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"Yeah. I'm ready." You nod at Ordovis.
"Excellent," Ordovis finished strapping on the final piece of his gear onto his red-brown armor, then gives you a firm pat on the arm. Giving you, as well as those nearby a wink and a nod, he gestures for you to come closer. "Follow me."
Descending into the depths of the landing castle, the mood seemed to grow thicker with tension as you followed behind the commander, punctuated by the occasional destruct warning. Just barely audible underneath another wave of incoherent utterings from the auto-PA.
Dim emergency lights flickered, casting long, ominous shadows across the metallic corridors as you descended down narrow hallways. Accompanied by the soft hum of distant machinery, creating an ominous mood to your journey. Led by the commander, you're privy to areas of the castle previously unavailable to you. The tight corners and narrow corridors reminded you of the maintenance ducts, the way you'd entered the castle, feeling much more military than the cushy and civilian environs you'd gotten used to. Those same labyrinthine passageways are nowhere near as troublesome with the commander guiding you.
"Glad to see you made it though. Your little trip was only supposed to last a few days, right?" Ordovis suddenly asks, looking over his shoulder to give you, his attention. "Normally, I would have pronounced you KIA, but we know better. Right?"
"So, I could have been an Undead Rider, huh? Somehow, I don't think that's fitting."
"Maybe not. But I'd take a so called 'Undead Rider'. Without you, kiddo, those Saurian Arches would be a lot nastier."
"I'll bet."
Ordovis seemed to be a little more sociable than you'd expect a commander to be. Then again, he was pretty lenient with you ever since you'd come aboard, or rather, he was for the other guy. Your smooth journey is interrupted when the both of you are forced to stop in front of a door. It seemed that you were passing through common military areas, this door marks the beginning of the engineering department, stopping those without business from casually entering. You'd think the commander would have access. Seemingly reading your thoughts, Ordovis gives you a limp shrug.
"Normally, my card would give me free reign. The computer malfunctions are rampant though."
"Which is why you have me." A woman's voice approaches you from behind. Advancing past you, towards the door, the same figure effortlessly plugs a wired connection from her gauntlet, and right into a port in the door's control panel. Her suit was noticeably less armored, as well as darker in hue compared to Ordovis' set. Seemingly making up for it with a more advanced visor, currently lowered over her eyes, as well that arm-mounted computer she was currently working on.
"Mao! Finally, made it?"
"Finally? I've been behind you ever since you left the surface."
