"Operator 6O to 2B. It is time for your regularly scheduled contact!" A voice chirruped over the communication band as Pod 042 pinged up a hologram screen in sepia tones. A young woman's veiled face appears on the screen, her silvery hair done up in braids.

"This is 2B. Nothing to report." The woman in the black dress responded, curt, clipped, and professional.

"Good to hear." The operator replied smoothly, before knotting her brow, as though nagged by something she doesn't have the self control to keep from asking. "--Say! How's the weather on Earth to day? Good?"

"It's fine." 2B replied, the faintest hint of irritation edging into her voice. "Does that question have anything to do with my current operation?"

"Not really~." The operater answered sweetly. "I just figured it might feel nice to have good weather." She clarified

2B's lips pursed into a thin line before she countered coolly: "Feeling nice has no bearing on completing missions."

It only made the Operator unit giggle. "Ehehehe! That is so like you, 2B! Oh! Anyway speaking of missions, the Commander has a new one for you! I'll patch you through."

... ... ... ...

That was several hours ago. Now the wind was wipping through 2B's hair as the Ho229 flight unit cut through the air, smoothly aligning into formation with several others just like it, each pinging a unique YoRHa IFF tag, reporting for duty.

2B, 4B, 11B, 1D, 7E, 12H

No sooner than the flight units had begun their approach, a storm of fire descended upon them from the factory on the coast. 12H was the first to be shot down, her final screams drowned out over the comms by the conflagration of her exploding flyer. Then 11B was blown from the skies shortly next.

"Are our Ho229 cancellers ineffective?" 7E asked over the comms. Just before she erupted in a sudden explosion as another deadly ray cut across the sky. It wasn't long before 2B heaved a sigh to herself as her Pod's scanners registered another android suddenly going offline in the next explosion.

"1D down. Assuming captain's duties." 2B uttered into her communicator as 4B was wiped out of the air in the next instant. "2B to Operator 60. All allied units down. The operation is compromised. Awaiting orders." She said calmly in spite of the violent deaths of the five other androids that had been accompanying her.

"O-Operator 6O to 2B--" Her Operator stammered in shock. "Your orders stand. We need you to rendezvous with unit 9S and escort him offworld. YoRHa command wants as many scanner units spreading out to gather intel on the worlds beyond our own to find a temporary or permanent new residence for the humans remaining on the moon in the event... The event we..."

"We will retake Earth." 2B vowed solemnly before the stunned Operator could finish her thought. But orders were orders. And if she had to escort some Scanner with the attention span of a concussed gnat offworld, then she would follow them and trust in the rest of YoRHa to turn the tide of the war.

Orders. Are. orders.