? ~PROJECT SAC-1~ ??

(RONAY EMERGENCY BUNKER)

Lord Alessander took it upon himself to escort his distressed mother to her private quarters. Full truth be told, she blatantly resisted Thea-Elouise's outstretched arms again, and was inconsolable until her only other true 'baby' replaced Thea-Elouise. Alessander had to hold her upright while they shuffled through the parting crowds.

With a tug of her earring on her drawn back ears, a rather cut and dry Commander Narami told the Bad Batch to go gear up, and she went to address a bristled Duke Depon privately, no doubt to do some damage control. Twas not an uncommon occurrence with the unrepentant Bad Batch. It kinda felt like the glory days, before their social buffer was forced into their squadron and took it upon herself to smooth things over if they worked with others, which had been only twice since she joined.

They were not big on following orders, but when Hunter's brothers looked to him for guidance, he nodded his buckethead towards the exit too, and they followed his lead, making their way to the famed Armory post haste. They had extra pep in their step because hey, according to Tech's manifest he nabbed, this place would have LOTS OF NEW TOYS TO PLAY WITH! As Wrecker had cheered, 'They were back in business!' No more lollygagging! No more moping! It was time to go to work!

Word of young Lord Elea's suspected terrorism was quickly spreading like a wildfire; the Bad Batch had a front row seat to the gossiping aristocrats who were already putting distance between them and the Depon Family. Even the extended Depon Family did not hesitate to snub their own flesh and blood. As they walked Tech reflected Maiv's warning to him from moments ago, 'Soldier, tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy, or enemies for our allies.' He was able to feel mildly reproachful towards himself that he had so loudly declared the data he was collecting of this mysterious traitor who very well could not end up being young Lord Elea, for while everything he had discovered so far was true, there were many unknown variables from this point until they found and questioned Lord Elea. Oh well, he gleaned the lesson and filed away the new perspective to apply for any later confrontations of a similar nature.

Behind Tech, Wrecker flicked up his helmet and leaned forward to playfully say into his brother's auditory sensor, "Feels like Talla's holodramas came to life, haha!"

To which Tech rolled his eyes but found the amusement too with a small upturn of his lip corners underneath his helmet. 'Oh, perhaps I should have recorded the last two episodes she had missed -'

Admirably, Thea-Elouise remained at Duke Depon's side, though the older man never acknowledged her. As Crosshair passed Thea-Elouise by she appeared to be put back together, the perfect picture of an elegant noblewoman who should always maintain a stiff upper lip in a crisis. He quickly turned away, paranoid the blasted bird would catch onto his glance and come after him. Vivi was preoccupied with affectionately cooing and nudging her mistress, but Crosshair was not going to take any chances.

Outside the Hangar Bay, a short, darkly cloaked woman with a veil that covered half her face flagged the Bad Batch down, "I am Lady Elouise's handmaiden," She introduced herself, with her almond shaped green eyes the only discernible feature about her. She addressed the clone with the sergeant stripes, held out one of those code cylinders Tech had been dying to get his hands on, "She has bestowed this upon you so you may access to the Armory." Hunter took it, promptly gave it to Tech, and the handmaiden meekly folded her hands, "Her ladyship will be ready for departure in half an hour." She curtsied and left them.

Crosshair had hoped with Thea-Elouise's public orphaning that Vivi would remain with her for comfort. But they had only made it to the end of that first long hallway before hearing the blasted bird's call. They turned to see Thea-Elouise, Vivi, and her handmaiden exiting the Hangar Bay. Vivi abandoned her mistress, who smirked as Crosshair turned on his heel and ran in the opposite direction. His brothers snickered and followed.