File 2.7 - Touch of Doubt

Noise in the hangar reached a peak with the announcement of the ARMs transport returning back from its mission. The chaos from early remained strong with everything still feeling very new to the support teams. The work they did hadn’t changed much from the usual missions in the past, but working with an ARM came as new to them. They always remained closed off as something seen from a distance. People wanted to make sure they did everything properly, especially in front of the command staff.

The command staff was another rare appearance for everyone. It had them all walking around on egg shells in uncertainty. No one knew what happened or the reason for the unscheduled mission. Rumors developed quickly amongst the teams waiting around with little to do until the return of the transport. The heavy oppressive aura that sat throughout the base left all on edge.

Alarms sounded off declaring the arrival of the transport. Lights came on tracking down the flight deck where the plane soon would land. The hangar bay came alive with automated machines preparing for the transport for venting exhaust out of the underground facility and halting the transport if in an emergency.

The communication officer from the command center came across the speakers in the hangar. “Skadi transport incoming! All teams to the flight deck!”

Ensign Toule finally arrived from his post to the hangar as the transport came to a slow halt. He paused for a moment working on catching his breath from the long run. He pulled down on his uniform jacket to straighten it back out and readjust his belt over the jacket. Once he felt ready to go out and meet the transport, Toule left the entrance.

When he arrived at the site of the transport the rear hatch already opened and a truck pulled up to attach to the ARM bed Skadi laid upon. Out of the side door he found Aerona disembarking in silence. He hastened his pace to meet her. “Welcome back, Air! How are you feeling?”

She snapped to attention and saluted him for being a superior officer. After he accepted the formality she loosened a bit. “Thank you for meeting me, Ensign Toule. I am experiencing no problems at this time.”

Toule thought on the matter for a moment knowing how she could be. “All the same the doctors should examine you. This is your first time in the Skadi.”

“Understood, sir!” Aerona saluted him again and turned away to follow the order she had been given.

He watched her leave the hangar without a second thought. Their brief conversation made him sigh a bit. ‘So stiff still…’ Toule saw the Skadi getting off loaded from the transport. Curiosity overtook him to see what the strange machines had done to the Skadi. He stared at the large black ARM. The paint made it difficult to see some of the damage it had withstood, but cracks in and melting in the armor told him everything he needed to know. ‘I know they said that Ragnarok was involved, but they’ve never been shown to have ARM technology. Was this really done by terrorists?’