Still Alive
19 Jul 2022Ember Kurokishi
Phoenix wakes to find herself in a hospital bed looking around the room, her fellow squadmates surrounded her. Cayce was asleep at this point, finally getting some sleep after everything. Sapphire, Arisu, Ember and Phoenixes own fighter pilot Ruben we're all sitting, Ruben also catching some shuteye. Ember looks up from her datapad, "Holy shit you're awake!" She exclaims loudly, somehow managing not to wake either of the sleepers. Phoenix looks around once more, "This doesn't look like a familiar place, where are we?", Ember replied "Atropos, Kepler Orbital specifically." Sapphire could be heard grumbling, not the happiest about being in Federal space. Ember promptly gives Saph a nudge, "Comon it ain't that bad, we'll be outta here before you know it!" Phoenix could only chuckle, as one of the facilities Doctors walked in,
"Ahh Commander Sonne, you're awake. Been out a few days, understandable given the nature of your injuries. Got into a hell of a firefight judging by the wounds. The good news is we managed to patch you up for the most part. Sadly, I am afraid it's not all good news." The doc was flipping through her file. "Now to be up front with you, even with everything at our disposal, there is some damage we can't fix. I hate to say it miss; your flying days may be over. The Pilot's Federation has been made aware of your injuries, and the recordings your suit took gave them reason enough to place you under protective custody when you get back home. We'd place you under our own protective program, however our records show you're an Imperial Citizen. Because of that we figure it's better to send you back to the Empire for such matters, as you know, we're still mending things following the NMLA. Holding you in protective custody here might raise questions."
Arisu and Sapphire knew what this meant, Phoenix would not be in a position to run the squadron in Cayce's absence. Her carrier, and all of the ships Phoenix owned could potentially be taken. Something the two of them wondered and worried about. The doctor continued,
"Your CO has been informed of these developments and the implications they could have. He's not happy about it but agrees that you're lucky to have survived."
Ember spoke up, "So what I am hearing is, she can't fight anymore. Can't fly anymore. What's going to become of her ships? Everything she's done?"
The doc replied, "I am afraid thats up to the Pilot's Federation, I am just a doctor. If it were the Federation making the call, I might've been able to tell you how it'd go. I am not familiar with the inner workings of either the Empire or the Pilot's Federation. For what it's worth Commander Sonne, we appreciate you pulling our people out of the fire here. I know you also participated in the fight against the NMLA as well as helped the Federation with Jupiter Division. I wish there was more we could do for you."
Arisu couldn't believe what she had just heard, someone who had done so much not just for her but so many others was paying a price for it and wouldn't be able to fly with them anymore. She seemed to sit in silence, knowing this wasn't the doctor's fault or her own.
Phoenix chimed in, "You don't need to worry about what happens with the carrier or my fleet of ships. Or my position for that matter. If it comes to relinquishing them and they give me a choice, Ember you're a member of the Pilot's Federation now as well, right?"
Ember looked right at Phoenix, "You can't do that what about Arisu, or Sapphire?"
Phoenix looked at both of them "As much as I'd love to, certain ships would be seized if I tried to give them to either of the two. Sapphire has no history with the Federal Navy, nor does Arisu. The same goes for the Imperial Cutter and Navy. They will only operate if someone meets or spoofs the requirements. Spoofing them so Arisu or Saph could pilot those ships would make them Criminals anywhere they went. You're the only other person besides Cayce who could fly those ships legally. The carrier Cayce could manage, however Brewer Corp has a one per customer policy, so she'd eventually have to find a new owner anyways. You've spent a fair share of your time on the ground. I know you can afford to take care of her. So how about it?"
Ember looked at Arisu, and then to Saph both of them gave a nod.
Sapphire chimed in: "She has a point, if you don't take them then they will likely be taken away. I personally have no interest in Federal ships."
Arisu also spoke up: "I wouldn't know what to do with them, the DBX already puts enough stress on me. I can't imagine a full-fledged combat ship that I know nothing about. Besides, I think it's clear who she wants to give these to. You two fought alongside each other on the ground and in space. Seems fair to me you get them."
Phoenix chuckled, "Then it's settled, if it comes down to it. Ember gets the ships. There's only one condition, the Corvette keeps Morgana's Namesake. No sense in letting all of those credits and materials go to waste or end up in the wrong hands. I know you'll take care of them. Oh ... there is one other thing, take care of our friends for me."