RM Side Story 6: The Shoggoth is sting off again
If you have been wondering where or what sort of ce Yuki was crashing for the night, then boy, are you in for a treat. The Obsidian Castle, the proud ck pearl of Berlin, is 898 meters, a perfect 900 meters if you count the tipping top. With it bested only by the towering body of Yggdrasil herself, the Castle is truly a marvel of Belkan engineering. It''s only made possible due to thebined effort of mortals and Gods during the founding day of the nation. Countries in the world learn to respect and fear Belka because of such a feat, with Japan constructing its Castle in the Sky, Laputa. Other nations like Ustio and Erusea, however, can onlyvishly decorate their own castles. These countries are awfullycking in technology to build something as ridiculous as Belka and Japan.
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That aside, the Obsidian Castle serves not only as a symbol of stability for the nation but also as a wartime Command Center and fortress. It''s also the home to the Empresses'' and Reich Marshal''s family. To be more specific, the top ten floors act as such. Only closed friends and trusted servants are allowed to enjoy the luxurious amenities or work and serve the family. Each member has their own private quarter, decorated in a style of their liking with enough necessities to rival that of a noble mansion. An example would be Elysia with her brightly lit room with a touch of nature. The color white and pink dominates the aesthetic. Another instance would be Mobius, and yes, she has her own quarter here. Hers is full ofb equipment and barely any other amenities. The mad scientist has a penchant for green hence a few of her belongings are in such color. As a side note, Einstein also has her share of the most expensivend in the world here.
Although Yuki''s love interests and family have their own room, most if not all gravitate toward Yuki''s personal floor, the 169th. Yuki''s personal floor hosts everything a Reich Marshal would ever need: A war room, a research quarter, a library, a restaurant, a supersized bedroom, and even an indoor pool... Furnished with top-of-the-line wooden furniture, ornated with luxurious knick-knacks in the color tone of ck, red, and gold. It''s there that they feel the most at home, for that is where Yuki works and lives for the time she stays in Berlin. That is if she hasn''t been staying over at the Mansion of Knowledge or Yggdra''s personal dimension. They will still apany Yuki whenever they can then, though Bryn, Mobius, Einstein, and Ningyo almost always follow her around when she is working.
Speaking of work, Yuki is just about to start a new day with a packed schedule while the others sleep in. Apanied by Elysia, Yuki moves to the floor''s private restaurant. There, the smell of freshly cooked food and coffee being filtered by a dripper permeated the air as soon as Yuki pushes open the timber door.
"It smells good!" Yuki gave herpliment to the acting chef for the day. "What you have cooking this time, Nice?" Yuki then led Elysia to the stools by the restaurant bar.
As the pair sit down, taking in the deep aroma of the coffee, Nice pokes her head out of the kitchen. "Ah~! Good morning, Yuki, and Elysia! I hope you slept well!"
"Morning~!" Yuki and Elysia responded with bright smiles. "And yes, we had a great night. I hope the same is true for you?"
Nodding, Nice answers. "Yup! Give me a few seconds and I will be right over!" Said the Shoggoth. True to her words, Nice walks out of the kitchen in all of her Shoggoth glory. Having been living with her for quite a long time already, the pair of human and High Elf are long used to her morphic nature.
Dressed in maid attire with the required headband, Nice asks them with a small smile. "So, what can I get you today?" While her hands and tentacles are prepping the food, and drink, and cleaning the cooking utensil.
Understandably, Yuki and Elysia are fascinated by the multi-tasking Nice. You see, her right hand is currently holding a frying pan, heating it with magic while tossing and turning a sunny side up and slices of bacon. Her other hand, however, is adeptly pouring a pot of coffee into a mug that is held up by one of her tentacles. Another pair of tentacles, while being careful to not create a mess and to keep proper hygiene via magic, are brushing an oily dish with a bubbling washcloth. Now you are probably wondering if Nice could just use magic to clean stuff up, then why the Hell is she washing it with... tentacles? The answer is simple, it''s Nice, she''s a Shoggoth, you don''t question a Shoggoth.
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Seriously, don''t.
Even Yuki and Elysia find themselves unable to respond as such a ridiculous sight, seeing Nice abusing magic in such an inefficient way. It''s only until Nice conjures up another tentacle to gently bop their forehead that the pair finally react, blushing lightly. Their cute action does ce a smile on Nice''s face, however.
"I will have a cup of iced milk coffee alongside a serving of sandwich with eggs and bacon, please." Yuki demurely said. "Oh, and a portion of sd too."
Elysia then crosses her arms, pondering for a moment before shrugging. "I will take what Yuki would be having, though change out the coffee for a strawberry milkshake for me, pretty please!"
Nodding, Nice smiles. "Coming right up!" She then quickly disappears back into the kitchen. Yuki and Elysia then hear the sound of food and drinks being prepared and less than five minutester, their order arrives.
Gently, Nice presents her cooking on the bar with either her hands or tentacles. After that, she then steps to the side, her elbows on the bar with her hands supporting her chin. She is d that her customers are taking in the scent of her food with glee.
"Such a delicious smell. Thanks, Nice! We will be digging in!" Said Yuki as she and Elysia picked up their sandwich and munched on them cutely.
Because the food is cooked by a Shoggoth, it''s made to perfection, of course. Yuki and Elysia can''t help but let out pleasant moans as they bite into the tenderyers of the sandwich, not oily at all despite the content. Were they in a certain cooking world, their dresses should have been annihted into a thousand pieces by now. Seeing their pleased expression, Nice repeatedly nods, proud of herself for another task well-done. As the current acting chef, the greatestpliment for Nice are their enjoyable expressions. Hence the pair focused on the food in front of them until they finish the te clean without further words. It''s only until they wipe their hands and mouths before picking up their respective drinks that they say together.
"Thank you for the great breakfast!"
Nodding with a big smile, Nice responds with a. "Umu!"
After that, the trio enjoys their morning drinks, with Nice fishing out a ss of milk for herself. During that time, they talk about mundane topics until Yuki sucks up thest of her aromatic coffee through a ck straw. The petite Marshal then takes out a pocket watch tucked in one of her breast pockets.
Seeing her action, Nice and Elysia also finish their drinks. After that, Nice brings the empty dishes and sses away for a short clean-up before reconvening with the pair. Having discarded her maid dress for her standard violet gown, Nice asks.
"So, what''s on the agenda today, Yuki?"
Elysia adds while performing light stretching. "Right, you did say that you have a lot on your te today. What gives?"
Putting away her pocket watch, Yuki answers as she stands up alongside the pair. "Well, we will be going to Rocket Launch Site Berlin to oversee our venture into space. After we''re done dealing with the subsequent rted tasks, we will then head back to the situation room beneath the castle. It''s there that we willunch an oversea operation in the middle of the night." Yuki then ces a finger beneath her chin. "I won''t be getting much sleep tonight."
Elysia flinches. "Yikes, I can imagine Bryn and Hel will not be pleased."
Yuki then slumps her shoulders, sighing. "You and me both."
"On the bright side, it would mean that you will have to spend more time cuddling with themter. So I guess that''s a win in the end?" Nice suddenly added with a thoughtful expression.
The trio then share a look. Now that they think about it, it''s just another win for Yuki at the end of the day.
"Huh, you made a good point." Yukimented. Then, they all burst into a fit of chuckle, finding the dynamic of their family funny.
After that, it''s just a matter of hailing their cab, which is a convoy suite headed by the ever-trusty Erika. Having situated themselvesfortably in the armored limousine, the trio is then escorted to Berlin-Reinickendorf where the rocketunch is scheduled to take ce.
Berlin-Reinickendorf, a military district to the North of Berlin, used to be a quaint little town. However, due to their geographical location that is perfect for aunch site, Yuki has the town converted to further the Reich''s technological splendor. After going through a dozen checkpoints, the convoy soon drives into the walled-up district, being a small fortress on its own. On the way to theunch site, the tip of the manned rocket is visible from the window view of the limo, causing Elysia to exim in interest.
"Wow... It''s one thing to know about it in advance, it''s another thing to see it up close." As the convoy starts pulling closer to theunch center, the trio gets a close-up view of the space rocket in gray furnishing with arge shuttle strapped to it. "That''s is like what, a hundred meters tall at least? You gonna send up a crew to space in that?"
"That''s correct." Yuki smiled as Elysia marveled at the manmade object that was about to carry out a historical mission. "And not just a crew, but also the apanying little guys made by Nice. Thetter is especially important for our future space program."
"Yup! Each of theseunch vehicles is extremely expensive! We''re talking about 185 million Reichsmark perunch and before this mission, we already have five suchunches. You can imagine the gargantuan cost involve in this program of ours." Nice said as if boasting at their ludicrous expenditures to space.
Elysia gapes at this, turning to Yuki for confirmation. Smiling wryly, Yuki nods and the pink elf turns a shade paler. "I''m actually surprised that you''re even allowed tounch one, not to mention an uing six."
Stopping for a second, Elysia then asks. "There must be a reason that Lu and Hel signed a nk check for this. Though I can bring up the Void Archive and knows the reason as to why, I just want to hear the words from your mouth."
Nodding, Yuki exins. "That''s because us investing into space now, rather thanter, would allow us to create a solid foothold over unimed territories, rich with resources and holding immense strategic values. As you have known, Yggdra''s arrival on Earth is nothing short of an asteroid impact. In the wake of her trail, asteroid belts are formed over our, dense in untapped materials. Those firstunches are to ascertain the feasibility of mining the belts and to see if we can construct a space station in geosynchronous orbit with Belka. After that, the second stage of our program will beunching a work crew up to the belt and having Nice''s little ones take care of the mining and constructing an orbital habitat. Once that is done, the third stage is kicked off with the crew overseeing the little ones in constructing a fully functional orbital station with the ability to make man-made satellites. The station will also have the ability to conduct further research into space while the satellites will be used to propel our infrastructure into the information age. All of the prior investments resulted in this singr, self-sufficientunch. You can even say that the future of the Reich will be resting on this singleunch of a missile, a mere touch of the big red button away from greatness. As such, security for this event is at an all-time high. ONI has been working overtime to ensure no leak is made and any attempt at scouting or interfering will be met with extreme prejudice."
With Yuki finishing her long exnation, Elysia is in awe. She then peers into the Void Archive, too shocked to notice the subtle pink color glowing from it. Soon, Elysia easily ascertains the veracity of Yuki''s im and the audacity of it. It''s not like Elysia is doubting Yuki and Nice but. "Holy crap... You''re really pulling this fifty years early."
Both Yuki and Nice smirk at her exmation. "Better close your mouth, dear, or a fly would fly in."
Rolling her eyes, Elysia then lightly smacks Yuki on the shoulder. "You and your ambition, Yuki! If the other powerse to learn of this, they would have no choice but either bow down to you orbined their strength and put you down for good."
Yuki nods, chuckling. "Thetter is more likely. Humans are afraid of the unknown, after all."
Nice adds. "As such, we have to ensure thisunch is on a need-to-know basis. My little ones are up there to also help camouge the subsequent construction in space."
Having heard the words ''little ones'' many times before, Elysia raises an eyebrow. "You two keep saying ''little ones'', who are they?"
Nice and Yuki then share a knowing smirk before turning over to Elysia. "You wille to see themter, don''t worry."
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Stepping off from the limo, with help from the dutiful Erika, Yuki''s retinue is greeted by none other than Einstein and Wernher von Braun.
"Ladies, wee to Berlin Launch Center." Said courteously by Wernher von Braun, now manager of the Reich aerospace project. "I hope the road here didn''t cause you difort. We have beenplying with your warning and intensified our security measures."
"Ah! Manager von Braun," Yuki responded cheerfully, finding herself pleased when looking at the propped-up rocket. "It''s better to be safe than sorry. Dealing with a few checkpoints is better than cleaning up a failedunch, after all." Yuki nodded at the man understandingly, causing him to sigh in relief. Today is a big day, after all, so even the manager is tense.
Yuki then turns to Einstein. "So, how has the morning been treating you two?"
Einstein smiles lightly. "Well, the team did rest and eat well before this, following your instructions to the tee, so we''re perfectly ready to tackle the monumental task at hand."
Yuki then ps her hands in response. "Great! Then let''s get the show on the road." Turning over to Nice and Elysia. "Come on, you two, let''s head in! And Elysia, we will take this chance to show you the crew and the little ones you have been raring to see."
Escorted by well-armed Troopers, the group of five VIPs makes their way into the center. Befitting of a scientific institute, the center is brightly lit with a white tone and neatly organized. A map of the center is presented front in of the main lobby and signboards are installed on the corridor walls to allow ease of navigation. Yuki, Nice, Einstein, and von Braun are used to such a site. Elysia, however, runs around like a kid in a candy store, excited to see the marvels of engineering on disy in the center. As such, the trip to the rocket boarding area takes a bit more tie than expected.
"Sorry~!" Elysia sped her hand in a sorry posture, a bit abashed that her detour cost the group their time.
Yuki and the rest chuckle, amused by her enthusiasm earlier. "It''s fine to be curious, Elysia. We are still in the safe window so you need not worry about anything."
Currently, the group is staying on a viewing tform, looking down at the gathering medical personnel and engineering team surrounding the four chosen astronauts. "So that''s them?" Elysia asked as she gaze from above at the four men and women dressed in think orange ascent suits.
Einstein is the one who answers her. "Of the astronauts that made the cut for thisunch, two are humans while the others are an elf and a dwarf, surprisingly. Soon, they will strap themselves tight to the contraption and will be the first to travel further and longer than mankind has ever been able to achieve with flight."
Elysia nods, noticing that she is not the only one to be giddy about the uing expedition.
"Come, you should meet the little guys." Yuki then said, urging them to get a move on to the loading bay.
It''s there that Elysiaes to see the little, wobbly purple things that will soon ride along with the astronauts into space.
"Oh, my, Yggdra~!" Elysia squealed as soon as sheid her eyes on them. "They''re so cute! What the Hell!?" Under theughter of Yuki and Nice, Elysia dives forward to scoop up a bundle of purple cuteness. "What are they and can I get to keep one?!"
Hearing Elysia''s bullet-speed question as she is squeezing the octopus shape lifeform, Yuki chuckles while shaking her head at the expected reaction from Elysia.
"They are what Nice called Takodachis, a portmanteau of the Japanese "Tako" (octopus) and "Tomodachi" (friend). Takodachis are creatures of the Void who are primarily shaped like octopuses but can take other forms, much like a Shoggoth. However, Takodachis are created by Shoggoth to help them with misceneous tasks and are perfect for the missions we would have them do next. Although they are cute and small, they''re second only to the Shoggoth in terms of productivity when they are in their element. And yes, you can just ask Nice to make a few for you, though they''re sentient, they like to be treated as pets." Yuki pointed at Nice who giggled before conjuring a few more Takodachis to dance around Elysia. The Takodachis are floaty purple octopuses with short stumps for legs and two ps on their heads, acting like ears. A small, golden halo floats above their head and their faces are ever-stered with a satisfied expression with light blushing.
Nodding repeatedly whileughing at one who tries to tickle her, Elysia says. "So that''s why you''re sending a bunch of them in space! Why haven''t I seen them before though?"
Nice is the one to exin. "Well, the Takodachis are best suited in a Zero-G environment. It''s there that they can handle their tasks with maximum efficiency. Staying on Earth, they''re no different than a glorified Corgi as they''re slowed with their little stumps for feet."
"Oh, I see. Well, they''re still cute either way." Elysiamented.
Having gotten her fill of the bundle of cuteness, Elysia is then led by the rest to themand room. It''s high time they get the show on the road to space.
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"All teams, report!" Said Wernher von Braun, kicking the ground team in a flurry of action.
"External tanks, boosters, fuel pumps... Status, all greens! Fuel at 100% capacity!''
"Connection between shuttle Artemis andunch vehicle Saturn is solid!"
"This is the loading team. Thest of the Takodachis are tucked in safe and secure. Habitat modules, research equipment, and construction assets are stored and bolted down. We''re good here."
"This is the final inspection team, internal checks arepleted, and all systems report status nominal. We''re rolling back to send in the flight crew."
"This is medical. Pre-flight health check came up green on all fronts. They''re raring to make history,dies and gents."
"Crewpartment here, we''re ready for the astronauts to ingress."
"Well done, people!" Complimented von Braun. "Like what the medical lead said, they''re about to make history and so are we! So let''s keep our heads in the game till the final stretch! Yggdrasil shall bless us with her ever-presented glory!"
Von Braun then salutes, causing all others in the control room to cheer. "Hail! Hail! Hail!" After that, he then turns to nod at Einstein. The blute then turns on thems. "Sends in the astronauts, it''s time."
By her words, the four chosen astronauts are escorted through the orbital ess arm and onto the shuttle. Yuki, Nice, Elysia, and Einstein watch a video feed of the astronauts being helped with wearing the rest of their A-suits before boarding the vertically-mounted shuttle. With the safely secured to their seats and the ground crew disembarking. Von Braun can now have the astronauts start their own pre-flight inspection. After a meticulous hour of checking, the astronauts have given the go-ahead tomand.
"SRO?"
"SRO is go, you have range clear tounch..."
"And CDR?"
"Artemis is go."
"NTD, Launch Director, you''re clear tounch Artemis."
"Copy that, Launch Director."
"Go for Orbiter ess Arm retract."
With the ess Arm moving away from the rocket, it''s time for Yuki to step up and address the flight team.
"Artemis crew, this is Overlord Actual. Your team has worked hard for this very moment and it''s with great pride that we shall send the first Artemis crew to the Ragna Belt with the orbital habitat to be deployed. Yggdrasil shall watch over your trail,dies and gents. Bon Voyage!"
"Affirm, Actual. It will be a short eight-and-a-half-minute ride to orbit for us. But it''s a giant leap for mankind!"
"T-minus 2 minutes and counting."
"Vent hood removed!"
"Artemis, close and lock your visors and initiate O2."
"OTC, that is in work."
"Firing chain is armed. Sound suppression and water system activated."
"T-minus 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, go for main engine start! 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1."
Even from the control room that is already a kilometer away, the extreme rumbling of multiple liquid mana boosters can be felt by everyone. From the video feed, a close-up of the me trench is shown, with me and smoke spewing out of it like a gigantic methrower. The sight fascinated everyone presented till no end for it marks a moment of history that they get to witness live. Very soon, Einstein says as Artemis starts gaining altitude.
"We have a lift-off!"
Yuki then mutters for Nice to hear. "The Shoggoth is sting off again." Earning a sonorous giggle from the blonde.
"Berlin, we''re in the roll." Said the Commander of the Artemis, a female astronaut named Lily Mainy.
"Roger roll, Artemis. Berlin is now controlling."
A whileter of steady climbing, a reportes in. "Artemis is in a ''heads down'' position, on course for a 51.6 degree, 136 by 36 statute mile orbit."
"Buildingteral speed... Arching."
"This is Commander Mainy, we''ve cleared Yggdrasil''s canopy."
"Artemis, you''re GO at throttle up."
"Copy, GO at throttle up."
"Approaching staging point... Liquid mana boosters separating from the orbiter."
"Guidance system is working... Good boosters separation confirmed."
"Artemis is traveling at 6000 km/h at an altitude of 75.6 km."
"Artemis, you''re single engine, OPS-3."
"Copy, single-engine OPS-3."
"You are pressed to MECO and single-engine Zaragoza 104."
"Copy, press to MECO and single-engine Zaragoza 104."
"Scorch, I got the roll!" Came a light banter from the flight crew. "Lucky dog!"
"Artemis copies, nominal shutdown, go for the plus X, go for the pitch."
"Main engine cut off confirmed. Standing by for separation from the external fuel tank... Artemis is now flying away from the external tank after separation." Said tank is now shown to be slowly guided back to Earth, on a touch-down course in the sea controlled by Belka.
"This is Commander Lily Mainy, performing plus X burn maneuver now."
"Nominal MECO, OMS 1 not required, preliminary OMS 2 TIG will be 37:30."
"Congrattions, Artemis crew, and wee to space. You''re on a fast track to Ragna Belt."
"Copy, Berlin, 37:30. OMS 1 is not required. It''s a great view up here, Berlin. One singr, blue Earth, a world without boundary. It truly makes one wonder just why are we killing each other instead of unifying for the reach of space."
"That my friend, would be a philosophical question that is way above our pay grade." Said mission control to Artemis Commander
"Touche." Lily Maine chuckled. "Mission Specialist Lightning is checking on the Jar of Oz."
"Good copy, Artemis. Get yourselffortable and perform in-flight analysis. You will be having one interesting journey ahead of you."
"Copy that, Berlin. In-flight check is underway. How''s the visual on your end?" The Commander asked while looking at the magitech camera installed in the cockpit and many ces aboard the shuttle.
"Crystal clear with no dy. It''s safe to say that we will be able to monitor and help you in real-time from here on out."
"d to hear that, Berlin. Confirm, the Jar of Oz is intact and secured. I repeat the Jar of Oz is nominal! Specialist Lightning reports that all one hundred Takodachis are in perfect health and are raring to go. All equipment and systems are nominal. Ladies and gentlemen, we got ''em!"
As expected, the entiremand room explodes.
In a good way, of course.
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On their drive back to the Obsidian Castle, now joined by Einstein, except for Nice the group is tired, mentally. The subsequent task delegations and nk-check partying that Yuki gave out for the team behind Artemis sure drained them of their mental energy. Elysia must admit that she is in awe of Yuki''s resilience, knowing that the short Marshal would have to oversee a ck operationter in the night.
Not many words are discussed on their way back though, each of them is still handling their own thoughts and feelings about the recent rocketunch. Hugging both a Takodachi and Yuki to herself, Elysia can''t help but feel a sense of exhration. The pink elf is ady who enjoys everything, and boy was she left trembling in excitement after the rocket sessfully flew beyond the atmosphere.
Peering at the head of gray hair below her, Elysia knows just how lucky she is to meet Yuki, the person, the miracle, that has allowed her to be more than just a High Elf, more than just a mortal being, experiencing mortal things.
Gently kissing Yuki''s soft hair, causing the girl to inquisitively gazes upward with a cute tilt of her head. Elysia chuckles while signaling to Yuki that everything is fine, everything is as it should be. For the rest of the ride, the pair then cuddle with the squishy Takodachi. Getting in whatever rest they can.
Once again, the Void Archive inside Elysia changes, taking in a bright shade of pink now.