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The Skies have no Limit

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Piemanlives:
--Tattered Facility--

Before them stood a massive door, over polished and over decorated, whoever built must have had a fairly large ego.

Richard
"You know, I don't think I was expecting this."

Preston
"Gaudy door, useless door, over priced door." he was mumbling over varied obscenities toward the door.

Travis
"You have to admit though, the door looks pretty cool."

Preston
"I mean, yeah sure it looks cool, but what purpose does it serve at the bottom of some decrepit facility in the middle of nowhere, where people can't appreciate its beauty."

Richard
"I get what you're saying Preston, but this is unknown beauty, not everyone knows about, it's unspoiled."

Preston
"But beauty is meant to be appreciated, no matter what form, it can't down here."

Travis
"But we are appreciating it, right now in fact."

Preston
"But others can't, are you telling me that we're going to take random trips down here, just to look at a door?"

Travis
"Ok that is a bit overboard, we won't be taking trips to a door, but other people can and will find it, it may be years till the next person finds it but at least it still exists."

Behind them a gunshot echoed about the room, they didn't even looked surprised as Dalhia came over with a smoking rifle.

Dalhia
"Right are you three done proposing to the door, if not I'll give you four a moment alone while I go kill more of these grazer hounds."

Preston
"See what you've done Travis? You've made the bridesmaid angry!"

Richard
"Hey, we still have wedding plans to make, so get cracking."

Dalhia
"I hate you guys so much sometimes!"

She stormed over to the door control panel and typed in the access code they were given earlier. The door hummed, first it cracked open, a shaft of light breaching the opening, then the door slowly opened, flooding the room with blinding light.

Travis
"Beautiful....."

Richard
"I've never seen anything like it!"

Preston
"Oh it's so overwhelming!"

the door reached it's apex and the light burst obscuring all for just a moment before it faded, a hallway revealed before them.

Richard
"Right, on we go."

--Tattered air dock--

A massive grinding noise could be heard echoing from the facility, it was loud enough that it woke up the remaining crew members.

Lorena
"Oi..... sleepy heads."

Reynold
"Yes my lady?"

His speech was long and drawn out, he was clearly out of it, like he was every morning.

Lorena
"Keep an eye on the door, if anything tries to kill us, please wake me up."

Reynold
"Hehehe yes my lady."

Phillip
"Sometimes I wonder about his mental state, Reynold, I'll keep watch, just please keep yourself out of trouble."

Reynold
"Hehehe, ok my lord."

Before they could do anything, a flare from the facility soared skyward, breaking everyone from their stupors.

Reynold
"What the hell was that?!"

Phillip
"I'd rather not find out, it might attract ships from all over, so be careful."

Lorena
"No need to tell me that, I'll keep an eye on the engines, you two watch the skies."

The crew went about their duties, preparing for whatever could hope to take them, inside the 4 encountered labs, labs, and more labs as they continued their trek towards the brood mother.

BdrLineAzn:
Anvala

Just a little into mid-morning, the Goldfish and crew arrive into the airspace of Anvala. After the seige with the Barons, much of the City was in despair as multiple buildings were destroyed and crumbled into rubble. But with resources coming in from both Dandy Lions and White Lotus Trading Companies, reconstruction lasted in a speedy six months as many of the citizens rallied to improve after the major battle.

Entering the visual range of the surrounding Flak batteries, a two plane formation comes towards them and form on either side of the ship. On its tail bears a panther symbol of the City's Winged Air Corp, founded by an inspiring pilot.

Knowing what todo, BdrLine moves back to the cabin and changes the radio frequency. Static can be heard until a crisp voice comes over.

Pilot
"I see you guys came back after all that holliballo in Cathedral. So got anything good that you brought back?"

BdrLine
"Yeah, but not for you or the other fly boys *chuckles*. Besides, we are just hear to reapply and head straight back, got a job that needs to be finished."

Pilot
"hmm, sounds like you lot wants some piece of those bastards that hit the Featival?"

BdrLine
"Yup, and it's really personal."

Pilot
"Alright. Well you guys know what's up. We will fly you guys in."

BdrLine
"Roger, we are preparing for landing as well."

The two planes then leads the Goldfish to the Western District of Anvala where from above, one of the ports looks like it has a giant black stain. Going a little south from Port Tar Barrel, the planes break off and continue to patrol the perimeter of the City with the reconstructed Anvalan Fleet. The ship then continues on and lands in the familiar docks know to the four.

As the crew shuts down the machinery and fasten down the ship, the pilot who brought them in changes his setting on the radio and calls in someone.

Pilot
"Hello? Hello, anyone there?"

Nothing was heard until shuffling comes from the radio and a Female voices come through.

Female
"Hello, yes? You guys got anything?"

Pilot
"Sheesh for an Elite, you worry too much for one guy."

Female
*threatening* "Don't make me go to the airfield when you land."

Behind the pilot, his rear gunner snickers at the comment made to his partner. Annoyed, he elbows him on the back of his head.

Pilot
"Alright, just don't wind me up like a pretzel. Just came to call in that's they are back..... Umm hey, Althea? You there?"

Again silence is all that they heard as the two don't realised that no one is inside the radio room of the Burning Skies Saloon, and the occupant had already left. Shrugging, the pilot changes back his frequency and forms back with his patrol.

Sprinting towards her boyfirends docks, Althea can see the outlines of his Goldfish from the docks entrance. Coming off the ship, she spots four figures walking towards a group of dock workers where they proceed to remove their luggage and items from the Festival, and begins loading ammunition. Going into a quick walk, Althea then comes up behind BdrLine.

Seeing her coming this way, Tommy, Charles, and Courage takes one step back from BdrLine, who is currently talking to them. Seeing them move away, he eyes the three.

BdrLine
"What's up? Looks like you guys saw deat...."

He didn't have time to finish his sentence as he is spun around by Althea. Surprised, and happy to see her, BdrLine was about to open his mouth to speak, but was met with a big slap to his face.

SLAP

Everyone in the surrounding area turn to see what caused that slap and spots the pair. Not wanting to be in the middle of the two lovebirds, people in proximity to the two starts to move away.

Seen walking off towards to the Saloon, Tommy and the other two speed walk off and can be heard.

Tommy
"Bdr, we'll see you at the Saloon. Looks like you need to reacquaint with someone. Bye."

All that is left now is a little fumed Elite and a stunned Yeshan engineer. Althea crosses her arms as she stares and waits for an answer from him. Finally moving a hand to the affected area, BdrLine removes it and switches between looking at his hand and her.

BdrLine
"Owww. Nice to see you again sweetie."

Althea
"Oh don't you 'sweetie' me. Why didn't you call."

BdrLine
"What do you mean? I told you the guys and I would be fine on this trip."

Althea
"Well did you guys foresee that attack that happened when you were there."

Coming to a realisation, BdrLine forms his mouth into an O shape as he finds out that she was worried about him. Looking closer through her tough demeanour, he spots that she was holding back some tears. Closing the distance, BdrLine then pulls her in a tight hug. Surprised by this, she was about to push him off, but he holds on to her tighter, until she gives and hugs him back. A few minutes in the embrace, Althea loosen the hug and looks up to him.

Althea
"Sorry I snapped at you, is just that after the news came about the attack. And that you didn't called back, I was worried that... you know"

BdrLine
"I know what you mean. But here is something to make up for it."

Letting go, BdrLine swings his satchel around and opens to pull out a rectangular box. Althea looks at it inquisitively as BdrLine opens the box and pulls out the necklace that he bought from the Festival. Surprised by this, she moves both her hand to cover her mouth at the simplistic beauty of it.

BdrLine
"Here, let me put it on."

Althea quickly turns around as BdrLine brings the necklace over her head and places it on her neck. Once he finish attaching it, she looks down and brings it up for her to see closely. Happy about the gift, Althea spins around and pulls him into a kiss. Breaking it, she wraps her arms around his neck.

Althea
"Thank you, come on, let's meet up with the others. John and Allen are bored out of their minds without the rest of the guys and are terrified of me. *smiles*"

Shaking his head with a smile, BdrLine takes her hand and they walk back to the Saloon.

Chang-ning

Sitting in her office, Captain Zhao, looks through the amount of paperwork given to her. Sighing, she signs off many documents and statements until her hand feels numb. Occasionally, she looks out of the window and yearns to go flying with her crew. She sighs again as she is stuck with office work.

Shifting through more paperwork, she come across the report for the takedown in Dragontown. She shakes her head as she reads about the number of men and materials needed.

Sometimes, I don't know what the upper brass are thinking. This is way too much just to crackdown one man. If I was running it, it would be me, my crew, and her sister ship. *sigh* I soo want to get out of this office.

She then lies her head on to her desk a little too hard as the material on top of it moves a little. One of the items that moved was her name placer, which she spots and picks it up.

Seriously, I thought they changed this. How many months married and they still have my Fathers last name on this things.

Her train of though was interrupted as the phone on her desck rings. Grumbling, she calms herself before picking it up. Instantly her mood changes on who was on the other line.

Ny-Lee
"Hi dear, didn't expect for you to call."

Roland
"Well I though I should say hello. What are you up to?"

Ny-Lee
*groans* "Im up to my waist in paperwork. You don't know how bad I want to get out with my crew, or even better yet, spend time with you. So how's the Saloon holding up?"

Roland
"Still trying to figureout how Yiski made his Hellfire. Which.. caused another incident, but it did turn out into a new drink."

Ny-Lee mentally laughs as, since her older brother's last visit, Roland has been experimenting with different ingredients trying to figureout his father's mixture to the iconic drink. In the end, it wouldn't turn out how it was suppose to be, but on the positive note, each failed attempt means another successful brew.

Ny-Lee
"Glad for you. Now remember again, carefully with that loch powder, we don't need to buy another still. Oh wait hold on."

Just then knock comes upon her door.

Ny-Lee
"Come in."

The door creak opens and a man pokes his head in.

Man
"Hey there Cap."

Rolling her eyes and a small smile appears on the corner of her mouth at the antics of the Petty Officer at the door.

Ny-Lee
"Yes, what is it Su?"

Petty Officer
"Well Ma'am, the technicians are here to upgrade the lighting for this building. And everyone is giving the rest if the day off for them work. They want everyone gone in thirty minutes."

Ny-Lee
"That's it?"

Petty Officer
"Yes Ma'am, I'm going around telling others."

Ny-Lee
"I'll be out in a few then."

Giving a nod, he leaves the door to tell the rest in the building and Ny-Lee goes back to her call.

Ny-Lee
"Sorry about that, but good news, I got the rest of the day off. Want to spend it together?"

Roland
"You know I would. Let me lock up."

Ny-Lee
"I'll pick you up them. Bye honey. Mwah."

Roland
"Mwah."

Ny-Lee then place the reiceiver back onto the casing and retrieves her belongings. Stuffing the last of her things in a suitcase, she leaves her office and locks it behind her. Going down a flight of stairs and passing the technicians, she moves to the parking lot to her vehicle. Part of being in the Military, having rich parents, and being in a economic boom fraction, the majority of the urban population can afford automobiles, but having special privileges and her connections, Ny-Lee has one of the better models. Placing her suitcase in the back and the keys in the ignition, she starts the auto and drives out of the base and towards the massive market place of the Capitol where her husbands saloon, The Crimson Skies Saloon, is located. At the front, she sees him and stops in front. After getting in, they shared a quick kiss and drive off as they chat to figureout their remaining day.

Unaware to them, what seems like a normal galleon arrives into the city and lands in one of the docks. The Birdman, out from his normal attire for normal clothes, is greeted with the party who arrived days earlier with the Zhao merchandise? After leading him to a warehouse, it's doors open and three trucks, two holding the merchandise the third with mercenaries, leave the docks onto the street heading towards the richer part of the city.

Gryphos:
--Dragontown, Charred Drake tavern--

The Charred Drake tavern was undoubtably one of the most popular watering holes, serving it's own speciality beverage, "Ember's venom", which no one knew exactly what it contained. And legend has it the tavern owner, known as Cuelebre, came up with it by randomly putting ingredients together and boiling it. Either way, the drink is a success, known for leaving it's consumers with little memory of it the following morning.

Gareth and Lyre entered the Charred Drake while the eagles stayed outside. It was only midday so the bar was not in full merriment. They strode up to the bar and Gareth leant over to Cuelebre, who spoke in a gruff, yet strangely merry voice and was dressed in a dark grey coat, embedded with a few colourful metal buttons.

Cuelebre
"What'll you be having then? Ember's venom?"

Gareth
"Actually, we're not looking for drinks."

Cuelebre
"Oh really, then what are you looking for?"

Gareth leant in even closer and discretely slipped Zardis' wanted poster into Cuelebre's hand, who then looked at it, before glancing into the corner of the room to see a few off-duty Yeshans relaxing. He beckoned at Gareth and Lyre to follow him and called over an employee to mind the bar. Cuelebre took them into a back room and locked the door, before taking a seat along with the two.

Cuelebre
"So you want the Dacrain wolf, why?"

Lyre
"To capture him."

Cuelebre
"Why?"

Lyre just looked confused, before Cuelebre spoke again.

"...Because, the Yeshans must have a good reason, mustn't they."

Gareth
"I don't care much for reasons. All I know is, this guy's got quite a bounty."

Cuelebre
"That's quite interesting. Last time I checked, so do you two. In fact."

He got up and walked over to a wall that was covered in layers upon layers of wanted posters, clearly not having had a clearing in quite some time. He removed a few posters to reveal one behind with a picture of Gareth and Lyre on it. Gareth suddenly became very uncomfortable and cautious. He rested his hand over his pistol, which Cuelebre noticed.

Cuelebre
"See, I'm not going to turn you in. I've got no reason to, and I don't trust Yeshans."

Lyre
"You're connected to Zardis, aren't you."

Cuelebre
"Maybe I am."

Lyre
"Why, why are you on his side?"

Cuelebre took out Zardis' poster and unfolded it, reading allowed.

Cuelebre
"Wanted for charges of murder theft and treason. Now, based on my contacts, I know full well that this murder refers to a handful of guards, hardly treasonous. So how can theft be seen as treasonous? Maybe Zardis knew something they didn't want him to, maybe he took something they'd really rather he didn't, maybe say... a letter full corrosive secrets. Now that could very well be twisted into treason."

Gareth
"A contract's a contract."

Cuelebre
"Come on, you seem like smart people. Do you really think this is the right thing to do? Just think for a moment. Think of what the contents of that letter could be. Think of what could happen should Zardis be caught. Trust me, I'm not lying when I say lives hang in the balance."

Gareth got up and walked towards the window, looking out of it across the road at three Yeshan soldiers smoking, while, overhead, a Yeshan ship came over the building.

Gareth
"Where is he?"

Cueble smiled and tore up the poster.

Cueble
"The docks, warehouse 2G. But if you want to find him, you need to move quickly. I've heard rumours of the Yeshans preparing an assault."

--Warehouse 2G--

A small, weaselly man walked through the main room from the back room, towards the door. He looked to his right to see Zardis sitting on a chair poring over a letter with a magnifying glass. From where the weaselly man was he could still see the Yeshan crest stamped on the bottom of the letter. He continued walking through a few piles of junk and weapons and engines until he reached the door. After he exited the warehouse he removed his black, wolf-engraved coat to reveal plain clothes, on which, on the chest, bore the crest of a crane.

After walking through town a bit he arrived on a main road to meet a Yeshan soldier, who looked at him expectantly.

Weaselly man
"Warehouse 2G."

Plasmarobo:
--Wild Winds Inn, Cathedral--

The bar had been reasonably quiet.
The regulars had come and gone, sealing trading deals or privateer contracts, or in a few cases jobs of considerably less legality.
Plasma spends most of his time with Spike, Jet, and Faye, playing cards and losing money while dogging the daggers periodically springing from Emily's eyes. He never stakes enough to make a fool of himself, but manages to lose enough to remind him how terrible at games of chance he really is. They discuss the past and future. Incidents in Anvala, and the fate of the Bebop.

LLoyd stands behind the trading counter, handling most of the contracts, occasionally calling Plasma back from his drink to handle a particular contract or customer. Eventually he finds himself at the bar, exchanging tales with a rather scruffy man. Several empty mugs sit in front of them, and they are both pulling heartily from half-full pints in hand.

Plasma
"And so...so we're running right? Down the corridor. And I suddenly remember, I remember: 'Where's the captain?'. And they stop, and look at me. And I'm just standing there, repeating myself, right? 'Where's the captain', I said. And so we turn around, we turn around, right? And she's standing right behind us! All covered in blood, calmly holding a spanner, and she just looks at us, and she, she says, 'Back to your posts, Gentlemen.' Just like that! Calm as you please!"

He takes a deep breath, recovering himself.

Gryphos:
--Dragontown, warehouse 2G--

Gareth
"This should be it."

He and Lyre stood on the relatively abandoned dock, looking at the warehouse, which itself looked deceptively lifeless.

Lyre
"How do you suppose we enter? I doubt Zardis will trust us immediately."

Gareth
"Maybe we could just- oh no..."

Just then the two saw Michael and Lionel running up to the door of the warehouse with guns drawn, taking position on either side of the door, apparently oblivious to Gareth and Lyre.

Michael
"On the count of three. One... Two... Th-"

He was whacked on the back of the head by Garuda, while Roc flapped in Lionel's face.

Gareth
"WAIT!"

Michael was about to shoot wildly behind him had it not been for Gareth holding down his gun, while Lyre stepped in front of Lionel.

Michael
"Gareth? What was that for?"

He put away his gun and rubbed the back of his head, clearly in pain.

Lionel
"We were just about to bust Zardis."

Gareth
"How'd you know he was here."

Michael
"We may have paid off a certain crime lord for the information."

Gareth
"With what money?"

Michael
"Err, some of the money we'd get from the bounty."

Gareth planted his palm firmly on his face and keeled over, leaning against the wall.

Lionel
"Not that much, and the bounty does pay us a boatload."

Gareth
"That's the point."

His voice was muffled by his hand. Lyre patted him on the back reassuringly as Michael's expression became one of confusion.

Lyre
"We're not going to take Zardis."

Michael
"Why?"

Lyre
"Because, possibly, it could be by far more profitable to not."

This did not appease Michael's confusion yet.

Lyre
"We'll explain the details later. All you need to know is that there's a huge other side of the story than what Yesha is saying."

Lionel
"So what? We're just gonna enter all friendly?"

Gareth had recovered from his anxiousness and grabbed the door handle.

Gareth
"That's the idea. After me."

Lionel put away his gun as Gareth turned the handle and opened the door, to be greeted by Zardis Dacrain pointing a shotgun at his head, backed up by two more henchmen, armed with pistols. Gareth immediately put his hands in the air and nudged for the others to do the same, while the eagles hid behind their legs.

Zardis
"Who are you, and what do you want?"

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