@Sigismund @Crimson Dragoon @Cavaliere @The Ancient Purple Finally entering the Sunrider's main hold proper along with their golden idol and their unusual saviors, the throng of Imperial shipmen were somewhat relieved to see human faces waiting inside in the form of mechanics and the ship's security forces and not a single thrice-cursed robot in sight. However, the interior design of the vessel was something quite unusual to them, but not entirely unexpected given how strange it was in their eyes: Far too clean, spacious, and minimalistic in design, not to mention that the hangar bay's design was all wrong to them: Being built in a vertical manner, where its strike craft or any shuttle craft would be made to lie upon their engines rather than their bellies given the narrowness of it all. Truly this "Sunrider" was the utter opposite of their old home in every way that mattered.
"Throne of Terra, this ship..."
"Not even a Medicae facility has this much white in it."
"Has this thing even seen any action yet?"
Meanwhile on the Sunrider's bridge, the excitement and uncertainty experienced by the crew when they first encountered the crash site were replaced by a sense of ease and calmness with a palpable aura of disappointment. Being given the honor of crewing the Ceran Navy's new standard model assault battleship, they were eager to put it through its paces, and the unexpected presence of both the unknown mechs and shipwreck brought the possibility of an unplanned trial-by-fire against enemies unknown during their ship's shakedown cruise of all times, they really couldn't be forgiven for thinking that there would be the possibility of undertaking a heroic and epic feat of defending their home. Especially in the case Captain Kayto Shields, who was making a poor job of hiding his clearly deflated mood, even when he was in the process of getting in touch with the nearest major military installation in the region: Fort Ladon.
"This is Captain Kayto Shields, Ceran Navy; do you read?"
The bridge's main holoscreen eventually shifts to that of an aged, stern-looking face with a very impressive moustache and a suitably spartan-looking office in the background.
"This is General Granger, commandant of Fort Ladon. This had better be good."
The General's voice perfectly fits his commanding visage: Rough, direct, and uncomplicated. So much so that the young captain was slightly taken aback by the frankness displayed, especially coming from such a senior officer and one that commanded the Ceran Army's largest and most secure military installation at that.
"General Granger, requesting permission to use your base's facilities to-"
"Detain the survivors? I know. You wouldn't think we'd notice something like that in our own backyard? We were going to deploy a Search and Rescue team before you arrived and did our job for us. Also, care to explain why we detected in-atmosphere energy weapons discharge from your location just now?"
Thinking quickly, Kayto tried to come up with a believable enough explanation to the General as he's sure that if he explained that the ship was infested by a memetic virus as claimed by one of the contracted instructors aboard his ship, Granger's already low opinion of him and navy men like him would sink even more...
"The debris had to be destroyed, sir. It was too dangerous, too much deadly radiation, and the quickest way to get rid of the irradiated material and get to the survivors was to vaporize as much of it as we could. Not that there was that much left to remove as the ship was apparently scuttled by the crew to prevent the capture of their technology."
Granger looks long and hard at Kayto after he had explained himself, apparently having sniffed out his deception and trying to see right through his invented situation. But Kayto didn't balk, his pride and authority as a captain of the Ceran Navy wouldn't allow it.
"Well, would you look at that. Seems that there's still some decent officers left in the navy."
Kayto blinks in reaction to Granger's response. Deep inside, he felt awkward and lowkey bothered by the general's backhanded "compliment". But he breaks no stride, nor gave any tangible sign that this threatened to get under his skin. He instead chooses to shrug it off and reiterate the reason he opened up the comms line in the first place.
"So does the Sunrider have permission to dock in and transfer the rescued survivors to your facilities?"
Granger sighed, already starting to submit the order for the preparations.
"Permission granted."
Without even waiting for Kayto's response, Granger cuts the line. The captain couldn't help but take a side glance at Ava. Without Granger there to see it any longer, his expression slowly distorts into an annoyed grimace at the disrespect that he was shown, even when it came from a much higher-ranking officer. Brief as their interaction was. But his attention returns to the situation at hand.
"Ava, please tend to our guests."
"Right away, captain." She curtly responds.
The brunette 2nd in command calmly moves over to the comm station and grabbing hold of the P.A mic, she speaks to the rescued survivors and their four guardians, who by now are fairly familiar with her voice.
"This is commander Ava Crescentia. First, I'd like to welcome you all aboard the Sunrider, Ceran Navy Assault Battleship. We will now be taking off to the nearby Ceran army installation of Fort Ladon to detain you all for the time being. Do not worry, you are not prisoners; but guests to our homeworld and as such will be treated with all due respect and hospitality. We will be handing off rations and water to those in need, as well as administering treatment to the wounded and sick in the medical wing. Enjoy the ride."
After the announcement, the crewmen didn't seem to know quite how to take the news. Sure they consigned their fates into the hands of utter unknowns, heathens at that; but their treatment seemed a bit too... Gentle? They honestly expected way more guards waiting for them inside and perhaps a beating or two to enforce order and as a show of force. But none of that here...