Where have all the heroes gone? [Archive]

12-11-2003, 15:45

The wall of television monitors casts a prismatic haze across the otherwise dark room, reflected off of Hawthorne's glasses. His gaze slides over all of the monitors, trying to assimilate as much information as he could.
He sees news in ten different languages. A commercial for anti-perspirant, for a new car. Strippers selling vodka. A reality show with whining over-tan valley girls. A talk show, complete with spiky haired teens yelling at puritanical moms and nazis. The advertisement for a new television show.

A show that feeds poor people to giant ants. The creases in the corners of his eyes get deeper and look darker as his brow furrows. His lip curls back in a disgusted sneer and he picks up the phone off of the table next to his chair.

"Veidt?"
He pauses for the Minister of Defense's response.
"We need to send some men."
"Channel 302."
"Yes, I know. Despicable."
"How long can you ready the third fleet?"
"Mobilization within the week."
"Good. Prepare a report. We'll present to the ministry tommorrow at 7:30."
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Standing on the deck of the A.S.N. Mjolnir, Hawthorne stares towards the advancing shoreline of S.T.P., weariness worn on his shoulders like a heavy coat. Timothy Viedt, with his golden hair and Viking-esque physique strides over from the Command deck aperture.

"E.T.A. two hours, sir." There was no doubt that the man was huge. He towered over Hawthorne's six feet.
"The whole third fleet. Twenty ships. Has the broadcast gone out yet?"
"In about ten minutes, sir."
"Good." Hawthorne leans on the guard rail haggardly. "Let's hope that we go home soon, Tim."

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"...But now, and important message from the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Autocthonian States, Daniel Hawthorne."

Medium length brown hair frames a strong jaw and horn rimmed eyeglasses and his manicured hands with a ring of state lay clasped on the desk. His tie is tasteful, and cinched, in a four in hand knot, rather than a clumsy windsor. His speech is one of old schooling and upper echelons.
"The Autocthonian states have witnessed a gross violation of human rights in the S.T.P. in a new televised execution program. We can not condone such action. We hereby give notice that if the show is not canceled, and those resposible fired, we will engage in a trade embargo. Our entire third fleet has been dispatched to intercept any and all trade ships headed in or out of the S.T.P., with our second fleet joining in by week's end."
He takes off his glasses and looks into the camera, blue eyes flashing with compromise.
"We hope that this embargo will not have to be in place. We do not wish hostilities with this country, but we cannot abide such treatment of people. Thank you"

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"The Autocthonian Navy has moved the Third Fleet into position in order to enforce a trade embargo on S.T.P. today. The embargo is in response to a anti-humanitarian effortthat the leaders of STP have proposed to eliminate their lower classes."
An announcement by Prime Minister Hawthorne earlier today stated that he does not wish to spend any unnecessary time with this embargo, calling for a cessation in their 'barbaric practices' and for the STP-ian people to rejoin the modern civilisations."
Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affaris claim that Kovacs has been meeting with UN officials and alliances to help enforce this trade embargo.
The details of the embargo do not affect incoming humanitarian aid, and are aimed at trade vessels."
"Thanks, Susan. You can count on channel 431 to bring you up-to-the minute news on this developing situation."

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"Sir?" A young lieutenant stands quietly at attention, waiting for the Prime Minister to respond.
"Hmm?" Hawthorne slowly turns to face the officer, heavy bags beneath his eyes.
"They are waiting for you in Command." The lieutenant's eyebrow twitches upward in concern for his commanders current state. Hawthorne straightens his jacket and tie, adjusts his cuffs and brings himself to his full height. The man oozed authority. He turned sharply and walked away.

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"In other news, the High Lord's cruiser, 'Shadow Dragon', has lost contact with Darrow Command. At approximately 1330 today, the constance beacon signal ceased. Further information at this time is unavailable, although Military sources believe that several capital ships have been dispatched to the last known coordinates of the Shadow Dragon, in order to investigate."

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"What do you mean, we lost contact?!?" Hawthorne's face glowing red with lividity. Several technicians nervously moved quicker toward their tasks.
"Sir, their constance beacon lost it's contact with our central command center. We don't know what has happened to them yet. It could just be that they wandered out of range..." Viedt somehow managed to keep his composure beneath the stress.
"Or he could have been taken down by some low-down space pirating heathen? Is that how this statement ends, Viedt?"
"No, sir, but..."
"You know what we are doing here?"
"Yes sir..."
"Because I don't think you do. We are here on what we believe to be for the good of all citizens of this mudball. We are here to save people from the tyranny of a government that views death as recreation. Do you know what that means?"
"Sir?"
"It means that we are bloody unpopular. There are dozens of overmilitarized countries that think that death and carnage, rape and murder, slavery and devastation are bloody family hour activities. And we are getting in the way of their fun."
"But sir, if some people think that it's fun..."
"No. We could have been those people, but for chance. It could have been you or I in the mandibles of those beasts, save that we won the lottery when we were born. We must defend our brothers rights to live."
"Sir, what does this have to do with the High Lord?"
Hawthorne slumps into a chair, looking more than a little frazzled. "People need leadership, Tim." He sighs. "They need a hero. They love the HIgh Lord. The prick can swing entire elections with a sentence. When the populace finds out that he's missing, they'll waffle on this, with everything else. And without popular support, we're screwed."
"Sir?"
"Because the enemies we're making with this embargo watch the same news that our people do. And if our rank and file soldiers lose faith, lose hope, we can't hope to defend against those murderous savages, should they decide to open fire."
"Sir, the news leaked out two minutes ago."
"Bloody hell."
"So what more can I do? We've dispatched two Carriers to search for them."
"Find a look-alike. Plaster his mug on the news, getting off one of our ships with heavy guard. Give our boys their hero back."
"Yes, sir."

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"We interrupt your regularly scheduled programme to bring you 431 Emerging News."
"Minutes ago, at the Darrow International Transport Authority, The High Lord was pictured, being escorted from a Heimdahl class airship."
((Pan from anchor to shot of large plane with three black-suited security men disembarking, then signalling to interior. Zoom to tall, dark haired man with victorian goatee and long coat stepping out, followed by two more suited guards.))
"He appears to be in good spirits, if a little frazzled, David."
"Yes Susan, but then again, you would be too, if you had been through what he had."
"Exactly what did happen up there? He's not getting out of the 'Shadow Dragon', so was it destroyed?"
"An official statement has not yet been made to verify exactly what had happened to the 'Shadow Dragon' or her crew, but authorities have reported an upcoming press conference tommorrow a.m."
"And you can count on Channel 431 Emerging News to bring you the latest. And we'll return you to your regularly scheduled programme."

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Hunched over a long range sensor array screen, Pvt. Erikksonn had been working on his eighth espresso when a bip went off. Excitedly, he tinkered with the fine-tuning knobs until he was able to narrow in on the area. Sure enough, it had the profile of the 'Shadow Dragon'. But wait...there was another blip. Also the same profile. And the 'dragon was a prototypical new starship. There were three in existance, and two were in hangars in South Darrow.
"Commander...I think that you had better have a look at this."

Five Civilized Nations

12-11-2003, 17:14

The down on the luck bounty hunter, Kip "Anvil" Bell, sat aboard his stolen downsized version of the 5CN Meteor Class Assault Frigate, the Nightmare. Bell groaned at the lack of activity. As he rounded a moon, the scanners and the screens of the Nightmare all lit up as it detected the approaching masses of ANS vessels. Bell sat up in shock and began to power up the weaponry and shields of his vessel. The Nightmare's cloaking device was activitated and the vessel disappeared from view.

OOC:
Pic of Kip "Anvil" Bell

http://www.mahq.net/animation/gundam/seed/ep42b.jpg

Pic of the Nightmare

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/seed/meteor.jpg

Class: Meteor II (Downsized Version)
Unit type: Blockade Runner
Manufacturer: Cala Naval Yards
Dimensions: overall length 126 meters; overall width 69.4 meters; overall height 42.4 meters
Propulsion: One Minovsky Fusion Engine and One Nova Fusion Hyperspace Engine
Speed: 750 kilometers per hour, 60 times the speed of light (hyperspace)
Fixed armaments: 2 x 2-barrel mega particle gun; 2 x large missile launcher; 5 x Pulse Cannon
Mobile suits: 1
Price: US$5 billion

12-11-2003, 18:43

David relaxed in the rec hall, reclining against the back of the couch when the intercom bleeped at him.
"Captain Bervall, your presence is requested in command." The woman's smooth voice had a pleasant tone to it. The result of surgical vocal enhancement, no doubt. He slowly got to his feet, then marched toward the command deck, the swoosh of opening doors blowing his hair about a bit.
"Report." David's authority was well warranted. He hadn't spent his youth in the marines to get taken as a slouch.
"We have a ship on our sensor array. 5CN styled ship... perhaps a Meteor class, but it doesn't look quite right. We think it may be pirate."
"Open a channel. Prepare to hail." David steps in front of the captain's seat and adjusts his rank badges, his collar.
"This is Captain Bervall of the ANS Thor. Please stand down your weapons systems. We are not aggressive."

12-11-2003, 19:40

OOC:
Ship details available at http://www.geocities.com/kageflame/EpsilonSector/thor.html

12-11-2003, 19:46

Sounds interesting what do I need to do to join in?

12-11-2003, 20:03

OOC: Post.

Black Raven, Xexan bounty hunter, relaxed at home in his spazzy new La-Z-Boy massage chair. He pressed a button and set it to "full". He then flicked on Fox News (which, I might add, Xexo is now in full control of):

"In other news, Autocthilian...Automochrian...how the bloody do you pronounce that?! The AC States have announced a state of emergency after their leader, High Lord Darrow, went missing. Military commanders have been put on high alert after a Meteor-class airship entered their territory recently, although it appears to be friendly. We'll be right back with more. FOX News: We Report, YOU Decide!"

Black Raven's look of relaxation turned to a look of annoyance. Now he had another job to do. That Meteor class ship looked pretty familiar. But could it have been...No, never. Raven had killed Anvil long ago.

Did he finish the job?

He turned of his chair and got ready to head to the Autocthonian States.

12-11-2003, 20:07

"Sir, long range sensors are picking up another ship, two parsecs out."
"Details?"
"Too soon, sir... maybe a cloaking field?"
"Maybe it's an ambush." David rubs his chin in thought. "I want the ship on alert. Keep frosty."

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OOC: That second ship can be yours, Fleetworlds.
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Hawthorne paces the deck of the Mjolnir, glaring alternately at the command deck and the STP shoreline. He reaches to the inside pocket of his jacket, then stops short.
"Where in the nine pits of hades can he be?" Hawthorne's knuckles begin flushing white as he balls his fists. He thinks back to the cigar in his pocket, but restrains himself from it yet again. After all, it's reserved for victory.
"Sir, can I help you, sir?" A Cadet stands up his mop and salutes the Prime Minister.
"No, soldier. Just waiting for news." This could be the longest day. He adjusts his hair, but the brown fronds get blown right back into disarray by the oceanic breezes. "Just waiting for news."

12-11-2003, 20:17

And so, in his BMW X7 concept car (that he notably stole), Raven set off. He couldn't help thinking that this wasn't Anvil, but...his ship looked so familiar. Was it really...No, never. Couldn't be.

He picked up his cell. He had the direct line to the AC military outpost. Hopefully they wouldn't identify him as a telemarketer. He dialed the number.

"Yes, AC States? This is Black Raven of the Xexan Military. I am coming down there because you are in grave danger. The Anvil is going to drop on your compound. You must NOT allow him into your borders. Avoid him at all costs. And remember to floss daily!"

He hung up. And he actually hoped they didn't listen.

12-11-2003, 20:30

"Sir, we just got an odd call." The comm agent lowers his headphones and flags over his supervisor. "Something about anvils dropping and flossing."

"Psychos. Run it through the hidden message computer anyway to see if it gets tagged. Maybe it'll get one of those dirty error messages."

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OOC: You realize that Anvil just ran into The Thor way out in space... nowhere near AS territories? The Thor is on a recovery mission...

Ravea

12-11-2003, 21:12

Morty Exile was hoplessley lost. After completing some stupid mission for the government, his ship broke down, and he has forced to take its short-range explorer probe, witch had no weapons, and a limited supply of fuel. Luckily, he had been able to strap an armed mech onto the back of the thing, so he wasnt completeley screwed.

He poured his coffe and looked out of the windshied. a moon was looming up near him, then something huge wooshed over the pod.

'Holy god!" Said Morty as his coffe spilled all over his pants. The pod lurched forward, and he looked up. A ship had passed over him. It disappeared a few moments later. "Cloaking" thought Morty. He got the pod back in control and swivled around. A large ship was approaching-possibly a Autocthonian States ship? he couldnt tell from here. Hopefully They couldnt tell who he was-he hoped that the pod was too small to be noticed. He slowed the pod to a stop and opned the door to the mech, just in case....

12-11-2003, 21:48

"Repeat the hail, lieutenant." David sat down into the comfortable captain's seat. The blond haired tall woman in the grey uniform types a command on a console.
(("This is Captain Bervall of the ANS Thor. Please stand down your weapons systems. We are not aggressive."))
"If they don't respond within a few moments, we go to high alert on my mark." He scratches his chin. "Get ready to launch a wing of Rapiers. Scramble the pilots. Maybe we'll dump a swarm on them, too." He leans forward as the lieutenant relays the command to the barracks.
"Prepare to send this hail." David stands up. and squares his shoulders.
"Ready sir."
"Please do not hide from us. We are on a recovery mission, and are authorized to contract freemen to aid us. Please contact."

Jangle Jangle Ridge

12-11-2003, 22:18

Tarenteor, leader of Jangle Jangle Ridge, blinked slightly. A nervous Captain, waiting behind him, stuttered wildy, "Sir, wha-what's wr-wrong sir? Did y-y-you ssssee s-s-someth-thing?" Taren rolled his eyes, "Shut up and make yourself useful. Get me... ah, something sweet to drink. Like soda... or something." Taren turned towards a small computer and tapped in a set of coordinates. The picture enlarged, and two red tags appeared, marking his camoflauged ship and the AS ship, before another two tags, one red and one green, appeared, clustered together. "What the heck??? A Mech... floating through space with a probe? How is that thing keeping up? The jumpjets on those things are only so good. Maybe the probe's hauling it or something. Which makes me wonder why... It shouldn't even be here,"Taren turns around and take the soda from the Captain's hands, "Thank you. Now warm up all the weapons systems." Taren spun around, sipped his soda, and flicked a switch on the control panel, bringing up the weapons loadout screen on one of the many monitors, while others, such as ship integrity and engine performance screens popped up. "Launch a stobe missile(a simple missile that releases an extremely bright flash of light at small intervals) at the explorer probe, and five more at the Shadow Dragon. And make sure to use the right missiles this time." Taren said. The captain looked shocked, "What probe? There's a probe? Whe-Oh... there." A few seconds later, a few thumps issued. Taren flicked a switch as two joysticks came up, and he grabbed them. The ship turned around, and the cloaking system turned off, as various turrets popped out of the side of the huge ship, revealing itself to, in fact, be nothing like the Shadow Dragon. It must have been a profile hack, made to confuse outside ships. Any ships, even relying only on profiles, would now realize the true nature of the ship, as the information changed... The Illithid revealed itself.

12-11-2003, 23:28

OOC: Okay, now I'm confused. I thought that there were three situations here.

1. ASN Thor (Autocthonian battleship) and escort encounters Anvil's ship, which promptly cloaks, while a small pod (with mech taped to it) tries to remain inconspicuous. The ASN Thor is awaiting a reply to it's hails.

2. Black Raven is driving his nice shiny german car towards the Autocthonian Command Centre, phoning in strange messages and expecting to get let in the front door.

3. ASN Mjolnir, battleship, enforcing an trade embargo with the remainder of the Third Fleet, with the Prime Minister aboard, getting anxious from a lack of information/communication.

No one has encountered the Shadow Dragon...yet.

------------------------IC------------------------------------

"We interrupt your regularly scheduled programme to bring you 431 Emerging News."
"Minutes ago, at the Darrow International Transport Authority, The High Lord was pictured, being escorted from a Heimdahl class airship."
((Pan from anchor to shot of large plane with three black-suited security men disembarking, then signalling to interior. Zoom to tall, dark haired man with victorian goatee and long coat stepping out, followed by two more suited guards.))
"He appears to be in good spirits, if a little frazzled, David."
"Yes Susan, but then again, you would be too, if you had been through what he had."
"Exactly what did happen up there? He's not getting out of the 'Shadow Dragon', so was it destroyed?"
"An official statement has not yet been made to verify exactly what had happened to the 'Shadow Dragon' or her crew, but authorities have reported an upcoming press conference tommorrow a.m."
"And you can count on Channel 431 Emerging News to bring you the latest. And we'll return you to your regularly scheduled programme."

Jangle Jangle Ridge

12-11-2003, 23:31

The explorer probe did, and he also saw the Shadow Dragon and some cloaked ship. The cloaked ship is mine. It's the one that has the same profile as the Shadow Dragon, or, had.

12-11-2003, 23:34

OOC: Sooooo, The capsule never even saw the Thor?

What ship is Taranteur on? The flayer (cloaked to look like shadow dragon) ship?

Ravea

12-11-2003, 23:35

Morty was still confused. So confused that he got up and got another cup of coffe. Then he sats down. Then he was suddenley blinded.

"Yarrrrrg!" The coffe spilled again. Wondering what had just happned and why he couldnt drink his *f---ing* coffe, he shielded his eyes from a very powerful light until it died away.

When he looked back up, he saw a very big ship. With very big guns. He tried to turn the probe away, but found that almost all its fuel was spent. He decided to take the Mech out for a spin. He would have to trek through dangerous territorie in a heively armed machine and try get to some kind of a friend and get help while avoiding getting shot with limited fuel and air. this was going to be fun.

Ravea

12-11-2003, 23:48

OCC:*Scratches head*
Yes. i did see Thor. I think? Yes. I did.

12-11-2003, 23:54

"Fire up the Chimillons, McQueen!" The Lord glared in disbelief at the monster that just dropped it's cloak, and he thought it best to disappear. "Power up the mass drivers, target it, and full impulse to displace any locks it had on us."

The cloaks activated, and the ship faded from view. As soon as it fell entirely from view, They changed their path to avoid any trajectory triangulation targeting processes.

"Someone open the AS channel (undisclosed communication method), see if we have any ships in the neighborhood."
"Lord, we are too far from the homeworld to contact them."
"I know, we've been out of range too long, though. They're paranoid. They'll have sent ships to look for us."

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"Captain, there is communication fragments on the classified channel."
"Patch them through." David stands, in case the holo is active.
".......Shadow Dragon........quest......ance.......unidentifie......earby...."
"Can we figure the sources location?"
"Computer's already working on it, Sir."

Jangle Jangle Ridge

12-11-2003, 23:56

Tarenteor grinned, twisting the joysticks downwards, as a different weapon highlighted: Rail/Chainguns-Napalm filled explosive shells. He pulled on the joystick triggers, as all 20 of the chaingun turrets whirled to life, 5 of them targetting the probe, the other fifteen blasting over all of the Shadow Dragon. The bullets, upon contact, explode, throwing shrapnel and napalm everywhere. Another twist of the joysticks, and the chainguns pull in, as side pods open, revealing rows upon rows of missiles. A hiss and 5 missiles detact and rip through the air. Four of these go after Shadow Dragon, and 1 after the probe. These are called Shredder missiles. Once hitting, they splash the target with a special supecolled material, capable of making most targets as fragile as glass, before a second charge in the missile releases massive amounts of shrapnel. This often destroys the target. These are HUGE missiles, probably bigger than the probe itself.

12-11-2003, 23:58

OOC: I've yet to post a picture of the shadow dragon.. So I'm fairly sure no one has come across it yet. I'm running with it though. I dunno where you are. Your call, not his.

13-11-2003, 00:01

OOC: Whoa, there chief. One ship you targeted may not even be there. The other one, which is debatably there, has activated cloaks and anti-targeting procedures. Hard to target that which ain't targetable, or that that aint there...

Hold for a minute while we sort this mess out.

Gots to run... Dojo time.

Ravea

13-11-2003, 00:55

Morty had finished putting on his space suit when the probe radar suddenley went berserk. Thinking that it could mean nothing good, he slipped into his mech and put on the boosters on at full power. At the same moment the pod was completeley destroyed by a wide variety of weapons.

This mech was no normal one-it was his own personal mech. It was faster, lighter, and better-armed then most mechs. Its armorments include a Hi-powered laser pistol, an array of rockets and a bazooka, a laser blade and a laser cannon, a chain gun, a flamethrower, and a Nuclear Self-Dustruct system. It also has EMP capabilities.

Morty rushed out and headed twords the ship that had almost just killed him.

13-11-2003, 02:08

Meanwhile, Black Raven had finally reached the border...which had been shut down by AS officials. That was understandable. He walked up to a border guard. "Hey, I just got back from vacation. What's going on here? And can I get in?" He showed them a fake passport saying he was an AS citizen. But it was a good counterfit...in fact, it looked exactly like a real one.

Jangle Jangle Ridge

13-11-2003, 02:34

Taren cursed loudly. For one, his main target just dissapeared, and this bugger got in a mech, and by the looks of it, a good one. Suddenly, his face lit up with malevolent glee. Turning one joystick towards the mech, he flipped the other joystick completely around, revealing a smooth plate, with a small screen at the top, reading "Nuclear". He tapped the screen lightly until it turned into green lettering, "Lightning Strike". This was used much like the joystick, but rather to control direct of missiles and guns, it was used to direct and coordinate mines. The Lightning Strike mines are used in a combonation. First, upon contact, they dig straight into the outer layer of the ship. Upon reaching the inside, they shoot out grappling hooks, which are then charged with massive amounts of electricity, which shut down most of the ship, before releasing plasma gas into the ship, which quickly cools into plasma, which rip through a ship in seconds and overload the engine. Meanwhile, Taren fiddles with the joystick, looking through the weapons, as he boredly taps the panel, sending out around 15(basically all of them) of these mines, in order to snag the cloaked ship. He then smiles, and stop at one specific weapon: Deluge Missiles. At first, these missiles seem huge, yet extremely slow and easy to dodge. But, after a moment, they split into hundreds of tiny missiles, each aimed at the mech. But beware, these are strong charges, and had armor-penetrating tips, so they will deal at least some damage. Taren turn the joystick towards the mech, and release two of these gargantuan missiles. It looks like over kill, but that mech looks extremely resilent, and it's better safe then sorry.

Jangle Jangle Ridge

13-11-2003, 03:34

(OOC: Come on! Post!)

Ravea

13-11-2003, 04:57

Morty panicked as a hail of missles came straight at him. He fired his laser cannon and destroyed some missles, but not that many. a few missles hit the left leg of the mech, and it stopped functioning for a few moments. He reilized that if he stayed here any longer, he would be dead. he engaged the Mech's rocket booters and dodged left, trying to avoid some of the missles. His arms got hit, and he launched an Overboost and blasted throught the rain of rockets, Firing all of his weapons. He got through the missles alive, but not undamaged. His left leg was spasaming, and his arms were slightly damaged. His torso had also taked minor damaged.

Morty sheds his Outer Armor, so now the mech has 50% more speed, but 50% less armor.

Morty directs the mech to the ship, and now starts firing his external weaponrey with all his might.

13-11-2003, 14:36

"Pinging noises to the port of the ship, Lord."
"Report?" The Lord sits on the edge of the captain's command, the leather of his jacket rubbing on that of the seat.
"Some kind of mines... detonated by our shields, but they had some kind of shrapnel. They set out some massive electric pulse...Hull is still intact...but we're going to need a new paint job."
"How are the shields?"
"Off-line, but we're redirecting power from the ancillary cores."
"What is the creep doing now?"
"Looks like he's pounding...a mech?"
"Launch the swarm."
"Aye, sir." A button press later and twelve automated fighters discreetly enable their cloaking nanites and disembark. They wait for a suitable distance, to ensure the safety of the mothership, then barrel in on the aggressive illithid ship firing all cannons. They are programmed to recognize when their (exceptionally limited) shielding will fail and kamikaze with their EMP or built in (low yield) plasma missile.
(details at http://www.geocities.com/kageflame/EpsilonSector/targe.html http://www.geocities.com/kageflame/EpsilonSector/dragon.html )

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"Mr....uh, Raven. You don't have security clearance to enter this site, but we have a commander coming down to hear what you have to say. If you would just follow us to the meet office." The cadet motions to a few guards which follow.
The room (should you decide to go) is well appointed, with luxury leather furniture and a mahoghany bar with a few bottles of premium scotch and bourbon in stock. (Paranoid? Two doors, no windows. One vent, 12" x 12". Two guards at each door.)
"Commander Rivvin will be with you shortly. Please make yourelf at home."
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"Captain Bervall, we have triangulated the last transmission of the 'Dragon and have rough coordinates."
"Final hail to the ship out there...mark." The lieutenant nods at the captain.
(("Our trajectory is 34872bx,1297y. Remove yourself from our trajectory or face collision."))
"Full throttle on my mark, gentlemen. Full battle alert." David sits down, worried for what he may find, if he is too late.
"Mark."

Five Civilized Nations

13-11-2003, 15:00

Kip "Anvil" Bell swore at the appearance of additional ships. Bell piloted his ship into the sensor shadow of the Moon and decided to observe his action. Suddenly, he was hit by inspiration. Bell opened his transmitter and sent a message on all channels.

This is former 5CN Navy Commander, Kip Bell, broadcasting on all channels. I am a free-lance mercenary/bounty hunter. If anyone needs assistance, I will provide it, albeit at a price...

13-11-2003, 15:03

Black Raven, whose passport indeed read "Mr. Black Raven", sat in the chair. "Why did I not change that?" he said to himself. He was in plainclothes, but noted now that he was inside the country at least. He looked at the vent. He would need to act fast. He clicked a few buttons on his watch. A screwdriver popped out. He unscrewed all 4 screws on the vent and pulled a small silver ball out of his pocket. He squeezed it. It became a four-legged mini robot. On his holo-watch, he programmed it to go to the primary climate control room. It listened-and popped up the vent, not to be seen for awhile. He then closed the vent.

Raven sat and waited.

13-11-2003, 15:34

Captain Bervall leaned forward.
((5 million to proceed to coordinates and engage ship opposing the 'Shadow Dragon'. ))
*coordinates beamed*
The ASN Thor dropped out of hyperspace within visual range of the conflict.
"Where's the 'dragon?"
"Well, look at that thing... If I were him, I'd cloak, too. Tactical?"
"Sir?"
"Forward mass drivers, all guns. Fire at will. Scramble fighters."

Three floors down, thirty pilots run down the steps toward their waiting starfighters, amidst the surging humm of the massive firepower of the cannons.

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The droid follows the pressure of climate controlled air, programmed to find central climate control, it's small feet making clicking noises on the metallic vent wall.
The vent goes over a security checkpoint, where there is four guards monitoring video cameras.
"What's that?"
"What's what?"
"Shhhh."
"Just a rat."
"Oh."
The guard sits back down. "But we haven't had rats since the pest vector was installed last year."

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The door opens, and through walks a middle aged man, nearly six feet tall, medium frame, with brown hair shocked grey at the temples.
"Mr. Raven, I presume? My name is Cmdr. Greg Rivvin." He sits down leisurely.
"We don't normally hold our citizens like this, but there is a national crisis at hand." He pours himself a glass of water and offers one to Raven.
"Raven... we don't have very many people with the name Raven in our country." His left eyebrow twitches up. "And certainly none named Black." He puts his glass down.
"But there's no cause for alarm. That was your mistake. A memorable name on a falsified document, a very cleverly done one, I might add, does encourage database checks." He pauses for dramatic effect, balancing his fingertips on one another in his lap.
"But, this is a small matter. What are you here for, Mr. Raven? You are here for a reason. How can we mutually benefit?"

------------------------------------------------
"Radar just got slippy, Lord..."
"It's the Thor!"
"F%$*ing 'A."
"Do we drop cloak, Lord?"
"Not yet. But we can target that b**ch with our mass drivers... how are our targes doing?"
"Computer's calculating, Lord."

Five Civilized Nations

13-11-2003, 15:37

The Nightmare stood off near the ANS Thor cloaked, keeping an eye on it...

13-11-2003, 16:04

"What the hell is that thing firing on?"
"A mech, captain..."
"Try to hail it, before we intervene. See if we can find out what people have been doing here.."
"Captain, sensors indicate that there is a autocthonian mass driver battery preparing to fire."
"And sir, we've got Targes all over our radar."
"Good, that means that the 'Dragon's still here... I wish she'd decloak... or contact to inform us..."
"Sir, if they're warming up mass drivers, wouldn't that mean they're preparing to fire?"
"Yes, tactical, but we don't know what at. Open a private channel to that Nightmare ship."
"Done sir."
(("Captain Kip Bell, Are you present at this location?"))

----------------------------------------------

The mass drivers begin unleashing hell on the Illithid ship, causing the Shadow Dragon's cloaking fields to distort, revealing it to all present. The torrent of devastation is a mighty display, and the fireworks distort the discernation of possible damage to the Illithid ship.

-----------------------------------------------

"The 'dragon has fired on the Illithid, sir."
"Fire at will. open channel to the Nightmare."
"Done."
(("Captain Bell, assist in this assault and 5 million will be direct tranferedto your account, as well as free repairs, fuel, munitions and hospitality. Do you accept?"))

13-11-2003, 16:25

Black Raven was taken back. "Ah, you're smarter than you look." He stood and closed his eyes. Suddenly, a black liquid overtook his skin, his clothes, changing him into his armored form. He did not transform his helmet, though. He took out his contacts, revealing his true eyes: with pupils that looked like the "radioactive" sign, the triangles constantly rotating, zooming, focusing. "My name is Black Raven. I am Xexan, however. A bounty hunter, if you must know. I am here because your lives are all in great danger. I have heard you have gotten communications with Kip The Anvil, no?" He relaxed back in his seat. "Forgive me if I seem like a spy. I mean your country no harm."

13-11-2003, 16:35

13-11-2003, 16:38

One of my beasts came to me with reports that he had gathered about a couple of space nations that are going to fight.

"Should we spread our reaches into their ships hulls?

"Yes."

"Good, inform the gorges of the ships locations and tell them to start hurling their spores"

13-11-2003, 16:46

*Fires Pseudo-Reality cannon*
OOC: I can deal with aliens. Mind flayers. Shapeshifting crow-wombats with technicolor glaucoma. But expansionist fungi people is where i draw the line. Sorry... Suspension of disbelief only carries so far.

Five Civilized Nations

13-11-2003, 16:53

Roger that...

Bell piloted his vessel into attack position to the Illithid ship, his weapons powered up. The Nightmare's Combat AI was activated and began prepping the ship for battle. The Nightmare's two Mega Particle Beam Cannons located on the wings of the vessel powered up and began to fire on the Illithid Ship, while the five pulse cannons pounded the shields of the Illithid vessel.

13-11-2003, 16:54

Ok i guess ill clear things up

Spore=Thick slime coated egg that will puncture most anything before coming to rest. Once it has stopped, a flower emerges from it and a thick mat of organic matter forms in the close vacinity. Soon a hive forms

http://www.natural-selection.org/images/hive.jpg

Once it is done gestating, it will spawn the basic alien life form of the kharra, the skulk:

http://www.natural-selection.org/images/lev1-a_8x6.jpg

When the skulk kills something it will eat it and absorb the lifeform's hormones so the skulk (with enough hormones) can change form into highger lifeforms, such as a lerk:

http://www.natural-selection.org/images/lev3a_8x6.jpg

or a fade:

http://www.natural-selection.org/images/post-2-89351-level_4_page_2.jpg

and finally an onos:

http://www.natural-selection.org/images/lev5_pic2_8x6.jpg

All aliens are part of a single minded hive. They all work towards the hives goal, because the hive is basically the brain of all of the aliens.

13-11-2003, 17:00

(("Cpt. Bell, fire on the ILLITHID SHIP, NOT THE SHADOW DRAGON!!!"))

------------------------------------------
OOC: Kharra, still not dealing with those. They'd have to have an ability to get into space, and unless they have corrupted a ship present (which means that you'd have to convince an active party) there's not a real way to get there, unless they have fliers capable of space travel (which means a good chance of getting shot to hell by the capital ship and tons of fighters here). Sorry that I'm not allowing auto-kills here...But there are a lot of unique characters involved, with each having a sizable back story.

Five Civilized Nations

13-11-2003, 17:04

OOC: Oops... I'll change that...

13-11-2003, 17:16

The ASN Thor opened fire with it's mass drivers, launching a volley of death onto the Illithid ship, taking care to (attempt to) avoid the smaller mech. The ASN Shadow Dragon Continued it's own attacks, and prepared it's plasma missile bays for deployment. The dozen Targe fighters continued to plink at the Illithid ship with their particle beam guns.

Between the combined might of the two ASN ships, the commandeered 5CN blockade runner, and the undeclared Mech, the Illithids were looking down the road to a dangerous dead end.

((OOC: Some advice, Illithids? Run!))

13-11-2003, 20:43

The small robot gets closer to it's presumed goal, central climate control. The wind had dropped 2 degrees in the last metre. But something gave it pause. A fine grid of red light beams cross in front of a rapidly spinning fan. Beyond the fan, the central climate control. It stops, and beams the image in front of it to it's master's display watch.

------------------------------------
"Someone get the prime minister in here. The Thor has opened fire on something!" Viedt briskly walks away from the monitor, opens the hatch, and steps into the noonday sunlight.

Jangle Jangle Ridge

13-11-2003, 23:41

Tarenteor saw the lights. He cursed and flipped the joystick, twisting it and slamming the trigger, while still trying to battle wildly with the mech on the other joystick. Out of the side of the ship came a pulse of blue energy, seeming to completely block the massdrivers, and, in fact, scatter them away everywhere else. A flux pulse. The ships turns around, likely smashing the puny mech on it's side, and a huge cannon appears from the front of the ship, as a blue light glows in it, growing rapidly. Taren targets the attacking ship with the JJRMPAIC-3485724K: a huge ion cannon, built to destroy entire planets and stars. The light becomes blinding, and a huge beam emits from cannon, streaking towards the opposing ship, as twin 3000mm railguns, loaded with massive depleted uranium shells. The zap of electricity whips through the air as both of the shells fly away. Taren, finally noticing the fighter ships, released 30 Bolt missiles, small, armor-penetrating missiles loaded with a miniscule nuclear warhead. Just in case the entire bulk of the ship couldn't crush the mech, he launched a large nuclear missile at it.

14-11-2003, 00:17

Jingle Jangle Ridge:
OOC: Twin 3000 mm Rail guns? You realize that those guns have barrels of almost ten feet interior diameter? Which would entail you having to push full thrust in order to keep the same place in space (zero gravity, no bracing against the ground, recoil, all that mumbo-jumbo). Furthermore, In order to run the engines and the death-star ray (which borders on god-mod, Darth), you'd have to have an obscenely huge power plant (or quite a few incredible ones) which translates into deck space. Deck space that no ship the size of the dragon could possibly have...which is what your ship was masquerading as. And then, there is the extraneous "I launch thirty nuclear missiles to dispatch little PITA unmanned fighters" poo.

And then there is defense. You are fighting a capital warship, a light warship, and a barricade runner. If it were just the latter two, you'd stand a fair chance of getting out of this one. But a capital warship means that there is a fleet of fighters aboard, disembarking. Which means a whole case of whoop-arse is on the stove. Even Han Solo ran from a star destroyer. Plus, a ship that relies on *old* technology (i.e. shelled weapons, rotary cannons, etc.) would not have the means to defend against Mass drivers, lasers, bi-particle beams, plasma bursts, or ion cannons. If your ship had bothered to invest in a flux pulse generator (of which the physics would have to be explained), why did it not also invest in the more reliable, efficient, energy based weaponry? Furthermore, said flux pulse shielding would also get nuked by your own Ion cannon (JJRMPAIC-3485724K), as Ion cannons cause very little real damage, save to disable shield devices, NOT destroy planets and capital ships, as you purport.

Besides, launching nukes in space would tear you up just as bad as it would anyone else, ESPECIALLY at the range we are talking about here.

And we have yet to see the specs on your ship. I'd bet because you are ad-libbing it, which is fine, but you must stay to a modicum of reality, even if fantastic. A little ship like the dragon (which you were passing as for a while, so you must be similar in size) cannot hold the armament that you purport to, not without sacrificing engine space, life support (even Illithids need to breathe), shield generators, personnel, quarters, or power plants.

I'm fully prepared to endure losses, of ships, of men, of leaders, of characters. But not under seemingly wildly unadulterated horse puckey.

I ready my hyper-plasmic-waste-crap-rail gun and have prepared thirty thousand *Ignore Cannons* for firing. Don't make me do this.

You're an Illithid. Act smart like one.

Jangle Jangle Ridge

14-11-2003, 00:33

Ravea

14-11-2003, 03:59

Morty dodges between fighters in the enourmas space battle, hoping only to survive. He sees a shadow and relizes that the Illithid ship is falling stright onto him. Morty fluxes all the power the mech has into the engines, and blasts forwards at an enourmas speed. Nevertheless, the ship clips him and tears his left foot off. He restores power and turns around to face an oncoming Nuke.

Morty switches his laser cannon for an EMP rifle, takes aim, and fires. The nuke stops short and starts to float away. Worried that something might hit the nuke and set it off, he heads, yet again, up for that damned Illithid ship.

He reaches the hull of the Illithid craft and starts to blast the outer hull with a combonation of lasers, rockets, and a flamethrower. Soon he starts to burn a hole through the ship, and reverts to his laser blade to slice through the remaining piece of hull.

14-11-2003, 05:06

uh...the seeds are spit out at high velocity, well past being able to get off the planet. Thats how we got one 345 lightyears from our home planet to earth.

All we have to do is spit randomly in the air and it will clear this atmostphere and hit something :D we have colonies elsewhere too.

And we do have 3 infected ships at our home planet, we were going to save them for farqs though.

Ill look into it.

14-11-2003, 05:13

Several of the Targes, mostly incapacitated by the nuclear missiles veers out of control, heading directly for the Ion cannon, their kamikaze EMP activated. The targes are not doing well against the missiles. Of the original twelve, three remain.
One of the remaining ones veer directly toward the frozen nuclear warhead, it's plasma missile engaged.

------------------------------------------

The Thor disburses a full wing (36) of Targes to continue to harry the Illithid. The swarm seethes out of the Thor like volcanic steam, disbursing as quickly as possible, and firing as much as possible in the general direction of the Illithid.

----------------------------------

(("Pilot of the mech, This is VASIC, artificial intelligence of the ASN Thor. We are extracting you to a safe distance, as a nuclear warhead is about to detonate. Please do not resist.")) An artificial female voice resounds in the Mech's radio, as a grey-green beam encapsulates the rear of the mech and pulls it away from the Illithid quickly, yet gently.

------------------------------------------

The Thor's main mass driver batteries continue to assail the Illithid, targeting where the 'Dragon's targes have deactivated shields with their EMP kamikaze modules.

----------------------------------------------

"Do we have more Targes, Tactical?" The Lord stares commandingly at the view screen.
"No sir. Two left in field."
"How are the shields?"
"Half cooked in the third deep, but rerouting power from the ancillary core to cover up the rest. The two mains are already pumping at max, the ancillary are getting warmed up."
"Halt forward mass drivers to conserve power. EMP Missiles at the ready. Let's give the Thor a Clear target."
The Shadow Dragon wheels to port and maneuvers backwards, locking on with EMP missiles.

----------------------------------------

OOC: JJR, you may want to read up on what some of these theories are... in rl physics. We all use RL as a scientific model, but fast-forward a few dozen decades. Ion cannons would not cause considerable damage, save to electrical systems. They might cook up some tasty popcorn, though. If you had said a 'nucleo-thermic reaction inducing ray' or some such, it would have made more sense. Hell, plasma cannons are heavy hitting dogs. Ten foot bore cannons are still excessive, and possibly not possible in space (no air, no combustion in cased ammunition, unless interjected directly, slowing down rate of fire, blahblah scifi mumbojumbo). But I suppose excessive is the name of the game when you are playing an ego-maniacal sadist demon. (which in and of itself borders on nutty)
I think you see what I mean, though. We haven't seen the stats to you ships, so we really don't know what we see. We don't know what you have, and you seem to have another card up your sleeve at every turn. It reeks of god-mod. If you aren't, there should be a little more reasoning behind your actions. (i.e. you didn't announce that your ship was out of ammo, that your captain was nuts, until the hat got tossed.) I think that you can play smarter. Play nicer, or don't play at all. If you can, I apologize.
Otherwise, I smell cheese.

14-11-2003, 13:33

Cmdr. Rivvin blinks twice in somewhat of a state of disbelief, but recovers quickly, with a sip of water.
((OOC: Superhero alien shapeshifters...great...)))

"We monitor our capital ship transmissions, and the name of Kip Bell has come up." He settles back down into his chair and thinks about pouring himself a scotch. "What can you tell me about him?" He decides against the drink.

"That he's extremely dangerous. He's killed more than a few Xexans. He's also a bounty hunter of my caliber. You might notice that Meteor-class ship was stolen. It was stolen from us," he said. He sipped his water. "The fact he appears when your leader disappears is no mere coincidence."

OOC: He's no superhero, and no shapeshifter. It's part of Xexan "reprogramming" at birth: we install armor underneath the skin that they can cause to seep out of the pores and solidify. When they don't need it, the armor turns back to liquid and goes back underneath the skin. Yeah, it's weird, but I needed something unique for the Xexans.

His watch blipped. He pulled his right arm over to see what was wrong. It was his robot. It had reached the climate-control station. No longer needed, he clicked "Deactivate". The robot fizzled and turned off, but stuck to the vent wall. The back of the hologram was fuzzy, so Rivvin wouldn't be able to tell what it was, and Raven couldn't have him finding out about a spy robot. "E-mail. It was spam. Some credit card offer." He smirked.

14-11-2003, 14:33

Rivvin tries to relax, but finds it awkward to do so in the presence of the bounty hunter. "So, I suppose that you'd be eager to get your ship back." He leans back. "And if our Lord is in danger as you say..." A printer, concealed in the table behind the chair beeps once, having finished with a transcript of the radio communications of the Thor. Rivvin looks over it and then hands it over to Raven.

"If he's such a danger to our lord, who is this Illithid? Because it seems that it is the dangerous one." He sips his water. "And he seems to be working for our boys right now." He thinks for a moment.

"I can probably contact the Thor to get your ship back, provided that it survives this encounter, and that you can prove that he stole the ship from you. I doubt that the lord is in any danger from Captain Bell, considering that the Thor is there to cover it. And that there are two other Titan-class warships enroute. I'm afraid that we have offered him hospitality in the terms to assist our assault, and thereby we cannot arrest him and turn him over." ((Autocthonians will not break terms unless the other party does first, 'hospitality' is temporary immunity with plush accomodations.))

He looks to see the expression on Raven's face, noting his repressed aggravation. "We could also arrange for your transport to the sector, and once he has taken his terms from us, you do what you two will. It is free space there." He sits back, awaiting a response.

14-11-2003, 14:53

Black Raven nodded. "Let's just do that then. I was unaware you already had it covered. But I have never heard of the Illithid before." He sipped his water. "No matter. Thanks for listening to me. I was afraid this might have been harder than it actually was to get to someone of your authority." He smiled. "Don't worry about arresting Kip. If he is currently under your terms of hospitality, I won't worry about getting him into custody. I just wanted to warn you of the possible danger your lord is in."

He got up, ready to leave. "Say, your guards confiscated my car when I came in. Could you tell them to put anything they found in the car back in the car? I was pretty heavily armed when I got here. And they took my messenger bag. I need that back."

14-11-2003, 15:06

"No problem." He stands slowly. "Were you planning to launch from your home and rendezvous is free space, jump together, or would you rather load your ship here and launch from here? Or was it that you just wanted us to try to collect the 'Nightmare' ourselves?" He reaches into his pocket and hands Raven a card with his name, rank, direct holophone line and email.

14-11-2003, 15:09

Raven put it in his hip storage space (his armor's "pocket", if you will). "I suppose I'll just launch from here directly. It's easiest. Any fighter ship will work, although a one-man cargo pod with decent weapons systems would work too, as I need a place to store all my stuff."

14-11-2003, 16:11

"Well, we can let you take the Sledge up. It's supposed to go up to the Shadow Dragon, but I'm not sure that the lord will like the paint job."

He walks Raven toward the impound lot where there is two men standing guard over Raven's nice beemer. Then to the incide of the security station to retrieve is parcels (and an entourage of a few guards). From there, to the launch hangar, to see the ship.

http://www.geocities.com/kageflame/EpsilonSector/sledge.html

"It's a katana class fighter, reasonably well armed, typically carrier based fighter. It can dock with the ASN Odin in orbit, preparing to jump to the Thor. I don't need to tell you that the ship computers won't let you target our own ships. Or that we can track these fairly easily if they turn up missing. But, then again, the Lord has been known to sell the ships he doesn't like for cheaper than he should. I'd appreciate it if you didn't take advantage of the offer, should he make one. The taxpayers pay an awful lot for these ships."

((ASN Sledge has been cleared for launch on pad five-three-niner))

"You'll find a flight suit in the cargo compartment. Be sure to leave the rear quad particles on computer, on account of you not having a gunner go up with you. The Odin is expecting you." Rivvin motions to the guards and they both back away , then head for the control deck. "If you have any problems, ask VASIC. Good luck."

14-11-2003, 20:34

OOC: Kharra, it's a neat idea, but not precisely appropos for this situation... too many contributing ideas become distractionary. I would like to do a xenomorph rp a little down the road if you feel up to it.

Ravea

14-11-2003, 21:20

Morty contunied to pound the hull of the Ithilliad ship, and heard a soft sound in his headphones. "This is VASIC, artificial intelligence of the Thor.....We are going to extract you to a safe distance blah blah blah......

Morty decided to be "extracted to a safe distance" and relaxed the mech's controls. Before he floated off, he fired a shot from both his laser cannon and his bazooka. the comibined force breeched the hull of the Ithilliad ship.

14-11-2003, 21:39

The wobbling targe slammed into the nuclear warhead. There was a moment of silence before the bright light incinerated a serious area of nullspace where the mech was two minutes ago. The shockwave flexed out of the centre of flame, rocking both the Thor and the Shadow Dragon backward.

"Shield report, tactical." Captain Bervall attempts to regain composure. VASIC only gave him ten seconds notice that she was setting the nuke off.
"Forward shields are out. Ancillary coming online in a moment."
"Damage report."
"Hull breaches on the second and third deck. Pressure loss has been contained. Forward aperture airlock sustained heavy damage. Lower forward port mass driver battery out."
"Engineering."
"Captain, We lost one of the main shield generators, and two of the power plants are going to need to cool down or we're looking at critical mass in ten minutes, maybe less."
"Can we connect the mechs in...leech off of those?"
"We can try... never did it before..."
"Get on it. Status in five." David couldn't believe that the accursed computer calculated this as an 'acceptable threat range'.

15-11-2003, 01:50

Black Raven's expression changed from authoritative content to a look of sheer giddiness, like a kid in a toy store. He looked at Commander Rivvin, his pupils wide with excitement. "Thank you for this ship. I think it'll do." He grabbed some of the stuff from his BMW and moved it into the cargo bay of the ship: like his RCP-90, a couple submachine guns, stealth equipment, and his messenger bag.

He opened a compartment in the backseat of the BMW, exposing a holster belt. He put it on with his favorite gun in the holster: the Nikko 24/h laser pistol. He clipped his lightsaber (which he also stole) into the belt and put 3 tranq needles into their compartments, and finally his cell. He was about to put it in its compartment when he looked at it. "Missed call? Oh, that's my home phone. Shrike must have called. I'll call her on the way up."

Now fully packed, he grabbed his CD case and tossed it gingerly into the ship. He hopped in. "Hmm...looks almost identical to the Stardaggers I flew back home. This makes this easier." He buckled in. "Well, I call you when I make contact. Thanks for the ship and your hospitality. If you need to reach me, here's my cellphone number." He scribbled his number onto a notepad and gave it to the commander. "I'll be seeing you off then. Goodbye. Wish me luck." He did a Xexan two-finger salute, closed the cockpit, and took off.

Ravea

15-11-2003, 01:51

Morty was dragged into the cargo hold of the ship. He got out of his mech and was met by a nervous captin.

"Are you the pilot of that mech over there?" he said.

"I am indeed." responded Morty. "Could you take me to the commander of the ship? I would like to speak with him."

15-11-2003, 02:34

"We can take you to him, but remember that we are still in a live combat situation." The seargent motioned toward a powerlift bay and started walking toward it, inviting Morty to walk along.
"I am Sgt. Gunderson, and your name would be?"

---------------------------------

Raven marvelled at the smooth as silk vectored takeoff. Tha handling was magnificent. You can really tell that this was a ship designed with royalty in mind, not some poor grunt pilot.

As he cleared the upper stratosphere, a huge capital ship immediately became obvious. Just as he was training the sensors on it to ensure that it was the Odin, a mechanized female voice announced itself.

(("Good afternoon, pilot. I am VASIC, the artificial intelligence of the Sledge. I hope that your ride has been enjoyable so far. I have been informed that the Odin, which I have highlighted on the HUD is awaiting our arrival. If there is anything I may do for you, just ask aloud."))

---------------------------------------------

The lift doors slide open and a short hallway leads to an open doorway. Beyond the chrome and brushed aluminum of the hall was the command deck, which was mad with frantic people. In the midst was captain David Bervall, his uniform slightly wrinkled, but his demeanor still crisp as fresh ironed slacks. He catches Morty in his field of vision and nods briefly before barking a few more orders to the staff.

------------------------------------------------

(("Pilot Raven, this is central docking for the ASN Odin. We have you onscreen. As soon as you are close enough, the automated docking sequence will be activated."))
As the Sledge draws nearer, the Odin looms menacingly overhead as two bay doors slide apart, bathing the Sledge in bluish hued light. The ship guides itself in smoothly.

Ravea

15-11-2003, 02:44

"The names Morty. What is the ship's current status? And Seeing as how we are still in a combat situation, i will offer to assist you in any way i can. I want to take on that Ithilliad ship again. The thing totaled my mech, it wont be flying for a while."

15-11-2003, 03:18

"Well, Morty, we have sustained some heavy damage...nothing we can't handle, but we aren't too happy about it. If you would be willing, there is one or two quad turrets that are currently unmanned on the top. If you want to give that Illithid some love, that is."

He pauses a moment. "We have already docked your mech into our repair bay, and there's a 'droid discerning your damage. I'll give the droid your bay number when you start blasting, so they can patch the damage report to you directly." The seargent points back at the lift bays.

"When this is all over and done with, I'm sure that the captain will have plenty of time for you. I have to get back to the bay...we're trying to repair the main airlock. Good luck, comrade."

Ravea

15-11-2003, 04:02

Morty didnt have to wait to be asked twice. He strided into the lift bay and waited until it got to the top floor. He exited, and saw a sign marked "Turrets" on his left. He jumped into a turret, closed the door, and got to work.

A bright plasme screen glowed below his nose. he started selecting his preferances for the amount of destruction to be dealt, and smiled as a large red cross-hairs appeared on the glass arount the turret. He swivled and aimed the turret at the Bridge of the Ithilliad ship. There he hoped to cause some damage.

Jangle Jangle Ridge

15-11-2003, 06:01

Taren suddenly tenses, as two breaks in the hull become evident. He completely seals off the areas, before the entire ship is sucked of oxygen. He can tell when he's a goner, of course. Taren hops out of the controls and orders to captain to man the ship, before striding away, slipping a small control from his pocket.He pops open the back and pulls out a smaller device, looking much the same, but with a small screen on it, like the mine selecter. He taps it a few times, and the screen quickly phases from orange to red, almost flashing the colors. He taps the button on the smaller device, and slides the larger one back into his pocket. A roar fills the air, as a puff of dust, like that from a nebula, spins out into the air, and more and more filters into space, as if from nowhere. Suddenly a knob of black appears, as a huge black form slowly comes into space. Taren hops into a small transport jet and shoots out into space, towards the huge shape, which is rapidly growing, and it becomes evident that other, smaller ships are drifting out to, around it's sides. A huge explosion rocks the Illithid as the plasma turrets open fire, and the entire ship decompresses. Taren spins his head around while still zooming away and lets out a long stream of curses. He taps a button on the jet dashboard, and a direct comm link opens up to all ships in the vicinity, "That's it. Jangle Jangle Ridge declares all out war. Any and all who support the people who blew up my ship are also targets. You have just pissed off a much bigger, much stronger, and much more technologically advanced nation. You *a map pops on the screen* were about to enter my territory. I opened a broadcast channel and you didn't even respond(outside meddling, perhaps?). My only choice of action was to come and stop you. And now you've blown up one of my best ships. Prepare to be destroyed by my nation's naval masterpiece, the Terracoste!" Taren's jet slides into a small hole in the huge ship, which quickly closes. If the Illithid was a monster, this was hell incarnate and then some. One of the biggest ships in existance, if was extremely slow, and therefore found it very hard to avoid hits, as it relied almost solely on it's incredibly thick(3 metres of a ultrahard conglomerate of metals, plastics, and crystals) armor and it's incredibly amounts of arms to win the battles. Behind it come 30 carriers, 50 scout ships, and 20 destroyers. An entire battalion of ships had come to their aid, and the war began, as multiple spires slide out of the sides of the ship and charge with electricity, before jutting forward onto a massive central spiral, just revealed from the nose(this is the main weapon, but it still has protection). The electricity gathers, and blasts out in a bolt with a joulage and voltage neigh unmeasurable(voltage near 1 billion, joulage of maybe 1 million), streaking towards the Sledge.

15-11-2003, 06:23

A cheer goes up on the command deck of the Thor as the Illithid implodes.

David settles back into his command seat and sighs a breath of relief. Now comes the business of repairing the Thor.
"Send out a hail to the Shadow Dragon."
"Ready, sir."
(("High Lord Darrow, this is Captain David Bervall with the ASN Thor..."))

-------------------------------------------

Having keenly slammed home a good blast through the massive hole in the Illithid's shields put there by the Dragon's EMP missiles, Morty was feeling pretty good.

(("Captain Morty, we have the damage assessment for your armored personel warfare unit. It doesn't look good. I'm beaming the report to the screen there."))

Morty wasn't about to let that ruin his mood though. Now, just to figure out the best way out of this backwater system.

--------------------------------------------

Captain Bervall sits in his office sipping a victory Scotch. 18 year Glenmorangie single malt. That sucker just did not want to go down. Hard won battle, deserving of such a reward. He reaches over and presses the intercomm.
"Rhonda, please send for our misplaced 'mech pilot. He needs a drink."
"Yes, sir."

------------------------------------

OOC: JJR. yummy....instant transport of monstrously paradoxical fleets. I gave you the benefit of the doubt, but apparently I should not have.
Oh, and PAY ATTENTION!!!! The 'Sledge' isn't within light years of that location!!!!!!!!

You said you were a demon? Good. God erases your god-mode butt from this universe. And on your way to annihilation, my instantly appearing death-star fires it's 666 million millimeter *IGNORE* cannons at you, then vanishes whence it came.

And while you try to find ways around that, take the time to attend a English composition course. It could make your posts somewhat coherent.

Too bad, though. You have some imagination. But, untempered with reasonability, it's worthless.

15-11-2003, 06:42

The Sledge docks in with the Odin, being secured with servo motorized anchors. As the Cockpit slides open to allow Raven out, a young cadet comes rushing up.

"Wow... This is the new ship for the Lord?" He looks to Raven for the answer, then realizes himself. "Captain Raven, Sir. Cadet Wilson, at your disposal, sir. I am here to escort you to your designated quarters and to show you the common areas."

As Raven walks away from the ship, the cadet reaches in and grabs a small box from under the control couch. "Sir, I believe that you forgot your remote systems control." He hands him the remote, a game-boy sized brushed titanium module.

He heads for the nearest lift and punches a few keys. The lift doors close silently and the lift jumps up two floors. The cadet straightens his grey uniform jacket and steps out and to the left, pausing to salute a Gunnery Seargent.

"Right this way, Captain." He steps down the carpeted hallway rapidly, then pauses outside an automated door and fishes inside his breast pocket for a mag-card, which he slides through the lock and then hands to Raven. Beyond the door is a king sized VT (Variable tension) bed, a computer console on a desk, a high-end recliner, and a small wooden foot locker. Judging by the appointments of this room, it's normally reserved for diplomatic envoys and the like.

"Hopefully, this will suit your needs, sir. The common entertainment hall is directly down the hall. You can't miss it. The dining hall is attached to that room. Pretty basic stuff." He gets the drift that he is rambling, suddenly straightening himself and getting more staccato in his speech. "If you need anything sir, there is a button next to the computer. I'll be right here if you need anything." He then salutes briefly, turns on his heel and leaves Raven to himself.

(("Attention all hands, We are preparing to tranfer to the Cly engines."))
The voice is a smoother, more resounding version of the VASIC from the Sledge. Raven assumes that all of the Autocthonian AI must have the same voice models.
(("Expected arrival time is one hour thirty five minutes. Captain Jennifer Stuth requests that battle stations be assumed within one hour twenty minutes."))

15-11-2003, 19:19

OOC: *slaps ACS's hands* Quit controlling my character! :evil:

"Um, thanks. And it's General Raven. But please, refer to me by my serial number: Gen-811." He smirked. "That shall be all for now, sir. Thank you." He saluted and sent him off.

He set his messenger bag on the bed and sat down. The ship piloted very well; thank God it was autopilot, if Raven himself had piloted, it would have been a disaster. He laid down. He remembered what the AI had said:

Captain Jennifer Stuth requests that battle stations be assumed within one hour twenty minutes.

"Hm, they must not have been talking about me." Cargo droids had come in with the rest of Raven's stuff from the ship. "Thank you." He strapped his RCP-90 onto his back, rolling his shoulders to adjust to the new weight. Wait. I could just the VASIC what I need. Duh, Raven thought. He looked up. "VASIC, where is the location of Kip "Anvil" Bell on this ship?" He hoped the direct method helped.

15-11-2003, 19:54

OOC: Sorry. :(

(("I'm sorry, General, But Kip 'Anvil' Bell is not present on the ASN Odin. If our communique log is correct, his ship is present at our destination. Would you like me to confirm?"))

--------------------------------------

"ASN Thor, this is Lord Darrow, of the Shadow Dragon. We have sustained heavy damage in the conflict. We are in need of a model 34 recirculator. Do you have a spare?"
"It's good to hear your voice, Lord. We do have a spare recirculator. We are sending a courier presently. Do you have any other needs?"
"Well, we're going to need to drydock whenever we get back. That Illithid was rougher than it looked."
"It hit all of us pretty bad, Lord. We do not have room for you in our docking bay, unfortunately."
"Has word gotten back from Central Command?"
"Yes, Lord. They have dispatched the Odin and the Loki to our location. Arrival is scheduled within the hour. The Odin should have space available for your ship."
"Many thanks. Darrow out."

-----------------------------

Captain Bervall breathes easier. He felt terribly uncomfortable when dealing with the High Lord. Exceedingly self-conscious, as he was a hero to the whole commonwealth. "Lieutenant, open a hailing channel to the Nightmare." David runs a hand through his hair, trying to straighten it further.
"Done, sir."
(("Captain Bell, you have been authorized to dock on our ship for fuel, repairs, munitions, and hospitality. Please bring your ship within twenty metres to recieve further docking directions. Pleasure to have you working with us."))
"I'm going back to my office. I've a bottle to share with our captain Morty. Number one, you have the helm."

-----------------------------------------------

Hawthorne settles down a bit. Word had just come that a diplomatic solution had ended his stand-off of a trade embargo. And central command had informed him that the High Lord had been in a conflict, but that the Thor had arrived to reinforce, and that all was well. Two bombs diffused. He got to go home. It had been a long day. Time for that cigar.

Ravea

15-11-2003, 23:06

Morty rested agianst the back of his chair, havingn put a large hole in the Ithilliad. He sighed deeply, and rubbed his temples. The door slid open, and a cadet stepped through.

"Are you Morty? The Captin is free to see you now. Come this way."

Morty rose and followed the soldier to an office marked Captin. The cadet knocked, opened the door, and ushered Morty in.

A sturdy-looking man was sitting behind the desk, holding a drink in his hand.

"Ah, Captin. Its a pleasure to meet you, sir." Morty said. He shook his hand and took a seat in front of the Captin.

"As i have no transportion home, i can stay on the ship and help with any reapairs, further combat, or anything else I can do for you. All i need is a ship afterwords to get home. I trust that this can be arranged? "

16-11-2003, 18:32

The captain set his drink down and offered to pour one for Morty.

"I'm sure that something can be arranged. What planet do you call home?" He leans forward a little bit.

"Because we don't have any long range ships aboard. But, once we get within a reasonable distance of your homeworld, we have a few old fighters that will be getting replaced at our next docking. I don't see the harm in letting one go with you."

Five Civilized Nations

16-11-2003, 20:52

Acknowledged

The Nightmare decloaked and proceeded to prepare to dock.

17-11-2003, 02:47

"No, that's quite alright. Although a map of the ship wouldn't hurt. Could you get me one?" he asked the AI. Actually, after his last encounter with the AI of a ship (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=69027&highlight=), he was quite happy with the fact that this one was rather polite...and not trying to kill him. He smiled.

17-11-2003, 03:16

The dock of the ASN Thor was havoc embodied. There were numerous repair bots fixing Targes as well as trying to repair the primary airlock. The ancillary airlock was working, but the bay would have to be cleared of personell prior to any launches. A flight suited man waves the Nightmare closer to a lock-spot and activates the maglocks. A cadet runs up to the Nightmare, most likely his escort and guide for the ship.

------------------------------------

(("I am having the ships floor plan sent directly to the monitor, General. The ASN Thor and ASN Odin share the same floor plan. May I help further?"))

The monitor clicks on with a nearly inaudible hum. (The floor plan shows quarters, command deck, common areas, the loading dock, the tactical control deck and engineering areas, although details like vents or power conduits are not visible, due to security restrictions.)

17-11-2003, 14:33

"Good. Thank you." Raven didn't want to get lost if he went out exploring the ship, so this was a big help. "That is all." He took an optic photo of the map to store in his brain, then opened the door and left to check out the ship. "First stop: the mess hall!"

Five Civilized Nations

17-11-2003, 15:05

Kip powered down his vessel, but leaving his vessel's AI operational. Kip strapped on a holstered gun to his hip. Kip glanced about and walked out of the ship. Kip heard the airlock attach and opening the airlock door, Kip stepped through.

17-11-2003, 15:54

The cadet saluted Bell. "Cadet Davis at your service, Captain. I am here to serve as your guide. Please allow me to show you around the ship. But first, you probably want to give the ship information to the dock Sergeant, so your ship can get refueled, reloaded or repaired."

Cadet Davis points in the direction of a grey-haired young man standing in front of a podium mounted computer. "That's Sergeant Jacobs. He's the one you need to talk to. When you're ready to see the rest of the Thor, let me know."

-----------------------------------------------------

The mess hall was only down the hall and to the right. The room was large, and filled with real tables and booths, like a restaurant in the old days. None of that industrial no-character benches and oversized picnic tables. Not many people in here... just a few here and there sipping coffee or juice and reading. Must be between meal times. At one end of the room was a long cafeteria style bar of fresh fruits, juices and ready made sandwiches.

At the end of the bar was a huge stainless Viking food synthesizer. Those things were sweet. It used raw amino acids and stem-cell proteins to synthesize any manner of food, at any temperature. Each unit cost over ten million credits. No wonder that the Autocthonian Star Navy had such high morale. They had some of the best equipment available on their ships as standard issue.

17-11-2003, 16:08

Raven's mouth watered at the thought of a Philly steak & cheese. He picked one up and bit into it. It was tasty. He grabbed a large glass of mango juice and sat at a booth. "Ah...had the last ship been like this I'd do this all the time."

Five Civilized Nations

17-11-2003, 17:28

Kip glanced at the cadet and chuckled.

"My ship is being maintained by an AI, so I don't need any of your assistance in refueling, rearming, and repairing. So lead on, I'll be right behind you."

17-11-2003, 17:32

Eric sits in his private chambers, staring through a monitor. His plans had just been set back, what with the 'dragon being damaged. And it was so close that he could taste it. The secret he was looking for had to be in the ruins on the moon Freosan Memor. The ancients knew the secret of FTL travel, but the science of Autocthonia had yet to breach that barrier. They had the engines for it, but the ships just could not hold up to the strain.

Three thousand years later, and they still haven't rediscovered all of the secrets. Curse the black day that Amerika threw back the clock with their warheads. They lost so much that day, and not just in the massive death toll. Humanity always would survive, a new generation rising out of the radioactive ash like some diminished phoenix. Unfortunately, knowledge was made of a far more frail composition. And what little they could salvage from the ruins of the old civilization was lost when the atmosphere failed and the sun was about to supernova. They retreated to the stars, laying cities where they could. The Epsilon sector was home to them now. The only hope for history was to search for the old colonies of Amerika, of Europa, of Asia.

Eric sipped his drink. The high generals didn't care about higher technology. They thought that too much technology, too soon, was what spoiled the old civilisations. Too much power, without the wisdom to use it properly. If David Cly hadn't reverse engineered the wreck that the old Shadow Dragon towed from Charon, the fleet wouldn't have the near light capacity they do now. It took three years to tow that seventy ton rust heap, but it saved the Naval Institute five hundred.

The generals lacked vision then, and they still did. If he hadn't had the autonomy of royal blood, the deep pockets of his father, he would never found that wreck. No one would have. And since he managed that feat, he had a better popular support than any of his line before him. The High Ministry had granted him public funds the last three years in a row. And he was able to produce. A working food synthesizer from a derilict station, a partially damaged mass driver cannon from a wreck in the asteroid belt, Ditanium alloy from an abandoned mining colony. But he wanted the FTL tech.

Other countries had offered to sell him a working FTL drive on the black market, but that was the easy way out. The autocthonians had some of the most reliable and efficient FTl drives of the entire system before the war. He didn't want to use a crutch, when he had working legs, somewhere out here.
He puts his drink down. He still had time to run an away team down to the old colony. As soon as the Odin shows, he could run a small mission down and have McQueen dock the dragon to the Odin. They would wait for them to come back. He gets up and heads over to his arming cabinet and starts to strap on his gear.
"Vasic?"
(("Yes, Lord?"))
"I want you to tell Captain McQueen to meet me in my office. And I want you to ask Hopper, Dimock, and Pacific to prepare for an away expedition."
(("Of course, Lord. Shall I prepare the 'Raven', 'Angel', 'Valkyrie', and 'Banshee' for mission?"))
"Yes, VASIC. Thank you. What is the ETA for the Odin?"
(("Twenty three minutes and twelve seconds. Can I be of further assistance?"))
"Just don't let the Odin leave without me."
(("Of course, Lord."))
Eric finishes strapping on his gear, grabs his long black leather jacket and ties his hair back. He then steps out the door and walks down the hall toward his office, his boots resounding through the hall.
"VASIC?"
(("Yes, Lord?"))
"Verify atmospheric conditions of Freosan Memor." The door to his office opens and he sits in his chair.
(("Freosan Memor is a class M planetary satelite, Lord. It has a human compatable atmosphere and a gravity equivalent of one."))
"Perfect. Should be like a walk in the park."
(("But, Lord, there is no plant life indiginous to Freosan Memor. It's atmosphere seems to have been artificially manufactured."))
"I know. Typical colonization effort. It's just a euphemism, VASIC."
(("Thank you, Lord. I will add it to my databank."))
Eric settles in, waiting for McQueen to arrive from command, to give him his orders.

17-11-2003, 18:33

He heads for the nearest lift and punches a few keys. The lift doors close with a slight creak and the lift jumps up two floors. The cadet straightens his light grey uniform jacket and steps out and to the left, pausing to salute a Gunnery Seargent.

"Right this way, Captain." the cadet steps down the carpeted hallway rapidly, then stops outside an automated door and fishes inside his breast pocket for a mag-card, which he hands to Bell. Beyond the door is a king sized VT (Variable tension) bed, a computer desk, a small wooden foot locker, a high-end recliner. Judging by the quality of the room, it's probably designed for diplomatic envoys.

"Hopefully, this will suit your needs, sir. The common hall is directly down the hall. The dining hall is attached to that room. If I can be of further assistance, please press the button on the desk. VASIC can probably take care of any other needs you may have." He then salutes briefly, turns on his heel and leaves Bell to himself.

Five Civilized Nations

17-11-2003, 19:58

Kip stopped the cadet from yammering on with his hand.

"I am not here for vacation. I am here at a request for your commanding officer and also to pick up the money that is owed. If you would kindly inform your CO that I am already here that will be fine," Kip then waved at the room and full of distaste, spat out the final words, "This extravagance is completely unnecessary."

With a wave his hand in dismissal, Kip walked towards the common room, thinking about getting something to drink.

17-11-2003, 20:07

After finishing his sandwich, Raven left the mess hall and went back to his quarters. "Man, that really hit the spot," he said, rubbing his stomach. He sat on his bed and looked at the ceiling. "VASIC, am I authorized to ask if we have been in communications with the ASN Thor?"

17-11-2003, 20:54

"Yes, Sir." The cadet snaps a sharp salute, then trots off to find the captain.

-------------------------------

(("General, you are authorized to speak with their diplomatic communications agent directly. We are within broadcast range. Shall I patch you through?"))

--------------------------------

Captain Bervall walks into the mess hall and stops in the center. He scans the crowd, seeking an unfamiliar face. His eyes flash upon seeing Bell and he strides over, saluting him.
"Captain Bell, I presume? We had a deal, I believe. I can wire the five million directly to your account, but naturally, I would need the transfer codes. Shall we proceed to my office?"

------------------------------------

Captain Stuth reviews the General Rivvin's report on Black Raven. She leans back, debating what she should do. Any closer, and VASIC would surely broadcast the report to the Thor, and someone might leak the information. If Bell got wind of Raven's arrival, he might take off, and Autocthonia would surely be blamed. Best to arrange a bloodless solution.

---------------------------------------------

Elsewhere aboard the Odin, crew members were settling into their combat positions. They were rapidly approaching the destination.

17-11-2003, 20:58

Captain Stuth punches in a request for Captain Kip 'Anvil' Bell's Intergalactic police record.
"If this turns up as bad as Raven says, we might be able to justify holding him."
She taps her fingers impatiently, waiting for the process to complete.

-------------------------------------
OOC: Does Bell have a record? what's it say?

Five Civilized Nations

17-11-2003, 21:38

OOC: You will receive this message...

-Transmission-

http://www.mahq.net/animation/gundam/seed/ep42b.jpg

Target Info:
Name: Londo Bell, aka Kip "Anvil" Bell
Age: 24
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Black
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 145 lbs.
Distinguishing Feature: Scar over Left Eye
Bounty: 10 million Nus (about US$ 40 million) dead or alive
Bio: Born Londo Bell in the Five Civilized Nations city of North Watch. Moved with his parents to the Citadel of Cala. When he reached 18 he joined the 5CN Naval Academy. Graduated at the top of his class, he was chosen to be the captain of a Meteor Class Assault Frigate when the Moritani Conflict broke out. In the battle, Londo was promoted to Commander. Meanwhile, his parents began to work for the Helisa Corporation and accidently caused a massive explosion that devastated the company. Seeking revenge, the Helisa Corporation killed Londo's elder brother. In horror, Londo resigned his commission in the 5CN Navy and became a bounty hunter/mercenary and at the same time committing piracy against the Helisa Corporation.

Vessel of Choice: The Nightmare

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/gundam/seed/meteor.jpg

Class: Meteor II (Downsized Version)
Unit type: Blockade Runner
Manufacturer: Cala Naval Yards
Dimensions: overall length 126 meters; overall width 69.4 meters; overall height 42.4 meters
Propulsion: One Minovsky Fusion Engine and One Nova Fusion Hyperspace Engine
Speed: 750 kilometers per hour, 60 times the speed of light (hyperspace)
Fixed armaments: 2 x 2-barrel mega particle gun; 2 x large missile launcher; 5 x Pulse Cannon
Mobile suits: 1
Price: US$5 billion

Ravea

17-11-2003, 21:58

Morty gave a heavy sigh. He had arranged to be dropped off at his home sector of Plutopia, and did not have to worry about anything else. Captian Bervell left the office, and Morty decided to have a bite to eat at the Mess Hall.

As he went to get a sandwitch, the Captian came back up with a grizzly-looking man with a vicious scasr over his eye. The man gives Morty a 1-eyed stare for a few seconds, then looks away. Apparentley this must be the piliot of the Meteor-class ship he had seen on the field. He didnt like the look of him....

17-11-2003, 22:29

Captain Bervall leads the way to his office, so as to finalize the transfer of funds. He paused to wait for Bell to come along. He was used to bounty hunters and their callousness, their disregard for anything but cold cash. He meant this man no ill will, but sensed his crews unease around the man. It was best to get this man paid.

-------------------------------------------

(("I am sorry, Captain Stuth, but Captain Bervall is not responding to his messages."))
"Just when it's important, too. D**n."
The captain stomps out of her office and onto the command deck.
"Estimated arrival?"
"Thirty seconds, Captain."
"Crew announce, VASIC. Brace for deceleration."
(("Attention all hands. Brace for Deceleration."))
The ship starts firing it's retro maneuvering engines, slowing the Odin down to a stop. The ship brakes smoothly until the very end, when it luches a bit.
"Visual."
The viewscreen at the front of the room projects the image of the damaged thor and the Shadow Dragon.
"ASN Hail."
"Ready, captain."
"This is Captain Jennifer Stuth of the ASN Odin."
{{"Good to have you with us, Captain. This is First mate MacHugh of the ASN Thor."}}
{{First Mate McQueen of the ASN Shadow Dragon, checking in. Permission to dock, Captain Stuth? Things got a little hot out here, and we'll need a ride home."}}
"Permission granted, First Mate McQueen. Has the threat been neutralized?"
{{"Yes, Captain. Lord Darrow is on away mission to finalize his goal. I have orders to wait for him. ETA three hours. Is this a problem?"}}
"Your orders, are my orders, First Mate McQueen. Good to see the 'dragon in one piece." Stuth sits down. "First mate MacHugh, Where is Captain Bervall?"
{{"He is persuing diplomatic interests at the moment, Captain."}}
"With Captain Bell?"
{{"Yes, Captain."}}
"Crap. You have a criminal aboard your ship. I need to speak with the captain. I need you to establish a lockdown on your docking bay, until this situation is completed. This information is classified red-5." She turns away from the screen. "VASIC?"
(("Yes captain?"))
"Page general Raven to command."
(("General Raven, please report to command. General Raven, Please report to command."))

18-11-2003, 02:31

Raven perked at the sound of his name, like a dog who had been called. "Hm. Wonder what this is all about. VASIC, never mind about that communication. Looks like I have an errand to run." He left his room, still wearing his RCP90 and his holster belt; however, he looked casual, as if he knew this couldn't be about him personally. He wandered down to the control deck and knocked on the door.

"What's up?"

18-11-2003, 03:10

18-11-2003, 04:07

Four katana-class fighters, the newest prototypes of the Autocthonian fleet, swim out of the Shadow Dragon as she backs up, realigning herself for docking with the ASN Odin.

"Radio check. Darrow, standing by."
"Hopper, standing by."
"Dimock, still here."
"Pacific, standing by."
"Formation three, gents. Let's keep this nice and tidy. This shouldn't take us long at all." The ships slide into a diamond pattern and dart for the surface of the moon, disappearing from sight.

-----------------------------------

The shadow dragon finally rounds the bend, lining up with the Odin's docking bay. The dragon was a fairly large ship, but the Odin was tremendous. The grey green beams of the Odins plasmagnetic traction generators eased the ship into the aperture slowly.

------------------------------------

Down on the surface of Freosan Memor, the four katana set down in relative symphony, their cockpits sliding open after tertiary atmospheric readings. The tall Lord stepped out first, pistol at the ready. This world was all dark rock and gusty wind. Pacific, with his military cut and huge rifle immediately followed. His BDU eerily reminiscent of nazi officers, all black leather and crisp edges.

"Perimeter looks secured, Lord."

Dimock and Hopper got out at the same time. One was short and muscular, while the other tall and lithe. Both wore leather jackets, as special operatives to the Lord himself. Hopper removed a small electronic device from his pocket and switched it on.

"Hey. Yeah we got the map uploaded. We're ready to go."

"Let's rock, man." Dimock wasn't overly short, just a few below average. But next to Hopper, he looked a midget. Hopper towered over six and a half feet, almost all sinew. He moved like a snake.

The lord holstered his sidearm and reached into the cargo hold of his ship, withdrawing a daito. He slid the saya through his belt with simple grace, fastening the sageo to the other side of his holster rig. He rest his left hand upon the hilt, then motioned on.

"One point five clicks. A walk in the park. Pacific?"

"Lord?"

"You live and frosty?"

Pacific smiled an evil grin, cradling the rifle to his cheek like little girls snuggle puppies. "Looking forward to some more like I got last time."

"What'd he get last time?" Dimock looked quiziccally at Pacific, considering he had missed the last month due to obligations at home.

"Let me put it to you this way; If you were on a rock in the a$$hol3 of the universe, and some spiders the size of rockets ate your cadet, what do you think Ted would do?" Hopper took long strides, and his coat hung unnaturally, obviously concealing something huge.

The lord chuckled. "What does Ted do best?"

Pacific stroked the barrel of the weapon lovingly. "We got to play with some spiders, didn't we, baby?"

"All the same, but if we get some action, I hope it's of the bipedal kind." The Lord steps around a large rock, his coat brushing up against it.

Five Civilized Nations

18-11-2003, 15:05

OOC: The only record record you will have about him is that he has a bounty of $40 million, dead or alive by the Helisa Corporation.

IC:

Kip followed Captain Bervall into his stateroom and sat down on one of the chairs.

"Forget the money for a bit... I saw the funny looks your crewmen have been giving me. I guess you want to know the story of my life..."

18-11-2003, 15:08

Captain Stuth turned away from the viewscreen and looked at Raven. Then looked again. "You can start by telling me that you are here in an official capacity, to apprehend a criminal and reclaim stolen property."

She looked harder at him, Icy blue eyes flashing with energy. "Then you can tell me what it is that you want to do about Captain Kip Bell."

Raven looked at her eyes, the anger obvious in them. "Well, Com. Rivvin said I wasn't to do anything to him personally, but I could get our ship back. He stole itfom the Xexans," he explained. "It was Com. Rivvin who sent me up here. But there's something else." He leaned in close to Cap. Stuth. "There's a bounty on that guy's head in the vicinity of +C20mil. That's not pocket change. If I were to...eliminate him...I'd be able to fix up a few things around my house. Pay a few debts. That kind of thing. But I won't do that without your permission."

Five Civilized Nations

18-11-2003, 15:18

OOC: Xexo, the Meteor II Class Blockade Runner is only used by the Five Civilized Nations and a couple of security groups. There is no way that Xexo could have had any of these vessels...

18-11-2003, 15:24

OOC: Xexo, the Meteor II Class Blockade Runner is only used by the Five Civilized Nations and a couple of security groups. There is no way that Xexo could have had any of these vessels...

OOC: Yeah, but I needed somebody to pick on, and your character seemed ripe for the picking. ;)

Five Civilized Nations

18-11-2003, 15:29

OOC: Okay...

*waits for AS's answer...*

Ravea

18-11-2003, 18:06

Morty was up to no good. He decided to see if he could oferhear anything important coming from the captian and the strange man. He went down the hallway, then doubled back quickly. he reached the office, and could overhear the captian talking.

from hat he heard, the captian was going to do something for the man, but he didnt know what. He was about to leave when he heard the name "Kip Bell."

Morty backed away from the door. He had heard the name Kip Bell before, as the man had a huge price on his head. He relized that the man who had inside with the captian must be Bell! Moerty didnt know what was going on, but he decided to find out. He decided to wait a little longer.....

18-11-2003, 18:35

OOC: last in first out. Morty, ain't you on the Thor? Raven is on the Odin. Bell is on the Thor.
-------------------------------------

Stuth glowers at Raven. "I understand that he is worth a lot to you. But I don't want any of this bounty hunter hubris on my ship. So if you're here to get your ship, and turn in a known criminal if the opportunity presents itself, so be it. If you came all this way to add another notch to your belt by dusting off another criminal, and taking his loot, you are despicable." (OOC: Stuth HATES bounty hunters...but not 'good citizens', if you catch my drift.)

----------------------------------------

Bervall listened intently. (OOC: you wanna rp the telling of your story, or brief it up by assuming that you told him the contents of your file?)

18-11-2003, 19:54

Black Raven smirked at the captain. "Now, what did I just say? I'm not going to kill him unless you say the word. And I work for the government, I'm no random guy off the street." He started walking towards the docking bay, but took one last shot: "Now, perhaps you shouldn't jump to conclusions about us bounty hunters, Captain. We aren't all bad...." He closed the door behind him.

Five Civilized Nations

18-11-2003, 19:56

Bell continued...

"My real name is Londo Bell. My parents were Amelia and Roger Bell. I was born in the Five Civilized Nations city of North Watch. I moved with my parents to the Citadel of Cala, the capital of the Five Civilized Nations. When I reached 18 I joined the 5CN Naval Academy. Graduated four years later as a Captain at the top of his class. Fresh out of the Academy, I was chosen to be the captain of a Meteor Class Assault Frigate. Right then, the Moritani Conflict broke out. During the war, I was promoted to Commander. Meanwhile, my parents had begun to work for the Helisa Corporation. They inadvertently caused a massive explosion, which involved the destruction of Krojna Colony. The Helisa Corporation was badly damaged financially by this event. Rebuilding its empire and seeking revenge, the Helisa Corporation killed my elder brother, Roland. In horror, I resigned my commission in the 5CN Navy and became a free-lancer. When the Helisa Corporation climbed back on its feet, I swore revenge. With the assistance of friends in the 5CN Navy, I bought my personal warship, the Nightmare and began to commit acts of piracy against the Helisa Corporation, hoping to avenge the deaths of my family members..."

18-11-2003, 21:12

Bervall leans back. "So you've probably got a nice figure on your head. Those corporations have a hard time letting go...or believing in extenuating circumstances." He levels his gaze at Bell.

"Look, Captian Bell, I'm not terribly interested in the wrongs you may have committed before. It sounds like you're just a man who has been through more than his share. I'm not in need of money. I'm a navy man. Everything I need is provided for. You've nothing to worry about from me. As far as I am concerned, you just made some quick cash defending the Autocthonian Lord."

He shrugs his shoulders. "What you do want to do is get your cash transfered and get the hell out of here before the Odin gets here. Her captain is a stickler for the rules and regulations. VASIC?"

(("Yes captain?"))

"How long before the Odin arrives?"

(("The Odin arrived three minutes ago, Captain. Is your communicator off? Captain Stuth has been trying to contact you since she arrived."))

Bervall looks over to Bell with a wrinkles of worry around his eyes.

"Patch her through, VASIC, but audio only."
{{"Captain Bervall?"}}
"Captain Stuth. Pleased to have you with us. We had a spot of trouble a few minutes ago."
{{"It seems like you have the situation in hand, Captain."}}
"Indeed, we do. What can I help you with, Captain Stuth?"
{{"The Odin was deployed from Kilchrennan with a General Raven of the Xexor Army. It seems that he is on a mission to collect a ship that belongs to him, but a new ally of yours had taken. He is enroute to the Thor. Captain Kip Bell is a wanted man for intergalactic crimes. I recommend treating him as armed and dangerous."}}

"Thank you, Captain Stuth. I will apprise you of the situation as it progresses. Bervall out." David leans back, drumming his fingers on the desk. "How do you plan on dealing with this, Bell?"

18-11-2003, 21:12

The deck of the Odin was relatively clear, considering that the 'dragon had just been maglocked into place.

(("General, would you like me to prepare the Sledge for deployment?"))

Ravea

18-11-2003, 21:31

OCC:My last post has been edited

19-11-2003, 00:05

The ruin loomed in front of the adventurers, a jagged thumb of twisted iron pointing accusingly at the stars that had abandoned it. The lord pushed a few refugee strands of his long brown hair out of his eyes.
"Shade, are we getting a geiger reading off of this?"

Hopper removed yet another electronic gadget from his trench. A second and three beeps later elicited the response. "No. Whatever trashed this place did it physically."

"Well then, let's go in hot." Dimock unholstered two large handguns and stamped forward. "Whatever is left is lunch."

Pacific chuckled and moved forward, finger caressing the trigger of his rifle.

19-11-2003, 00:05

19-11-2003, 02:42

OOC: ...what? I'm confused.

General Raven got on the Sledge. "Thank you, VASIC. Can you reprogram the autopilot on this ship to go to the Thor?" He buckled in and prepared for his flight.

19-11-2003, 04:23

(("With ease, General. Please fasten your saftey harness. We have been cleared for deployment."))

-------------------------------------

OOC: If you're referring to the lord thing... it's just me rp-ing out the events of his mission.

19-11-2003, 14:33

OOC: Oh, yeah, I know what you're talking about.

General Raven buckled in and took off. The ship didn't have to take him very far; the Thor was nearly right next to the Odin. So 3 minutes later, he was on the Thor. He got out of this ship and asked the Thor's VASIC, "Direct me to Captain Kip 'Anvil' Bell."

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 15:17

Londo Bell exploded, "Raven!?! That bastard..." Standing up, Bell smashed his hand into the wall.

"Ravea is no general, he's a freaking bounty hunter!!!"

In anger, Bell began to finger his scar running through his left eye.

"Two months ago, when the bounty first came out, Raven and a group of bounty hunters attacked me, when I was on Charon for business. I killed a couple of bounty hunters in hand-to-hand combat. Raven cut my face, but I nearly killed him. I escaped aboard an Orion Class Shuttle, but it was destroyed by the bounty hunters. I floated in space. Ravea and his company left me for dead."

Bell pulled out the pistol strapped to his hip and pulled the setting from stun to kill.

"I'll kill that bastard if that's the last thing I do..."

Suddenly, Bell saw someone at the entrance to the cabin. Quickly, Bell pulled the door open, revealing Morty.

"Who the hell are you?"

19-11-2003, 16:24

((OOC: Is it too late to pop in and join the RP? Perhaps a space pirate, or something along those lines? ))

19-11-2003, 16:33

((OOC: Is it too late to pop in and join the RP? Perhaps a space pirate, or something along those lines? ))

OOC: I wouldn't think so, no. And are you talking about me 5CN? Or are you really talking about Ravea?

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 16:54

OOC: I was talking about Ravea...

19-11-2003, 17:08

OOC: Krowemoh, Go ahead. Easiest way would be to pull your ship into the vicinity, and radio a ship... maybe you want to buy fuel or something. Don't announce that you are a pirate (merchant is a good substitute for pirate), and post your ship details.

---------------------------------------

(("I'm sorry, General, but Captain Bell has just made an aggressive action, and we can not direct anyone but security to his location. You may want to be at the brig in three minutes."))

----------------------------------------

Bervall was unimpressed by Bell's undisciplined show of force. Quite honestly, he expected better of him.
"Captain Bell, I understand that you are angry. But the Thor is still my ship, and I WILL NOT have strangers drawing weapons and acting foolish."

(("Captain, Security has been dispatched to your location."))

"I don't think that's necessary, VASIC." He glowered at Bell, waiting expectantly for him to lower his weapon. "...Or is it?"

"You are on my ship, and you have been granted an offer of hospitality on my ship. He can not, he will not harm you while you are here. If you want blood, you launch and taunt Raven from there. That's your choice. But not on my ship."

He changes the direction of his glower to Morty. "And what can I do for you?" He motions Morty through the door, and waits for the door to close behind him.

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 17:11

Bell holstered his pistol, resetting it back to stun. He sat down in a chair, chagrined by his outburst.

"I am sorry for my outburst. But I mourn the loss of my eye and the loss of comrades that were killed by these murderous barbarians... As for you," turning to Morty, "Who are you? What do you want?"

19-11-2003, 17:24

((OOC: AS, check your telegrams, please. I gotta get off now. I'll write a quick bio and post it when I get back on...))

Ravea

19-11-2003, 17:43

Morty was about to leave from the conversation when the door suddenly opned and Bell came through, pistol drawn.

"D'oh!" thought Morty.

"Who the hell are you?" said Bell. Morty walked in and faced the captian and Bell. He didnt speak until Bell had lowered his pistol.

"Well, if it comforts you, Bell, im not after you. I just arrived here by accident. But i do know who you are. I would just like to know, Captian, what are doing with this man? Surely you must know the price on Bell's head!? I also heard tha name Raven. Could you tell me what is going on here?"

19-11-2003, 18:05

Raven wasn't surprised. "Aggressive action, eh? Well, I'll just have to tail security. Thank you, VASIC." He saw a brigade of security heading towards the command deck. He decided to follow them, but stayed 10 steps behind and tried to look inconspicuous (at least, as inconspicuous as one can look with a machine gun on one's back).

19-11-2003, 18:06

The Lord brushes his hand against the black outer wall where the embossed crest of Autocthonia lay. This ruin was probably three and a half thousand years old. He hoped that there was something worth salvaging left. He motions a closed fist in front of his mouth and points two fingers at his eyes, then at Pacific and Dimock, then through the gaping maw of the ruin. They move in silently, weapons at the ready. The lord wats for Hopper to stand beside him then the two follow into the ruin.

------------------------------------
The momentary blur of light announces the arrival of the ASN Loki like a doorbell.
{{"Thic is Captain Jacob Strezewski of the ASN Loki."}}

"Glad to have you with us, Cpatain. This is Captain Stuth of the ASN Odin. I'm afraid that we got here too late for the rough and tumble."

{{"Sorry to hear that. Where is the Shadow Dragon? We didn't lose her, did we?"}}

"No, the 'dragon is docked in and ready to go home. We are waiting on her Away team."

{{"Have you heard orders from command?"}}

"We are to wait for Darrow and his team, then we are to escort him back to the dock near Kilchrennan for repairs. The Thor and Loki have a week of leave, if I recall. I'm transmitting the official orders from Admiral Davis."

{{"Thank you captain. Strezewski out."}}

-------------------------------------

As the team progresses down the corridor, they find a room with absolutely no debris. They smoothly walk in by twos, covering each other as well as the room. Hopper holsters his weapon and pulls out yet another electronic sensor device. The amber glow reflecting off of his face, his eyes brighten, and he moves slowly toward the opposite wall. He unearths a hidden control panel and pulls a screwdriver out of nowhere and begins toying with the mechanical entrails of the room. Hopper was one of the best electronics men in Autocthonia. He helped assemble the first Cly engine, but decided to keep his involvement private.

The silence is replaced with low volume organ music, with a calypso lilt to it. The men look around quizzically. Dimock mouths swear words silently. Hopper clicks another piece into place, and goofy cartoonish laughing fills the air.

Pacific raises his rifle at the brightly clothed and painted man beside the Lord, His motion blurs for a second. The noise of steel cutting thin air registers in his memory, and he sees the lord noto, sheathing his sword. The head still stays put, despite having been sliced through. The lord sees this and bounces back, drawing pistols out from shoulder holsters.

"What the...?" Pacific aims and squeezes the trigger, sending off a dense burst of 10mm caseless.

"Hey, cut that $hiat out. It's a hologram." Hopper slurs from the corner.

"that isn't no holo. It's not transparent." Pacific keeps the gun trained on the clown.

"No, I guess it ain't. But it is 3d. and there is a switch here that's labeled interactive programming. I think that this is some kind of entertainment thing...."

"Wrap it up. Take it with. How long will it take?" The lord re-holsters his pistols. "And would you lose this creepy thing?"

"About ten minutes."

19-11-2003, 18:09

It took security some time to get there, and as they all stood outside the captain's quarters, Black Raven stood a few yards from the door, looking like a civilian who wass just gawking at the scene ahead. He waited for security to clear, even though he knew that would take some time.

19-11-2003, 18:10

"Morty, we have somewhat of a diplomatic snafu here. This man, Captain bell, who had just fulfilled a contract to aid us in battle, has a price on his head from a greedy corporation. A man just arrived with one of our ships to attempt to claim him for his bounty. It's a bit hairy now." He motions to a chair for Morty.

"Vasic?"
(("Yes, Captain?"))
"Mask Captain Bell's location to any whom ask."
(("Yes, Captain."))

"Now, Captain Bell how do you want to deal with this?"

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 18:12

A mischevious grin appeared on Londo's face.

"Why, very simple. I'll just disappear..."

Bell activated his comm unit and began to speak into it.

"Wake up Nightmare... I want you to detach from the airlock and blast out of here... I'll join you later..."

Turning off his comm, he glanced at Captain Berval.

"My AI should keep Raven and the others busy. For me to escape, do you have escape pods?"

19-11-2003, 18:20

Security finally cleared out, and Raven appeared at the doorway. He saw Bell and Cap. Berval standing there talking, as well as Morty. He smiled. "Check."

He transformed his helmet. It's very unsettling forr those not used to seeing it: first, metal liquid forms at the back of the head, then solidifies into a plate. It then stretches out to mask the entire face, save for the eyes. Finally, the metal forms an opaque visor-like covering over the eyes. The entire deal takes about 15 seconds.

"So, Captain Bell, I believe you have something I want. Now, I'm not going to kill you; I won't have some international snafu for just 20 million. I just want the ship you stole. Or you risk being arrested for grand theft starship."

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 18:21

OOC: Um, Xexo, the door is closed tight...

19-11-2003, 18:24

>_< Okay, so he knocked first.

19-11-2003, 18:47

OOC: Doors under security lock, I'm afraid. He may hear the knock, but he ain't letting anyone in yet.

(("General Raven, The Nightmare has been cleared to launch and is proceeding to the launch bay."))
The voice comes from the Sledges remote unit.
------------------------------------

"We have escape pods, but if that knocking is Raven, You're not going to get to them before he starts his trouble." David leans back.

"VASIC, camera display of outside my door." The monitor flickers to life, showing Raven and his disturbing armour standing there.

{{"So, Captain Bell, I believe you have something I want. Now, I'm not going to kill you; I won't have some international snafu for just 20 million. I just want the ship you stole. Or you risk being arrested for grand theft starship."}}

Five Civilized Nations

19-11-2003, 19:58

Bell snorted in disgust.

"Grand theft starship? Raven is the one who should be arrested, not me... He stole my first vessel, the Absolution. My current vessel, the Nightmare is on loan from the 5CN Navy... There is no way I could be wanted to grand theft starship..."

19-11-2003, 20:23

OOC: It begins.

"Darn security lock!" He begins rapping on the door. "LET ME IN! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, BELL!!" He then hears the VASIC command. "NO! VASIC, hold that ship!"

19-11-2003, 20:30

(("I'm sorry, General, but only a ranking officer of the Autocthonian Navy has authority to lock down the docking bay. Would you like me to prepare the Sledge for deployment?"))

---------------------------------------

Bervall waits for Bell's decision on what path of action to take, nervously tapping his fingers together.

"Maybe we should attempt negotiations?"

(("Captain, shall I deploy security to your location now?"))

"Hold on a second, VASIC. I'm not sure yet."

19-11-2003, 22:06

((OOC: Here's my bio.
Name: Nini'Liiar Vel'Sharen (NEE-nee lee-are Vell Sha-REN)
Age: 256
Race: Drow; AKA Dark Elf
Hair: White
Eyes: Red, pupilless
Occupation: Traveller/Intergatic Misfit
Appearance: Clickth HERE (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/338831/NiniLiiarVelSharen.jpg)

Bio: Born to a pair of noble Dark Elves, Nini'Liiar is the heir to an Elven empire, but threw it all away to see the universe and boldly go where few Drow has gone before. Unlike the stereotypical zenophobic Drow, Nini'Liiar craves to meet all sorts of interesting people, finding life on her homeworld uneventful and boring. Unfortunately for her, she didn't take into account that not everyone in the universe is a nice person, and so lost her right arm in a rather pitched firefight. Now in place of her arm she has a robotic prostectic which doubles as a metal gauntlet.
Nini'Liiar seems to have problems understanding personal property laws, and likes to takes shiney and/or pretty (read Expensive :P) looking things without asking permission first.
This is much the same way she acquired the Prototype S-21 Eclipse Starship which she currently pilots. The original owner caught her trying to steal his ship, but meet a rather unpleasent end when he attacked her with his bare fists. The ship now, more or less, legally belongs to her. She has a basic understanding of how to pilot the thing, but mostly leaves the actually piloting to the ship's on-board AI, "Katrinne."

Perfered Weapons: Her metal fist, anything she can lay her hands on
Quote: "Ooooh! Shiney..."

Ship: The S-21 Eclipse (http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/338831/TheS-21Eclipse.jpg)
Weapons: Dual Medium Plasma Cannons, Auto-Tracking Missiles x8.

And that's it. ^_^ Not what I had in mind at first, but it works. Now to write myself into this RP...))

20-11-2003, 00:36

Black Raven made his best attempt to calm down. "VASIC, please do not prepare for deployment yet. I am kind of busy. And please tell Captain Bervall that I would like him to open this door immediately." He rapped on the door again.

Ravea

20-11-2003, 01:52

Morty watched all of this with raised eyebrows. Evidentley Bell really hated Raven. He was now presented with 2 problems:

First, he didnt want to be caught in the middle of this fight. He was armed and dangerous, but he knew that he couldnt shoot Bell if the captian was friendly with him. On the other hand, he didnt really want to be supporting Bell either. He settled on standing as far back as possible and shooting only if necassary if the door was opened.

His second problem was that he was hungry, and couldnt get to the Mess Hall without opening the door.

He looked at Bell nervously and prepared himself for a possible fight.

Five Civilized Nations

20-11-2003, 14:57

Bell came up with an idea. "Do you have any vents I could crawl through?"

---

Meanwhile, the Nightmare exited the docking bay on its own power and began to cruise away from the ANS Thor. Twenty meters away from the Thor, the Nightmare cloaked...

20-11-2003, 16:53

((OOC: A prelude of my entrance to this RP.))

*The S-21 glided through the void of space. The small spacecraft, when compared to the ore hualing it was escorting, seemed like a tiny spec of space dust. Inside the bubble cockpit of the Eclipse, sat none other then the intergalatic misfit known as Nini'Liiar. The two vessels glided towards the massive space station in orbit around the moon of some backwater planet called Taris, or something like that. The hualer docked with the station, and an alien face appeared on the viewscreen inside the cockpit before Nini'Liiar.*

Chenkov: "We thank thee for escorting us safely to Bablyon 2. As promised, thy pay of ten thousand credits has been debited into thy StarCom account."

Nini'Liiar: "Piece of cake. Is there anything else you need?"

Chenkov: "No, I do believe that is all. We are not shedculed to go out again for another month."

Nini'Liiar: "Well, I'm off on my way then!"

Chenkov: "Fare thee well on thy journy, stranger."

*After refueling and resupply, the Elcipse left dock with the station and headed for the nearest jump gate.*

((OOC: Totally different section of the universe from you guys. She's not even in the same nebula. So how is she gonna get over to you guys? Heh heh heh... Time will tell, time will tell. ^_^))

Five Civilized Nations

20-11-2003, 16:57

OOC: Krowemoh is your vessel a Chiss-Imperial Hybrid Fighter from Star Wars?

In regards to your question, somebody sends you a message for a job in the area we are in and you run into us...

20-11-2003, 17:29

OOC: Krowemoh is your vessel a Chiss-Imperial Hybrid Fighter from Star Wars?

In regards to your question, somebody sends you a message for a job in the area we are in and you run into us...

((OOC: Nope. S-21 Eclipse Stealth Starfighter from Colony Wars, for the PS1. :P It's been slightly modified for this role, i.e. weapons have been reduced from a primary and secondary 'gun' and four to five missile packs to one primary 'gun' and one pack of auto-tracking missiles. So weapons layout has been toned down quite a bit. And Stealth capabilities have been nullified. And I added an state-of-the-art AI that rivals Katrinna from Halo, or whatever that construsts name is.
As for the question, I wasn't asking. I meant to put in "Is probably what you're asking yourself," at the end. At the distance she is to you guys (Numbering in the trillions of lightyears,) any message sent to her would be over a thousand years old. Just wait tho, you'll see. ^.~ ))

Five Civilized Nations

20-11-2003, 17:31

OOC: Use something called HOLONET, which sends instantaneous transmissions across the universe... That is how my scientific exploration missions communicate back to me...

20-11-2003, 17:34

OOC: Use something called HOLONET, which sends instantaneous transmissions across the universe... That is how my scientific exploration missions communicate back to me...

((OOC: Apparently we're thinking of different means of communications then. I was thinking of something like a Hyper Pulse Generator like in the MechWarrior Universe. How does HOLONET work exactly? Folding space?))

Five Civilized Nations

20-11-2003, 17:36

OOC: HOLONET is from Star Wars... You know the thing that the Imps use, but everyone hacks...

20-11-2003, 17:42

OOC: HOLONET is from Star Wars... You know the thing that the Imps use, but everyone hacks...

((OOC: Ah... Mmkay. Well, anyways, that's not how she gets over to guys. Paitance, grasshoppa. Time will reveal all. :P (Really, just waiting for you guys to finish this current story arc, with Kip Bell 'fore I throw myself headfirst into this RP.)))

20-11-2003, 18:31

There's a vent, but it's only 18" x 18" and it ascends four feet straight up before turning. Could be a bit of a dog getting through there. However, if you move the chair to on top of the desk....

--------------------------------------------------

"Good luck, Bell. Beam me your account numbers when you get out and I'll transfer your fee. Or just come back, and we can sort things out then." He hands Bell a printout of a map showing the route to the escape pods.

David turns to Morty. "He never was in here. We were just discussing the arrangement of how you will be getting home, right?"

20-11-2003, 19:03

"It's no use. He's not opening the door." Raven was tired of this. He needed to get to Kip before Kip got out. He whipped out his RCP90 and fired 10 rounds at the door, hoping this would get him somewhere.

20-11-2003, 20:38

It got him somewhere all right.
-----------------------------------

(("Security Alert. Captains Deck. Security Alert."))

A piercing siren permeates the air in the hallway.

(("Projectiles fired. Security Alert."))

Automated panels drop from the cieling and small bi-particle beam blasters descend slowly, aiming at Raven. The PA system engages, a tinny male voice on the other end.

{{"This is gunnery sergeant Crecy. Disarm yourself, or I will fire. You are covered from five angles. A security team has been deployed and you will be arrested until your behaviour has been explained. I suggest that you do not complicate matters further by struggling."}}

Boot stamps resound from around the corner, and four men appear in full body armor, aiming automatic rifles at Raven while maintaining as much cover as possible.

{{"You are on an Autocthonian Warship, stranded without a ship of your own. You may be a hero somewhere, but this ship is full of trained soldiers. Fight and you will eventually fall. Make it easy on all of us. Disarm."}}

21-11-2003, 09:55

21-11-2003, 14:31

OOC: momentary lapse of judgement. I had a big ol' post up here explaining why it wouldn't be an action a general would take, and offered the chance for him to reconsider and change his actions, but it did not occur within the time frame. His call, ultimately.

--------------------------------------------------------

Hopper picked up the heavy rucksack and slung it over his shoulder carefully, trying to get the hologram transmitter back without damage. The team wove it's way out of the room and down the shadowed hallway.

"We have to find where the engineering bay was." The lords raspy whisper echoed through the empty concourse.

21-11-2003, 14:35

(OOC: This is how Black Raven operates, Krowenoh. How would YOU act if you got annoyed and you were heavily armed?)

He holstered his RCP90. "Fail, eh? Wanna bet?" He unholstered his lightsaber from his belt and lit it. He was prepared for trouble. "THis is a standoff until further notice. Fire and I will just deflect it. And no, I am not a Jedi Knight."

He shifted his weight. "You want an explanation? I'll give you one. There is someone in there I need to talk to. I have been dispatched top talk to him. And yet he refuses to open this door. Get me in or there will be trouble."

21-11-2003, 14:38

OOC: momentary lapse of judgement. I had a big ol' post up here explaining why it wouldn't be an action a general would take, and offered the chance for him to reconsider and change his actions, but it did not occur within the time frame. His call, ultimately.

((OOC: Ahh... Hmm... Hey, what times are you guys on at, usually? I'm on usually between 10PM and 7AMish PST.
Um, certainly not try to blast down a door on a cap ship full of soldiers. That's suicide. Unless you're the main character in a video game, where you take whole planets by yourself and win...))

21-11-2003, 14:56

OOC: Raven...Come on now. This won't be much of a stand off. You don't have cover. Either ends of the hallways can be filled with soldiers with guns, not including the automatons in the cieling. There are 150 soldiers assigned to this ship. No one is fast enough to deflect all of the beams. No one. Unless, perchance you're typing in cheat codes. This was a tactical error. Not very well planned out.
Bervall would much rather host negotiations, but from his POV, you're an irrational trigger happy bounty hunter. He wants you off of his ship. Bell doesn't want to deal with you, obviously. And you just bent over a log, asking to be violated. Sorry if that's not the way it looks from your video game point of view, but it's simply not realistic for any one person to get out of this one.

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 14:59

Bell stood on the table and worked at the vent and managed to open it. Activating a device on his belt, Bell began to float in the air.

"Ah, my good old anti-gravity belt is still working... Good..."

Bell floated into the vent and closed the vent behind him...

21-11-2003, 15:00

OOC: <snip>
Bervall would much rather host negotiations, but from his POV, you're an irrational trigger happy bounty hunter. He wants you off of his ship. Bell doesn't want to deal with you, obviously. And you just bent over a log, asking to be violated. Sorry if that's not the way it looks from your video game point of view, but it's simply not realistic for any one person to get out of this one.

((OOC: Ewwww.... Thanks a bunch, AS. I needed that visual this early in the morning. :roll: Yuck!))

21-11-2003, 15:15

Bervall fell back from the table. He had seen some wierd stuff when dealing with outsiders, but today was taking it's toll on him. That gun-nut in the hallway with his transmogrification armour and light blade, the Illithid and it's ungodly sized shells, and now this crap.

He waited until Bell was clear of the vent and bolted the cover back on. Sitting down he poured himself a second helping of the Glenmorangie, and offered Morty a glass.

"This chucklehead outside... that armour looked pretty serious. So, if he can deflect blasts, at best, one of four blasts will sock his armour. I have five automated blasters outside, a security team down the hall. They can fill that hall with blasts. Even the best armour wouldn't hold up for long. We just will have to wait a bit." He sips the amber whisky. "Honestly, what position does he think that he's in that he can make threats?" An idea washes over him.

"VASIC?"

(("Yes?"))

"Continue to send additional security details to this location. Send a brigade with low yield ion projectors. His armour liquified and seeped through his pores. That means that they are nanites. And nanites are machines. And machines can be disabled with ions. That ought to take care of his carapace, and that light sword...do you have readings on it?"

(("Yes, captain. It seems to be an superheated plasma device, contained within an electromagnetic field."))

"Excellent. Then the ion blasts will disable that little toy, too."

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 15:18

Bell began to crawl slowly through the vents heading for the general direction of the escape pods.

"Vasic, can you point me to the escape pods? I don't exactly have a map of the vents of your vessel..."

21-11-2003, 15:20

(("Captain, you need to proceed for ten metres, then left for three. There will be a vent straight ahead at that point that exits at the floor level. I have warned the crew there that you are coming, so that you will not be accosted."))

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 15:22

"Thank you Vasic... You and your captain have been a great help."

Bell crawled forward ten meters, turned left and crawled three more meters...

21-11-2003, 15:31

*The Eclipse entered the system containing the massive jumpgate that would connect her to another section of the galaxy. Thousands of ships used these jumpgates each and every day, to quickly commute from one end of the galaxy to the other. Nini'Liiar sat back in the cockpit of her Eclipse, waiting in a line of ships to enter the Jumpgate.*

Nini'Liiar: "Katrinne, when we get to the Jumpgate, set course for... Um... Oh hell, just pick someplace out at random and take us there."

*A holographic figure of a humanoid female appeared before Nini'Liiar, her arms crossed. The AI Construct shook her head disapprovingly.*

Katrinne: "Oh, yeah, load off all the work on me, why don't cha?"

Nini'Liiar: "For an AI, you complain alot."

Katrinne: "You try have a little green slave driver telling you what do to all the time."

Nini'Liiar: "Hey! I'm not a slave driver! An' I ain't little!"

Katrinne: "Yeah, yeah... Hmmm... Any place, eh? Let's go to Kerriyo System then?"

Nini'Liiar: "Works for me."

Katrinne: "You are aware that going there will cost you 300 Credits, right?"

Nini'Liiar: "Does it matter? I just made a bunch of credits on that run we just did, and I didn't even do anything!"

*The figure's facial expression was of exsaperation.*

Katrinne: "Of course you didn't! You never do anything! I do all the work! Augh! My last owner was a heck of a lot more helpful then you!"

Nini'Liiar: "Ah, not this topic again. You're always complaining..."

21-11-2003, 15:41

(("I am glad to have been of service, Captain. The safety escape pod has been engaged, and is awaiting your arrival."))

Two marines stand at the ready to help Bell up, should he require it, and to replace the grate on the vent.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Vasic, would you kindly let the Odin and Loki know what we are experiencing."

(("I am transmitting our current security details now, captain."))

--------------------------------------------------------

Stuth slams her hand down on the armrest. "I knew that f&*%ing b@$!@rd was a bloody pirate!!" She settles down as quickly as she erupted. "Move us to position 437.98, 9873.764, 56321.6 to intercept anything their bay spits out. Scramble a transport team. Let's give them some reinforcements."

"Aye, captain."

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 15:46

Bell levered himself and kicked the vent grating. With a groan, the grating fell to the floor and Bell tumbled out of the vent. The two marines helped him up and escorted him to the escape pod.

Bell profusely thanks the two marines and gave them his account numbers for the wire of money. He then climbed aboard the escape pod and keyed his comm...

Nightmare, prepare to tractor beam the escape pod.

Order confirmed. Awaiting your arrival...

The door of the escape pod closed and it was jettisoned. Immediately, the Nightmare's tractor beam picked it up and pulled it into the dock...

21-11-2003, 15:53

A blast door closed at the other end of the hallway. More soldiers were appearing at the other end. The noise of rifles being checked and aimed almost masked the noise of a small mechanized armour unit somewhere down the hall.

{{"Raven, this is your last chance. Disarm, or face the consequences."}}

---------------------------
OOC: There are now fifteen soldiers with fully auto plasma rifles, four with ion blasters, with an armour support in play behind them. half of them have about 3/4 cover. There are five remote controlled bi-particle blasters aimed from the ceiling. The captains door is a thick material. It'd take a bit to slice through with the sabre. Slow enough that they'd most likely blast through your armour while you did it, considering that you can't deflect with the sabre while you do it. The blast door at the end of the hall is of primium coated ditanium, which will absorb the blast bolts. They are ready to literally fill the hall with firepower. This is a self-defeating situation. You could probably talk your way out of the brig. No one can talk their way out of the morgue.

21-11-2003, 17:20

OOC: Damn you, ACS, and your ruining of my plans! I can't have Black Raven dying because of this RP, he's very important in my RP universe.

*leaves RP*

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 17:21

Um... Xexo... You could just surrender yourself...

21-11-2003, 17:25

OOC: Damn you, ACS, and your ruining of my plans! I can't have Black Raven dying because of this RP, he's very important in my RP universe.

*leaves RP*

((OOC: Yeah dude, just surrender. That way, it's no a life loss situation. He logged off...))

21-11-2003, 17:32

You could probably talk your way out of the brig. No one can talk their way out of the morgue.

Said it all here. Bervall is ultimately in charge of this ship, and he has a demonstrated soft spot for people. You could possibly explain that the ten round is a warning thing for Xexo citizens, and that it is typical response in your homelands...

Basically, You r-ped your way into the hairy situation, by playing him a little silly. Now you have to really engage the old brain pan at double strength to get him out of it.

Through adversity comes real character. Anyone can play an invincible god of war. It's a no-brainer. Playing a fallible character, constrained by the realities we all live by (or of the world we have all agreed upon) is far more impressive, fun, and liberating.

I hope that you don't n00b out and bail, like you threatened.

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 17:35

AS, you should TG him...

21-11-2003, 17:40

Yeah I suppose.

21-11-2003, 17:47

((OOC: Speaking of which, FCN, please check your TGs.))

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 17:54

Krowemoh, read the TG... And I don't know... Keep an eye on it though...

21-11-2003, 18:23

All right, guys, how long do we give him before we construct some half-arsed plot deviation to cover for him bailing out?

Five Civilized Nations

21-11-2003, 18:24

Get a new person to RP for him...

21-11-2003, 18:25

All right, guys, how long do we give him before we construct some half-arsed plot deviation to cover for him bailing out?

((OOC: This time two days from now should be more then enough. As for him bailing... Um... I guess we can just RP his character's removal from the ship and his return to Xexo, or something.))

21-11-2003, 18:25

Any takers?

Obviously it would have to be some kind of disguise dance (i.e. They were masquerading as Black Raven, et cetera...)

21-11-2003, 18:26

Any takers?

Obviously it would have to be some kind of disguise dance (i.e. They were masquerading as Black Raven, et cetera...)

((OOC: Um... Not me... Sar-wee. I already got a character.))

22-11-2003, 20:29

tick, tock, bump.

23-11-2003, 15:09

((OOC: Let's give Xexo another few hours, and then I'll take over Reven. Well, not Revan, but the person mascaderading as him.))

24-11-2003, 19:18

((OOC: Live! Breathe, darn you! *Gives CPR to the thread!* FIGHT! Don't go into the light!))

*Revan Black scrowled, tightening his grip on his Lightsaber. He slides one foot out a little, and one of the more jumpier security guards pulled the trigger on his ion blaster. The ion blast screamed through the air towards Revan, who brought up his Lightsaber to deflect, but without the training of a Jedi, was unable to. The blast hits him, knocking him to the ground, the lightsaber dropping. Abruptly, his image went fuzzy, turned to static then vanished, revealing a human male with jet black hair and a tattoo of a triangle on his forehead and cheeks. He wore odd light grey colored body armor, and a white cloak.*

Revan(???): "Ah, damn..."

*Before he could do much of anything, the security guards all rush him and detain him, dragging him off to the brig.*

///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///

*The Eclipse entered the Jumpgate, 300 Credits being deducted from Nini'Liiar's account automatically as she entered the event horizon of the wormhole. A few seconds later, another ship entered right behind her, apparently going to the same place.
*Once inside the Wormhole, all Katrinne had to do was sit back and let the ship travel the rest of the way to the other end of the Wormhole.
*Inside the medium personal ship behind the small starcraft, an alien creature smirked, or smirked as well as it's lizardlike face could allow, as his computer told him he had a lock-on on Nini'Liiar's ship.*

Alien: "Steal from Mel's friend, Mel kill you..."

*A barrage of missiles soared from a missilepod on the underbelly of the craft, rocketing towards the Eclipse.
*Katrinne barely had time to dodge, the solvo of ten missiles slamming into the rear compartment near the ion engines. Engaging the ejection pod, the bubble cockpit shot out from the body of the Eclipse as it exploded and went careening into the side of the wormhole, striking it. The worm became unstable, and then all went white.*

///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\
Near the Thor's position...
\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///

*Any monitoring sub-space around them would be blind to not notice the massive hole being formed. Tendrils of Etheric energy lashed out, and space seemed to collapse in on itself. As the wormhole collasped, it spat oout the one escape pod and the medium personal craft, the latter spinning wildly out of control. The escape pod's retro rockets flared to life, pushing it away from the other ship before it could regain it's bearings. The pod broadcasted a universal SOS signal as well as a plea for assistance to any in the area, promising a reward for assistance rendered. As the personal craft regained it's bearings, it spun around to face the pod, then jetted towards it, blasters firing. The dark blue bolts of energy impacted against the shields of the pod, which were designed to withstand reentry into a planet. They wouldn't be able to handle much more abuse, and would collaspe at any time. Mel continued to fire upon the defenseless escape pod, not even noticing the other ships in the area.*

((OOC: The medium sized personal craft "Mel" is piloting is a heavily (And illegally) modified personal civilian starhopper. Although to the Earthlings watching, it would appear to be a heavy fighter.))

Ravea

24-11-2003, 19:38

OCC:Yay! the thread is alive!

IC:Morty relaxed his grip on his gun as he saw Black Raven go down. He opened the door to see a dozen gaurds swarming over him and dragging him away.

"Well, thank Bob thats over." He looked at the Captian. "So, what are you going to do with him?

24-11-2003, 20:09

OCC:Yay! the thread is alive!

((OOC: Of course. I'm not about to let it die so easily. ^_^))

Five Civilized Nations

24-11-2003, 20:52

After Bell arrived at the bridge of his vessel, he noticed in shock at the appearance of a new vessel attacking an escape pod. The Nightmare quickly responded to Bell's commands and it moved to intercept the attacking vessel. The cloaked Nightmare's pulse cannons fired repeatedly at the attacking vessel...

24-11-2003, 23:26

*The starhopper came under attack from an invisible enemy, and it spun around to face the new threat.*

Mel: "Where is it? Mel no see ship..."

*The Nightmare fired another salvo of Pulse cannons, and the starhopper backed off, retreating for the moment using it's sub-space engines to get the heck out of dodge. The lifepod, which was really just the cockpit bubble, of the Eclipse drifted aimlessly, badly damaged.*

Nini'Liiar: "Katrinne, are you still here?"

*The holograph of the ship's AI appeared, fuzzy and a bit weak.*

Katrinne: "I am here still..."

Nini'Liiar: "We're safe now... I hope..."

25-11-2003, 04:31

"Captain, we have something on screen..."

"Tactical, lock mass drivers on that aggressor. Comm, open a Hail."

"Aye, captain. We have lock."

"Check, Captain."

{{"Cease and desist your aggressive action. Seek diplomatic resolution. Continue, and you may be fired upon."}}

"Open a hail to the escape pod."

"Check, Captain."

{{"We have recieved your hail. We are docking you into our ship. This is Captain Stuth of the ASN Odin."}}

The grey green beam of light bathed the escape pod, pulling it gently aboard the docking bay of the Odin.

-----------------------------------

"Morty, I think I'm going to have him questioned, detained until we get some answers. I have a feeling that this guys trying to stir up war with the Xexo." Captain Bervall steps outside the door, and heads toward the bridge.

--------------------------------------

"Would you hold still and look into this...quit struggling!" The sergaent holds up the retinal scanner identifier while the other guards attempt to hold him from writhing away.

"D@mn, if you're not that Raven character, who the h@ll are you?"

25-11-2003, 23:29

*The retrinal scanner scans his retrina for a moment, then displays his information:

First Name: Celestine
Last Name: Warden
Nationality/Race: Unknown/Shape-Shifter?
Age: 26?
Gender: Male
Wanted by over 230 governments and intergalatic mega-corporations for impersonifcation of government officials, high ranking military officers, and CEOs. Wanted in suspicion of starting numerious minor and major military conflicts. Wanted for treason and amtempt to overthrow government soverignity by over two hundred Governments. Wanted for suspision of mass destruction of government property, loss of life, envoking needless war, and breaking alliances.
Other: Background unavailable or missing.
Bounty: Combined bounties are over 60 Trillion.

*The man, Celestine, smirked as his info is displayed.*

Celestine: "All that stuff is wrong."

///\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\
Outside...
\\\///\\\///\\\///\\\///

*The pod is slowly pulled into the docking bay of the Odin.
*Mel's ship was already speeding away from the invisible fighter when it recieved the comm to stop attacking. However, Mel was still angry, and sent this reply to the Odin.*

Mel: "You help Mel's enemies, you enemy of Mel."

*It's lizard like face hissed and then shut off the comm. Mel went about thinking of a way to take that large ship out. He was simple minded, but not stupid.*

*The pod, now safely secured inside the docking bay, rested on the ground, and the canopy popped open, revealing the dark green skin Drow inside, who promptly stumbled out and collasped onto the deck, panting and sweetly profusely.*

Nini'Liiar: "Damn, what did I do to deserve that?"

Katrinne: "Well, you did steal this ship, perhaps the original owner was a friend of his? Dracoians are fiercely loyal to friends."

26-11-2003, 15:55

"Comm, beam a report to the Loki and the Thor, advise them of the situation." Stuth stretched her arms in front of her. It'd be nice to be stationed somewhere within the Epsilon sector, but this was the price she paid for being the captain of a warship.

"Reports have been transmitted, captain."

"Excellent." Stuth wasn't afraid of the draconian ship. It was a modified fighter. And the Odin was a heavy warship with bays of similar ships on board. Her sister ships, the Thor and the Loki were similarly equipped. She just wanted all of this hostility here to end, at least until the Lord returned and they could leave.

------------------------------------------------------

The gunnery sergeant Cooker read the information again. "VASIC?"

(("Yes, sergeant?"))

"Please beam this information to the Intergalactic Policing Authorities. If this report is confirmed, I may just get a promotion."

(("I am transmitting, Sergeant. Would you like me to inform Captain Bervall?"))

"No thank you, VASIC. I'll tell him myself." He turns to his men. "I want grade five security at all times until the prisoner is released to the appropriate authorities."

"Sir, yes, sir." The men speak in unison.

(("Grade five security has been activated, Sergeant."))

Cooker turns on his heel and leaves.

----------------------------------------------

Three marines keep an eye on the new alien girl while a fourth introduces himself to her, trying to get information as to why the altercation outside took place.

------------------------------------

The Loki silently moves into position outside the Odin, maintaining lock on the draconian ship.

------------------------------------

The lord gets back aboard his fighter and lowers the canopy into place. It wasn't a total waste of a mission. They got some good technology together, but not what he was looking for. He initiated the take off subroutine and buckled himself in. Now to get back home and get the 'dragon back into shape.

NationStates Jolt Archive

Where have all the heroes gone?