Kiru walked down a corridor and considered what she was seeing. That last couple of months had been a bit weird, but mostly because she was noticing things that she now suspected that she had been brainwashed not to notice. Everyone else seemed to glaze over when they happened, and some discreet investigations helped her learn that they didn’t even remember them happening. The most suspicious of these odd happenings were the disappearances. Young women and girls mostly would vanish, and no one would notice. These disappearances always happened after the inspections that occurred on a regular basis. Once she and her fellows had learned about those, they made sure to disappear during an inspection.

These inspections were conducted by the Irini. She only ever saw them during these inspections, and she noticed that anyone who caught their eye during an inspection disappeared soon after. What this was about she didn’t know. She knew Megumi had a few ideas, and she had shared a few of the possible theories about what was going on, but she didn’t like any of them. As for the Irini, they were a bipedal species about two meters tall on average. Instead of arms, they had six tentacle-like appendages that extended from their back. The only ones she had seen were clearly female and never wore clothing. They had four pairs of mammaries across their front. They didn’t have hair, but had long tentacles that came from the top of their heads. Two long pointed ears poked out on the side of their heads. They had two small idents where a nose would be on most humanoid species. They had large black eyes, and she had learned that they had fairly powerful mental abilities. These abilities had been determined to be what they used to brainwash the Neku around them.

She and her fellow infiltrators were immune to their influence thanks to the Solean technology that permeated their bodies. Their methods at mind control were also fairly primitive by Solean standards and easily broken.

She reached the end of the corridor and turned left. She had a meeting with a fellow sister in a few minutes. They had something big to plan, that would get them some more info on the Irini. She already knew that in order to learn more about them Megumi wanted them to capture an Irini. She needed to be able to interrogate and study one. These inspections had been happening monthly and they had already seen two of them. They expected the next one to happen tomorrow. Which meant they should have a good opportunity to capture a live Irini.

She finally reached the door in the building they were using as a hideout to meet, and entered the room. Four other girls were in the room, all of which were biomechs. Three of which were in the back corner sitting at a table having a conversation, while another was lounging on the sofa. She noticed that a couple of them had taken their clothes off. She knew that most of them were more comfortable lightly clothed or naked. She had learned from Megumi when she asked about it that it was a trait they had inherited from their creators the Soleans. One of the naked girls lounged out on the sofa greeted her, “Hey there Kiru! Come sit, take your top off, and relax. I know you need it. We are just waiting for Talia and then we can get started.”

She made for a sofa and did consider taking her top off. Most of the others had already, and the bra she was wearing wasn’t exactly comfortable. She then asked the girl, “So Mia did you have any trouble at the hotel today?”

Mia had infiltrated a hotel that catered to high-class clients. It had proven a good place to gain some decent information, and as for herself, she had ended up working at a restaurant popular with the upper-class. Which is why she was stuck with this uncomfortable bra. Looks matter more than comfort there, and so even her underwear was part of the uniform. She had only just finished her day, and had come straight here to the hideout. It was a small housing complex that they had purchased, and those infiltrators here in the city used it as a base. At least the ones she knew of. She figured there were other cells, and they had their own hideouts.

“A couple of young boys flirted with me, but nothing too stressful. A general is going to be staying tomorrow. I heard he has a meeting with the Matriarch to discuss recent setbacks. I managed to get myself assigned as the housekeeper. Should get me a few opportunities to learn what he is planning. Anyway, what about you?” asked Mia as she adjusted her posture on the sofa so she could look at her. Kiru settled into the opposite sofa, and took her top off and unhooked her bra. Immediately she felt relief, and replied, “Well, I am definitely beginning to hate bras. Nothing interesting happened today. The most exciting thing was the businessmen discussing a trade deal.”

“Well you won’t have to wear them again, when Megumi recalls us to the Constellation. I certainly look forward to not having to wear another one. We don’t even need them, anyway,” replied Mia with a slight grimace. Kiru knew it was because none of the Biomechs liked the things, and her statement about not needing them was quite true. She had noticed her own breasts were firmer than she remembered them being. They also didn’t bounce when unsupported like they used to when she ran. It was nice even if she didn’t know why her boobs could defy physics. She was actually a bit afraid to ask why, and just chalked it up to the miracles of Solean biotechnology. Before she could even think to say anything the door opened and the girl they were waiting for, Talia, walked in. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she began stripping out of her maid uniform.

“I really hate this uniform. Anyway, gather around girls. We have some planning to do,” said Talia as she tossed her top aside. The other three in the back stopped talking, and came over. Settling into available spaces on the couches. Kiru gave her usual hello to them. These three were also biomechs, and from left to right they were named, Cecilia, Mary, and Mayu. Like all biomechs, their figures were pretty similar, and they were all the same height. Fortunately they didn’t have identical faces and hair colors. Which was helpful in telling them apart.

“I think the first issue to tackle is how we are going to get our target out of the city,” said Kiru as she straightened out. Having seen what was going on in this city all doubts she had about helping the ship had long since disappeared. The ship was after all her best hope for restoring her people to normal. Taila sat down next to her on the sofa, and said, “Yeah that is an important detail, but I have already considered it. We can use the underground. There are plenty of tunnels down there that lead straight to the sea.

Megumi and I worked out the details for the handoff. I’ll get them to you when we need to. For now, let's think about how we are going to capture an Irini.”

Mary shifted looking thoughtful, and replied, “One of the big problems is that they are never alone. Regardless of where we take them, there will be witnesses.”

“Why don’t we just use our personnel cloaks? They won’t be able to see us, and we can just capture a couple of them at our discretion,” asked Cecilia. Everyone immediately turned to look at her as if she was an idiot. It didn’t take a genius to know that it was a bad idea. Taila was the first to voice the issues, “Sure, sure we can do that,” she said in the most sarcastic tone she could manage, “If we wanted to start a citywide panic.”

Miyu nodded, and stretched which emphasized her bare chest then added, “Yeah cloaked assailants especially in broad daylight are a very good way to start a panic. It would be best to deal with any witnesses, but the cloaks won’t be entirely useless. They will allow us to shadow a pair as they move in the city. “

Kiru nodded her agreement, and added her own thoughts, “That could work, there are a few places in the city that they will have to go, that don’t have many witnesses. When they reach one, a few well-placed stun bolts from the shadows will be all we need.”

“Stun guns could work, but I think a stun grenade would be the better choice,” said Taila as she surveyed the faces in the room. Cecilia a bit red in the face, asked, “Do we have any stun grenades?”

Kiru got up, and went to a chest in the back and pulled out a few round objects. She and Talia had carried them in their carry sacks as part of their equipment. “We have eight stun grenades. More than enough for what we need. Assuming we use them wisely,” then she looked at Taila, “However are you sure we should waste them on capturing a pair of Irini?”

Taila nodded, and replied, “It ain’t really a waste, and we need to complete this as efficiently as possible. I highly doubt we will get a second chance. They will almost certainly tighten their security after this.”

Mia shifted a bit, and said, “They already noticed something is up. I have a general coming to the hotel. One of the topics they are going to be discussing is recent security breaches.”

None of them were surprised. After all, they couldn’t expect their infiltration to go completely unnoticed. Especially given that they had already tapped all of the local communications, and some had even snuck in and planted bugs in the military computers, and offices. Their cloaking devices had allowed them to get in, and cells like theirs were gathering information from sources outside the office. Since not all the important conversations happened in the office. Some happened in restaurants or private homes.

“Guess that was to be expected. If we manage to capture our targets without witnesses, I suggest you seduce the general. A military connection could prove useful,” said Talia after a moment's silence to digest the news.

Mia leaned forward and displayed a predatory smile, “I was already planning to. Maybe get pregnant, and pretend it is his for a stronger connection.”

“Well if you do that make sure to get some of his DNA to cloak the child as his,” replied Talia. Kiru looked between the two completely confused, and asked, “Uh, what doesn’t she just let him get her pregnant?”

Talia looked over, and gave her a gentle smile, “I take it Megumi never explained how Biomechaniods like us reproduce?”

Kiru shook her head in the negative, and Talia explained, “We can’t be impregnated by the males of another species. Normally we mate with each other, but we can reproduce asexually if we have too. It's not recommended for multiple reasons, but mostly because it leads to the child looking exactly like the mother. We also choose the child’s template at the time of conception. Any biomech can create any other biomech type. I.E if we needed a Knight Class I could become pregnant and in a few months I will give birth to a Knight class. It doesn’t matter that the only available mates are Scout classes.”

Kiru found all this interesting, and as she was listening she found something in her hud. It had been hidden under the secondary systems tab. The tab had just opened on its own when she began thinking about what Taila was telling her. It was simply labeled reproduction system. She focused on it out of curiosity, and a message filled her vision.

Hey there Kiru if you are reading this you found the Reproduction Subsystem, and as the name implies it is linked to your reproductive organs. Before you wonder no I didn’t remove your ability to have children normally with other Neku. This system, however, will allow you to procreate with biomechs, and in case you need to produce a biomech on your own. Just do remember that it will take longer than it does in the lab. I believe I told you already how long it takes a biomech to reproduce on their own, and this system will accelerate the growth of any child you do have to the same level. I figured you might enjoy having shorter pregnancies, and faster-growing children. You can, however, slow it down in the options menu here. I have things set to default for a Neku. So you will have to turn on the accelerated growth feature.

She then looked through the menu she was given, it showed a few basic options. She also noticed that it was the system that was linked to the birth control that Megumi had told her about. Which she noted was currently set to automatic. Also on the shortlist was an option labeled ‘create biomechanoid’

“I seem to have found it,” said Kiru. Mia came over, and said, “well she did make you like us. Just think carefully before you use it.”

Kiru shook her head, and said, “I don’t think I am ready to even consider using it.”

Talia then steered the discussion back to the planing. Since they already had a decent idea of what they needed to do. It was merely a matter of working out the fine details.

Armak listened to the admiral, and then said, “Still not much to report on Vorinae activity. I am very sure they are here, but we just haven’t found anything concrete. As for your main question, I still have no idea where that Precursor ship went. After we parted ways they cloaked and I haven’t seen them since. However, I suspect they are somewhere in Neku space with access to Neku military communications.”

“Why would you suspect that?” asked the admiral on his ready room monitor.

“We intercepted several detailed transmissions being beamed from the Neku core worlds to the Erali. They included extensive data, and highly accurate simulations and analyses on Neku military movements and planning. My officers believe these transmissions are responsible for the recent shift in Erali military fortunes. Its how they were able to outmaneuver the Neku in every engagement over the last three months. It also explains how they were able to annihilate an entire Neku fleet with a minefield that only covered a single system approach. They knew exactly where the Neku fleet was going to be, and when it was going to be there.”

The admiral on the monitor nodded, and replied, “information is a powerful weapon. I still suggest you find the ship. We need to be able to keep an eye on such a powerful vessel, as it could easily shift the balance of power in this quadrant. However, the Vorinae are your first priority. Also, I want you to look into these Irini that the Precursor ship mentioned they were going to be investigating. There may be a connection between all three, and I would like to know what it is.”

He nodded and said he would look into it, and then the admiral closed the connection.