The gantry was a dimly lit and sparse utilitarian space that suspended across open space between the Bundschuh gas refinery and Order capital ship. Only the ventilation system and quiet combined resonance that came from both structures were merged here could be heard, it filled the room quite sufficiently with the lack of conversation between them all as they either patiently waited or were occupied within their own minds... It was hard to tell past all those helmets and visors.

The team of five troopers across the gantry were all suited in similar fashion, fully sealed and obscuring combat flight-suits with rifles slung over their shoulders and equipment webbing from shins to shoulders. A notable pair facing forward towards the Khonsu were the recognizable Civil Servant and Doctor Forlorn Hope, two in the middle at either side that took a window to look out of and the rear most trooper kept at the Bielefeld's airlock like a armed stoic automaton, the pair that took the time to gaze out into the distant teal Crow nebula seemed content while the latter at the rear kept guard facing down the Khonsu's airlock.

"Do you consider this important enough to trust them?"

"Ross and these Order agents reached out to me for assistance. They're not from the Overwatch and you told me to consider looking past my preconceptions."

"I wouldn't have considered it would go this far, especially you being this way with the Order."

"Then I ask you to keep an eye on them Doctor, allies or not, treachery in the name of greed is a fatal move for Thuringians."

The pair of them didn't make a sound as they talked, the conversation remained behind their visors internal display, but they were clearly communicating with the way their heads nodded and tilted at each other. But as soon as it had just managed to start, it was interrupted by the hiss of the airlock door reaching balance and their sudden return to facing towards the Kohnsu.

"Good first impressions please, Doctor."

The five troopers assembled themselves together, departing from their rear guard and stellar observations to return with the leading two agents. All of them looked at eachother, conveyed some manner of body language whilst they shared glances, a conversation subtle to external observers... But likely rich in detail under their whispers. As they passed the security barrier they were all scanning about the ship, slight squeaks or even a turbulent hiccup of a ventilation fan. But to the sudden appearance of a transparent window and an Order agent had all their visors suddenly lasered their view onto him like tracking cameras. Like owls fixated on even the slightest movement while the lead pair upfront prepared themselves for commissioned formalities.

"Commander Hebel, its agreeable to make your acquaintance. I am Civil Servant, commander of the Platform and representative of the 'Damnatio Memoriae', but I'm sure your intelligence records already have taken account of that... This is Doctor Forlorn Hope, she'll be co-leading this assignment with me."

Civil Servant was the first to raise a hand, his right hand... Gloved by that flight suit and cold to the touch. He gave a single affirming nod followed an equally precision and single shake with the hand before letting go. Allowing for Hebel speak about the assistance that him and Doctor Hope were able to deliver from their external vehicular event.

"It is what we do... And there is no better way to study the Void, our people take pride in our ability to live within it."

Doctor Hope in the meantime had extended a hand out towards Chief Engineer Forbes and slipped her grip to give a atrociously strong grip and jittery raise and unbalanced drop in her own. Was this... Their handshake? But this was a night a day difference to the one Hebel had. But Doctor Hope didn't seem to mind or took no attention the layers of oils and grease she had just compacted into her flight suit glove, unbothered of how delicate that faded lilac embroidery was across her suit.l


But as Commander Hebel continued, her and the rest of the team had their attention taken to the offer of having their carried equipment taken away...






"Commander, my team would be functional and operating at best knowing they were responsible for the equipment they carry and sustain. That way, we know where our tools are... And in turn, so do you."

The delivery of his response was clear cut, without much deviation in tone or stress on any words. It could be delivered as honestly as it could have been from him.

The troopers all shallowly nodded in agreement to the compromise, keeping their hands away from grips and triggers, they'd unloaded the magazines from their weapons and reinserted them into their slim fitting combat webbing. Every button was checked to ensure they were secure, and even peer-reviews like paratroopers to ensure everything was buckled down. Once the moment had passed, they returned to their prior formation, Civil Servant and Doctor Hope taking the lead as per usual.

"We are ready, please show us towards our permitted work location, we wish to get started as soon as possible."

As they passed through the ships corridors, all of them walking in pace with eachother They either made blatant 'visor contact' with passers by, peeking at the engineering work being done all over or taking caresses across the walls with their hands, gently sensing the vibration and noise that came from the vibrations from the Khonsu's systems. Said trooper retracted her hand and looked towards CS ahead of her. Hearing Forbes talk about the ships current state and seeing people work with haste and care towards its repairs. CS picked up his pace gently to closer walk near Forbes...

"Your determination is noted Cheif Engineer Forbes. Our analyst, Cipher, shes commended the crews work at ensuring such a high-tolerance vessel is getting its due attention. She appreciates the... Stability, silence and harmonics the Khonsu's systems, an unusual trait in such a heavy vessel. Is this the first time your crew have done mobile fabrications? Shipyard ownership is a luxury these days for many underground organizations, our teams have had to constantly attempt fabrications without access to such facilities. These things take time, but more hands do help and my crew find comfort that they service the vessels that allow us to live within the Void."

As they continued through the vessel and passed engineering's security checkpoint, the trooper team were immediately taking alternate gazes across all the various machines, ship critical systems and even the smallest of engineering doodads. CS on the other hand was keeping himself attentive towards Forbes, hearing her divulge their Jump Drive progress...

"Considering the difference in Liberty and Kusarian power requirements, you've already done a lot of work to resolve the dirty-power issue. But sub-space is a tricky dilemma... You're working with the nature of the Void more closely than one usually realizes..."

Doctor Hope also moved forward from their formation for deliver some vocal input, arms held behind her back. CS in turn steps back.

The approach to the large blast doors to the jump drive system was met with more and more discretionary whispers between the Platformers. The presence of such a large engine to them brings much judgement to discuss on its operators, the other four soon wandered off to observe individual components of the jump drive and soon left CS alone with Doctor Forbes... Hearing her let out about the issues and processing it all quietly behind his visor. But his visual attention wasn't on the extreme array of half assembled component and hardware or the benevolent engine that occupied this deck... He watched his crew, in his company they pointed, leaned in and gazed at the various advanced equipment and seemingly conversed again with silence... But their bodies spoke with excitement and curiosity, and caution not to touch but enough just to enjoy the sights at a distance as they viewed the various tools of jump space manipulation awaiting their positions.

"I have to give your engineers my admiration for their work, to mobilize such a system so quickly... Although sometimes even when one has learnt to walk in their own void, areas like this present new challenges to their methods. As you said you work with machines, I'd like you to first explain to me the list of issues that you're facing on the fourth ring, we can work with your teams and see where our adaptations would be most effective... I may have to get in touch with a courier from Tennstedt for some sensor hardware that we may be able to gift your ship... I think she would sail into the chaos between the Voids with grace." He was rather focused on that jump system that laid ahead, he didn't break his gaze from the hyperspace drive that laid dormant with intimidating potential. "She is indeed a well balanced ship so any alterations with such powerful equipment with take great effort to synchronize, so your insight would be well appreciated while we conduct our work."

As he finished complimenting her ship, he reached in the inside of his plate carrier, slipping out data-padd from such an oddly small pouch and handing it over to Forbes. It's screen was already displaying a list of directories and documentation regarding Rheinlands local stellar studies and the recent influx of ones relating to investigations about the fallible jump gate network.


"I'll be going over this with Doctor Blackwood as well, but I understand your departments and 'methods' differ from each other. One engineer to another Forbes, I want to see this work and for something you could maintain and understand once I'm no longer around... Doctor Blackwood will be the one responsible for studying the environment the Khonsu traverses within, be it in regular space or Jump space. So here's everything I can do to help you collect that data, what I ask in return is only a bilateral benefit we can take away from this in our own pursuit of traversing through the Void."


The classified information on that tablet had one last folder marked as 'Jump test: Chrono pathfinder', this seemed to be premarked as a favorite-file... The files were your usual engineering document which any engineer could at least take away from its key wording and designs relating to other required ship equipment could easily be screened as sub space navigator, able to adapt and adjust to the heavy interference and disruptive instabilities within 'normal space' with a small array of quantum multiplexors, the shape of this component called for a merge of Rheinland precision engineering and advanced Sinclair-Protocol research with it's flowering half-moon of processors that could be fixed atop the Khonsu as a mounted compact sub-computing module. But what set them apart was the blueprints all came with flavor of respecting it's function and components like a sacred instrument, each named blueprint came with notes by their designer... One excerpt on the left bottom of the page read

"This fabrication guides those through the volatile 'stellar engine', deflecting cosmic interlopers from collapsed rifts and temporal ruptures. May it open ones eyes to the way of the Void. - Cipher"

There was much more on this data padd than one would expect for an opening offer of assistance. Even as absolute awe took over his body within the presence of the hyperspace drive, CS didn't even blink an eye... If he had any behind that visor. "I hope for a fruitful period of cooperation between your teams and mine... You have my thanks to allow us to work on your ship, my people can find peace in this work."