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[bigbrained]

[Being core members of the Voltron coalition meant that sometimes the team had to spread their forces thin in order to take care of everything that required their attention. Sure, they had other allies who could hold their own -the Blade of Mamora for example- but it had a little more impact if the paladins themselves saved a colony or planet, as opposed to more Galra.

In other words: politics.]

I mean, I understand what Coran was saying but I still think it's kinda dumb, right Keith? [Undeterred by Keith's noncommital 'uh huh's and 'yeah's, Hunk continues on as he follows Keith's lead and slows down his approach. They're going to have to try and sneak up on this installation or risk the Galra retaliating against the captured techs for calling for help.] They've been around way longer than we have, and fighting for way longer too! It kinda feels like we're shoving them out of the way to get all the glory. Not that that's what we're doing, but it sure feels like that's what we're doing. I guess in the end it doesn't really matter who gets the job done so long as the people are saved, but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Right? Do you have a bad taste in your mouth too, Keith?

Comments

[whatsacactus]

[Hunk's been going for a while, which means he must be really nervous about this mission. More than usual, anyway. Keith's lost thread of the conversation about twenty minutes back, trying to focus on what they're doing but in the end, he tuns back in and Hunk does have a sort of point.]

Hunk, have you tried telling Coran that? [Even if they did, he's not entirely sure Coran would listen.]

Let's focus on this right now so we don't have to fight anyone. [Because redirection to the task at hand, that's a good ...thing to do. Right? He hesitates a hand over Hunk's shoulder before he decides not to put it there. The back of his seat, that's safer.]

[bigbrained]

[And sure Hunk did try to tell him that, but not beyond his usual cursory protest. For some reason it's a lot easier to ramble about this stuff to Keith; maybe it's because Keith is such a good listener, or maybe it's because he doesn't get all judgey about it.]

...Ha. That's- y'know, that's a first, with you. Not wanting to fight anybody. [Hunk slows down even further, lowering their altitude so their approach is blocked by the cliffs.] Galra Keith is so strategic.

[whatsacactus]

[There's a bristle at that, being called 'Galra Keith', as if suddenly finding the truth changed everything about him at once. As if he hadn't had this from the start.] It's not any different from before. [That's about all he can muster in his annoyance before he leans in and over his shoulder trying to get a better view of the screens.]

Besides, I'm not gonna go into a fight riding shotgun in your Lion. [Okay, he will shove a little at Hunk's helmet. Gosh, Hunk, he can't blow up anything himself from in here.]

[bigbrained]

Why did you leave Red behind? I mean, I know you're trying to give Shiro some time to work out the kinks, but that didn't mean we had to take Yellow for this. The Princess would've understood. [Not that Hunk's complaining. With the way Keith pilots, he'd have made a mess of the interior in a matter of minutes.]

[whatsacactus]

Because with the way I pilot, you would've made a mess of the interior in a matter of minutes.

[He knows you, Hunk.

Being a leader is about making tough decisions. Weighing options. Looking at all the information.

............. Looking at all these screens and not doing anything is boring.]

Where are the techs we're looking for again?

[bigbrained]

[bigbrained]

[bigbrained]

[Aright he can't argue that, he would've.]

...somewhere near the center of the building. Shiro said they probably wouldn't want to risk letting them move around too much, so their holding cells would most likely be right near where they work. [Hunk pulls up the schematics Coran provided, a little red dot beeping on the maps.] So like...right there. Which I think is the main generator.

matches icon

[whatsacactus]

[Perfect. This is exactly what he needed, and he'll be able to make the best decision and plans with this information.

A map.

But god.]

Great. So blowing stuff up until we get to them is probably out of the question. [Lance would be proud, he's sure. He can't just rely on Hunk for this entirely though. They made a good team back in the Weblum, so surely they can repeat that performance here.]

Sneaking in seems like the obvious choice but... There's gotta be something we're missing.

[bigbrained]

Hmm... [Taps idly at the display, watching it ping around his fingerprint as he thinks.] Entrances and exits are scattered all over. And the map layout is circular; like the whole facility was built around the generator. That's not typical Galra design, right?

[whatsacactus]

[He shakes his head.] Not that I've seen.

[So no to the main entrances, he knows Hunk will want to get in and out as fast as they can. If they sneak in from a door by itself, it's likely to be closed off if (when, not if) they realize they've intruded and are trying to get hostages out.

What would Shiro do.

He's quiet for another minute, long enough for anyone to wonder if thinking that hard hurt him somehow.]

What about exits. Which one would give you the best jump off to get out of here and back to the castle fastest?

[bigbrained]

Probably if we made our own, honestly. [All the exits are exterior, with winding hallways leading inward toward the generator and presumably the cells.] It just doesn't make any sense...there's no feasible escape route. If something happened to the generator, look, look look look. [Hunk traces out a path on the display.] It'd take them forever to make it out.

[whatsacactus]

Right... [He doesn't fully get that. But he gets that there's no straightforward route they can take. So there goes that idea he was starting to figure out.

Huh.]

What about the middle? If it's a straight shot up top then...

[Please go with him on this Hunk, he doesn't wanna keep you here longer than you gotta be.]

[bigbrained]

The middle...what, right into the generator?? [It's such a crazy Keith idea that Hunk almost isn't surprised, though he still sounds pretty startled at the prospect. Likely because he's startled.] One wrong shot and we'll blow the whole place up! [Though he can't deny, it'll be the quickest route not just to the techs but out of the facility.]

[whatsacactus]

[Well. Hunk isn't saying no.

He grins, choosing now to pat his shoulder reassuringly.... as Keith can...]

And you're you, so I know you won't make a wrong shot. You've got this.

[bigbrained]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but that definitely doesn't change the fact that I don't even know where to shoot..... [But it sounds like Keith's made up his mind, and honestly, Hunk knows that this is the only plan they've got thus far. They're going to have to try it or risk detection.] ...Okay; I'll tear a hole in the roof with Yellow and then keep the defenses busy. Ping me when you've got everybody rounded up?

[whatsacactus]

Sounds good.

[He gives a little shove to his shoulder when he steps back; he knows this is dangerous and asking a lot of Hunk. But he's also certain that Hunk can do this if he doesn't think too much about it. Which... may become the issue later.]

I know you got this, Big Guy. [He makes his way to the cargo bay and waits for his cue.]

[bigbrained]

[Keith is the one diving headfirst into a Galra base with just a bayard and his own wits, but Keith is just so insanely capable that the idea of him not succeeding in his half of the mission is really only an afterthought. And for all his complaining, Hunk does feel a little better that Keith believes in him so much. Now if he could just stop replaying the worst case scenarios in his head...]

Well- [Hunk steels himself. WWKD.] YOLO, or something! [With a sharp dive Hunk pilots Yellow around the cliff edges and right at the center of the Galra base. The defenses come online almost immediately, but with all the practice it's almost easy to dodge them. They only fire in a straight trajectory after all, that's just math, and Hunk gets them over to the Galra base and, with one swipe of Yellow's giant claws, rips open the roof like tissue paper.]

Keith! [he calls over his shoulder, slamming a fist down on the doors for the bay,] Be careful, okay? We don't know who's in there!

[whatsacactus]

[As soon as the bay door is open, the pressure and wind pick up so all he can respond with is a loud "Yep!" before he hops down and out.

It goes to hell almost immediately. Long enough for him to get deep in the facility and realize... there aren't any technicians here. It takes him almost too long, too caught up in making sure he does this right, makes the right calls. But everything's too quiet. Even though the defense system kicked up, that should have alerted someone inside that there's some kind of rescue attempt... Right?]

Hunk! Hunk, something's up in here. It's not right, I'm not finding anyone in the spots you marked.

[bigbrained]

[It's not exactly difficult to dodge the defenses, and that should've been his first warning. In reality it's more like his third or fourth, because Hunk is what he likes to call 'cautious' and what others may call 'high strung and feeble under pressure'- no okay, he would agree with others. Still, this just-

Hunk!]

Wait- so, no techs, or no cells or what?! [Please please, don't let him be right. If he dropped Keith off right into the middle of a Galra base, practically on top of a generator then-

Hunk makes a decision and flies back toward the center of the facility. It'll be harder to dodge the shots there but Yellow's armor can take a beating, and he wants to be close by to grab Keith as quick as possible if (when) things go bad.]

[whatsacactus]

[He's running to get back to the drop off, only now fighting off some guard drones but nothing overwhelming. Still enough to give him that feeling of wrongness about the situation.]

The cells are just empty labs! And there aren't any techs here that I could find, something's messed up here. [He dodges into a small alcove for a second, just get his breath.] I'm coming back to you!

[And he's up again, making the main focus to go.]

[bigbrained]

Ohhhh, no no nononono, bad feeling, baad feeling- [Hunk concentrates on staying clear of the lasers as much as possible, keeping low to the building and watching the hole for Keith.] Okay, I'm in position, ready to g- Wait a second what's... [Hunk pulls up his display, Yellow shuddering to the side when his moment of inattention scores a hit along their armor.] Keith, I'm detecting a huge power surge from that generator, you gotta move! I think it's gonna blow!

[whatsacactus]

[crap crapcrapcrap this was a bad idea, bad idea, he knew it when he suggested it, knew it the whole way down, but it was the best idea he had and he fucked it up he wasn't meant to be a leader he's not cut out for it why did shiro think he could do it--

Keith closes his eyes tight, tries to breathe. Looks up because the whole is straight up. Focuses on getting one hand in front of the other to climb up]

I'm almost there! Just hang on! [If he sounds worried, it's because he's worried for Hunk. He shouldn't have come, he should've found a safe place to wait out for him, not in the middle of all this. He's climbing out, waving when he feels the metal beneath his feet vibrating aggressively.]

Yeah, Hunk, I think we're outta time!

[bigbrained]

[They're more than just out of time; the energy levels are spiking and they're about to cook them both alive.

No time to drop the bay doors and let Keith climb leisurely aboard, so Hunk does the first thing he thinks of and snaps Yellow forward, jaws open, to snatch Keith up with that chunk of metal he's standing on before turning tail and gunning it for the atmosphere.]

Keith, you okay?! [Hunk cries, because the energy levels aren't dropping and there aren't many things in this universe that can climb to an output like that without melting down and Hunk is very, very worried they're dealing with one of them right now. Yellow isn't built for speed and it's almost- it's almost like a tractor beam pulling them in, because he's barely gaining any altitude-] Oh crap, oh crap I think we're in trouble...!

[And then the blast hits.]

[whatsacactus]

Hunk!

[It's all he gets out before he's scooped up, platform and all. He clings to what he can of Yellow's mouth when it goes off. It lets out a deafening hum sound, enough that he's sure his brain is going to vibrate out of his skull because it won't stop. Metal creaks and the world starts to tilt.

Something is definitely wrong with Yellow. If he were in the cockpit, he'd know for sure, but here, it's just dark. Which is probably the first sign.]

Hunk-- C'mon, we gotta get out of here!