob, [“But that’s actually surprisingly cheap to implement. Housing is a y for crew afterall.”]

  Lissa asks with a curious tone, [“How are we going to keep this ship up and running anyways? Hiring sailors sounds annoying.”]

  “Good question…” I mutter as I grimace, imagining a bunuscur men iypical sailor outfits. “ we just get a buny droo do it for us?”

  [“I suppose so,”] Nyvi replies, [“it’d be the cheapest option as well, plus they could work oeriardless of safety s. May I ask how big you want it? That would heavily affect the price of both the PTd required crew.”]

  Taken aback by that question, I murmur, “Shit, I have no clue what would be right here.”

  Prism hums a bit in though, then slowly replies, [“Probably best to keep it about the size of a destroyer, so we don’t have to spend too many points ora stuff? We always upscale ter right?”]

  Achys flutters back beside me as she says, [“If that’s what you all agree upon, I am happy to say you’ll have enough points to get it…”]

  Rolling my eyes as the bird starts tapping the top of the gun like a drumroll, I poke her on the head. “Don’t tease us, how long do we o-”

  The guns fire, sending a line of explosions across the o floor, and Achys does a little spin as her eyes fsh. [“Right now! Without the gravity e, of course, but that’s not too far off.”]

  I blink, looking down in surprise at my AI.

  “Wait, really?”

  Achys giggles as she nods. “Yup! You have a lot of points gained per minute right now, so your total has built up fast.”

  As I open my mouth to speak, Prism slithers up beside me, a big smile on her face as she coils herself up. “I-It almost feels a little anticlimactic to get this without fighting some big boss or something.”

  I roll my eyes, reag over to pyfully push her shoulder. “Don’t jinx it, dork.”

  Prism looks away from me, her ears scarlet, as she grumbles, “I-I was just saying what I thought, b-but I suppose you’re right.”

  Lissa clears her throat, then says, [“We’re nearing the separate dredge station Nyvi is sending us to, so it’s perfect timing. I don’t know how much longer we’re going to hold up.”]

  “Are you…” I bite my lip, preventing myself from w aloud. “Never mind. Achys, let’s get the ship.”

  The bird throws up her wing as she chirps:

  [“Big ship, ing right up!”]

  New Purchase!

  ‘Otter’ Css Warship x1: 4000 Points

  ‘Bevy’ PDC x4: 1000 Points

  ‘Seadog’ crew drones x150: 1500 points

  Total Cost:

  6500 Points

  Final Total:

  204 Points

  After an intense fsh of light, the ship appears in its full glory just a bit above me, and when I see it, I ’t help but whisper:

  “Wow.”

  Stretg what has to be five hundred feet, our new warship’s hull is somewhere between cssical and modern, curved to a point at the bow and nearly ft at the stern, as well as a huge regur bridge stuck smack dab in the middle of the debsp; However, it’s made mostly of some kind of off white wood, all of which is framed with beautiful silver metal details and fixings. The really standout part though, is the slight biolumi glow that is beied from every inch of the wood, which makes the ship stick out like a sore thumb in these dark depths.

  You could maybe describe it as nearly elvish in design, at least at first gnce, but the fantasy aspect of the ship is sort of ruined by the two huge gatling guns fnking the bridge and the obviously meized panels built into the sides of the hull, where two more of the PDCs sit. After one final shot, all three of my big ons start to float over, so Prism and I scoot over to get a better look at the deck. It’s then I realize what sort of drones Achys got for us.

  Absolutely delighted, I ’t help but giggle as I say, “Achys, that’s a lot of dogs.”

  The bird smugly grins, putting her wings on her hips. [“I khat’s what you’d want”.]

  As the gun we’re riding os right onto the deck, I watch a dog push a lever, which causes a huge meical hatch to open in the deck. I grab Prism’s hand, then pull her behind me as I leap down. After we nd, we watch two of the guns disappear below the deck, only for the hatch to close and the final oo clito p the deck’s surface. A gnce back at the horde sees my ten fighting dogs retreating towards us, a thick stream of pnt aliens behind them. I swim over to the edge of the ship just in time to see the barrels of my big guns emerge out and aim.

  Then, all the guns on the ship fire at once.

  The horde is split by a breathtaking percussion symphony, the slow bangs of the artillery pieces mixing with the deafening Brrrrr of the gatling guns to wipe out a huge k before they eve close.

  I ’t help but grin for a moment, but my joy immediately evaporates when I turn to see Prism. C her ears with her hands, her deep distress at the noise is btant. I quickly swim over, pulling the mermaid into my arms before I head towards the entrao the bridge.

  Now a bit discerted, I ihe interior better be soundproofed.’

  Don’t worry, I thought ahead on a few things. It’ll be fine.

  The door opens and closes for us, and as the airlock begins to hiss, I end up freezing as Nyvi says, [“By the way, this is going to be distinctly unfortable, if what happeo Prism is any indication.”]

  “What do you-”

  As the water disappears from around us, a deep, ierrins to fill me, as if I was drowning. I fall to my knees, barely managing to put Prism, who is seemingly going through the same thing, onto the ground before I drop her.

  [“Um,” Lissa mutters, obviously a bit worried, “You two… okay?”

  After a few seds, I mao say, “Fu-” I cough twice more. “We’re fine, I think, don’t worry. You coulda’ warned me soohough!”

  [“I could have, yes. Was it funnier like this? Maybe.”] The AI Orca fils a bit closer to her mermaid, and Prism reaches down to pick her up.

  As I stand up, wiping my mouth, I tilt my head at the girl beside me. “Actually, how do you move out of the water with that tail? Like a snake?”

  Prism shakes her head, but doesn’t respond, sinking her fato Nyvi’s head.

  [“Sorry, she's still a little shaken at the moment. I don’t think she repared for the gatling guns to be so loud.”] Nyvi says with a small tilt of her head back at me, then adds, [“As for her movement, it doesn’t seem to be possible at the moment, would you mind carrying her?”]

  I nod as my heart pangs, then reach down to pick Prism up. She barely even responds to the touch, but does end up leaning into me a bit as the door inside opens. As I look up at the entrao our new ship though, I end up blinking as I mutter:

  “This is… not what I expected.”

  There is a small locker rht at the entrao the airlock, probably for EVA suits for ahat doesn’t have the capability of breathing uer, but past the bst door? It almost seems like a normal home. The walls are made of wood that, in parison to the wood oerior, is very dark, and with the warm lighting it creates quite a fy atmosphere. The room is set up as an open pn on space; One side is obviously desigo be a living room, with a long around couch pced in front of a huge holo-s while the other side is a surprisingly rge kit with a dining table set up beside it.

  Walking inside, I look down and breathe in relief at the sight of my friend looking around i the sight. Achys takes the lead, clearihroat before she leaps out to hover in front of us.

  [“Why don’t you two get fy for a moment, while we get the ship moving to get the rest of the family?”]

  I shrug as I stumble over and plop down onto the couch, the Prism wiggle out onto the couch beside me. We both let out a deep groan of te in unison, then look at each other and giggle. I lean my head bad y eyes as I mutter:

  “What are the ces I’m going to have to get up to do something?”

  Achys hops onto the small coffee table in front of the couch. [“Not too high, unless Prism o move around before we get a solution to her movement issue.”]

  I gnce over at the mermaid, who at this point is coiliail up underh her. She looks up at me, turns a bit pink, then looks towards the holo-tv. “I-I should be fine. A-Are there exterior views ut up there to keep watch?”

  Achys throws up a wing towards it, and the s ss to a view of the battle outside. The dogs are doing their best to keep the swarm off the shelter, assisted in clearing the smaller models by the ridiculous rate of fire our PDCS have. To my surprise though, it also highlights something I didn’t even realize was happening.

  “Are we moving right now?”

  Achy snickers, doing little spins as she paces along the table. [“Ihis vessel is designed both for bat AND fort after all! If you could feel the movement as it happened, it certainly wouldn’t be to Protector standards.”]

  “H-Huh…” Prism wiggles a bit, then squeezes Nyvi as she yawns. “M-My tail feels like jelly.”

  [“Out of curiosity, sorry if it’s a bit iive”] Lissa abruptly chimes in, [“Prism, is your stuttering because you’re nervous, or is it because you have a speech impediment? I know you were able to talk without it during the speech by slowing down your words.”]

  I guffaw, pletely taken aback by the audacity of this girl. “Lissa, that’s rude!”

  Still, I watthralled as the adorable girl in front of me tucks her fato her squishy AI as she whispers, “A-A-A bit of both? P-Probably? I-I’ve never actually looked into it. I-I have a mixed array of neurological problems that we’ve never really looked into.”

  My sister chuckles, obviously ign my chastisement. [“Was just curious, and uh, sort of the same for us?”]

  I blink. “Us? I don’t think I have-”

  [“Okay, to be fair, I was talking about my own situation, which is plicated and I don’t want to get into at the moment,”] Lissa interrupts, [“But Emme, you do know you have issues tht?”]

  Legitimately fused, I tilt my head. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  [“Sis, you’ve got all the signs of ADHD and then some.”]

  “I…” I put a hand on my forehead. “I don’t know how to react to that.”

  “S-Sounds like we all need a bit of therapy…”

  Nyvi wiggles around in Prism’s arm, reag up with a fin to pat her on the head. [“Don’t worry, lenty of options for mental health assistance you all use iure. For now, just rex, and if we need your help with bat or decisions, we’ll tell you.”]

  I share a look with Prism, who timidly nods. “I guess so, feels weird to not be fighting after so long. How long is it till sunrise anyways? Tonight feels like it’s gone on forever.”

  [“Everything es to a head soon, not even half an hour. The arrival of the high number Model , the finishing of the evacuation, and the suhe end is immi, and I’m on the edge of… the table waiting for it.” ] Achys snickers as she reaches the end of the table, then turns like a toy soldier. [“Still, we shouldn’t let uards down, it’s possible they will try to overwhelm us with o rush.”]

  I gowards the s, frowning at how thin the numbers seem. “Yeah, I think I get what you mean. That’s not nearly as thick as it was before, even with the PDCs having such a big effect.”

  Anxiously, Prism’s tail starts tapping against the side of the couch. “L-Let’s hope that the Model Twenty-Seve deem it necessary. T-They’ve essentially already won anyways.”

  I bite on my thumb a bit as I mumble, “Been meaning to ask, where is that thing anyways? Shouldn’t it be ing at us super hard?”

  Nyvi hums before she expins, [“As far as I’m aware, it’s a new variant, so its exact capabilities are unknown. However, there are a few things that all versions of the Twenty-Seven have in on. First, they’re actually typically split into multiple bodies, none of which ever seem to be bat focused beyond baseline abilities.”]

  Achys picks up where her fellow AI left off. [“Each of the bodies has a specific purpose, like a specialized factory for creating more individual models, such as rism witnessed, or a sort of tral brain that utilizes the same abilities that the Antithesis use to ihrough rifts in space to ect to and and multiple other Models directly.”]

  Lissa sighs in exasperation. [“That expins the weird way the Antithesis were grouping on this floor, I just don’t get why they decided to gather like moths around a light.”]

  It’s a bit surprising when Raya is the oo speak . [“You might not think it’s smart, but light is sidered safe by many humans. If they aren’t careful, they might walk up thinking it’s a normal crowd, just to get mauled. It’s a pretty low effort way to ensure a captured civilian or two.”]

  Achys gets the smuggest of grins, and I immediately kly what’s going to happe. [“Aw, Nyvi, she’s learning! I think we-”]

  Reag really far over, I pinch the bird’s beak shut. “opping you there. I’m way too tired to listen to another set of bickering, though it is fun.”

  Boo, that’s not fun. But in the end, I suppose you’re right.

  I pull my feet below me, shutting my eyes for a moment, until Lissa’s voice agaiers my ears.

  [“Hey, do we have a name for the ship?”]

  I flutter my eyes open, then look towards Prism, who just shrugs. I think for a moment, the a small smile on my fabsp;

  “How about… The Starchaser Widow?”

  There’s a collective silence for a moment, until Prism says, “I-I like it but… idow? I-It’s not like this is the sed time we’ve gotten a ship.”

  Lissa pops in before I say anything. [“I’m with her on this, Widow seems a bit overkill.”]

  I roll my eyes and put my arms up on the edge of the coubsp;

  “Fine, fine, how about just ‘The Starchaser’ then?”

  “M-Makes seo me, with how everything seems to be lining up tonight. I-It’s fitting.”

  Lissa sounds exasperated as she says, [“I have to ask, Emme, did you end up singing that one song, and that’s what brought this on?”]

  My face heats up a bit as I look away. “Maybe, but it’s a good song so her of you pin!”

  [“Sis, I literally wasn’t, it was entirely curiosity.”]

  I stick my to though I know she ’t see it. “Still judging me for it.”

  Prism giggles before she asks, “D-Didn’t you just say you were too tired to bicker?”

  “Et tu, Miss Mermaid?!”

  Achys snickers while c her beak with her wing. “Teically, you used that wrong.”

  A bit riled up, I jump to my feet, pointing at the birb.

  “As of this moment I decre myself captain of this ship, and my first rule is no bullying!” I pause, then grin as I add, “That I’m not the perpetrator of or am in support of!”

  [“Prism, I think we o do a mutiny if that rule isn’t amended.”]

  Prism nods, but looks up at me with a smile. “I-I suppose so? I’m fih her being captain though…”

  My sister responds quickly to that. [“Oh yeah, it makes total sense, but we ’t let her just be a tyrant.”]

  I flop back down onto the, then mutter, “Fugh, fine. Gimme a sed.”

  After a quient of thinking, I smile as I put a finger in the air, loudly deg:

  “As Captain of the Starchaser, I hereby decre the first rule of the ship to be thus! As this is to be our home, we must treat it with respect! As such, shoes are not allowed past the entrao the ship!”

  [‘Aye Captain!’] “A-Aye Captain!”

  Everyone in the call breaks into giggles, and a small warmth of fort fills my body.

  I love these people so much.

  Aliapanacea