RPG: FTL

[Snelly]

IC: Ashley

 

Ashley went up and patted the Wombat, her fighter. It was just as she left it, though slightly dustier.

 

"Yes Ma'am!" Ashley ran off to grab said supplies.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Princess Anna of Arendelle

[Atton Rand]

IC: Nicole worked her way carefully towards the botany lab. As she approached she quietly stepped inside, reaching for the medical bag left by the door, and picked it up.

[Xomeron]

IC:

 

Corporal Pancake had apparently decided he liked the medical bag, because he was presently in it.

[Atton Rand]

Nicole wandered into the medbay, placing the bag on the ground. She walked over towards the closet and began to pull out a set of scrubs; she certainly did not need them now, but she was in a position where she could use some clean clothes. As she stepped into the changeroom, she began to strip out of her uniform and change into the scrubs before stepping back out into the medbay.

 

She then noticed something. It sounded like something moving in the medical bag. Nervously she approached, slowly unzipping it to find that ferret had snuck in. "Darn it," she muttered. Carefully she picked up the ferret and brought it outside, placing it down on the floor. She then hit a button to close the door to ensure it would not try to walk back in.

 

Nicole sighed. "Now I got to re-sanitize everything," she muttered to herself.

[Eevee]

IC

 

"Thanks." She said as she grabbed the supplies and began to polish the Falcon. "Tsk! There's a coffee stain! I take Will down here once and this is what happens!" She said almost jokingly.

[Atton Rand]

IC: Nicole walked into the preparation room and began pulling the equipment out of her bag for sterilization.

[Alex Humva]

OOC

Corporal! The time drives please.

 

IC [Colonel Ojeda]

 

The four day venture in the Brasilia's hanger had turned into five days; an Engi vessel in the convoy had been informed of the mission, apparently aware that a human vessel was on its way to the Zoltan homeworlds, and offered to install an updated ion weapon system into the Kestrel. A few wields later and the Kestrel sported two state-of-the-art ion cannons, ready for combat. The repairs on the hull had gone well, and while the structure would never be as good as it originally was, the supermetal plating would keep the ship intact. The Brasilia's engineers even threw in a paint job for the repairs, leaving the Kestrel looking fresh out of dry dock. Overall, it was definite improvement.

 

Colonel Ojeda stood on the bridge, watching as the holding clamps began to disengage. The pilot had been transferred off the ship, her condition never recovering, though the Engi suspected they could cure her, in time. Now the navigator was in charge of managing the ship, easing it out of the Brasilia upon the final clamp's release. The screen beeped, and then General Paul's face filled part of it.

 

"Best of luck, Colonel." The man gave a small salute, Ojeda returning it. "With any luck, by the time you're back we'll be laying siege to the Mantis homeworlds."

 

"Let's hope sir. Let's hope." Ojeda sat down, flipping the ship comm on as the screen returned to being a window. "Attention crew, this is the Colonel speaking. We are disembarking the Brasilia, if you forgot anything, tell Lt. Skinter immediately and he might be able to beam it back to you. Devas, punch the crystals and get us out of here."

 

An affirmative came over the comms and the Colonel shut the channel, looking around her. Chastain to her right, Daniels to her left, the Vendarian adviser standing blankly behind her. Almost like everyone was at their proper stations; it was incredible.

 

That ease was not to last. The sensors aboard the Brasilia picked it up first; a massive spike in the ambient FTL particles. Red alert was sounded immediately across the fleet, the Kestrel's computer displaying the alert while it calculated the incoming trajectories. The bridge crew could see it soon enough, the screen magnifying the image automatically; the Mantis fleet, likely the same one from the trade outpost. Except, instead of the few fighter craft from before, this was a true and proper fleet, Mantis destroyers and battleships easily seen. One shot from one of those main laser cannons and there wouldn't be enough of the Kestrel left to salvage.

 

"Devas!" The Colonel had already started to buckle in. "Get those crystals warmed! Daniels, divert all power from the energy weapons and put it into the engines, they'll going be scrambling our crystals soon enough. Zahm, get us out of the fleet formation, put us into the shadow of one those larger asteroids. Skinter, get to the teleporter and run an interference program; if you detect incoming signatures, try and override them." The comm went to a full frequency. "All hands, battlestations! Strap yourselves in, gravity plates going to half gee."

 

[Dorian]

 

Well, that doesn't sound good. Ashley had actually been filing her weekly report when the alert came on. I... you feel that, don't you? Thousands upon thousands of chittering voices... we never saw that in our patients, when exposed to Mantis. Could it be, brood commanders...

 

Hello again. A familiar voice piped in.

 

Not the time Emily.

 

It is, actually. I've been keeping watch and that psionic surge is what I was waiting for. Ashley, I need you to do something very important. You need to go to the sensor room and look out the window. You'll understand what to do, then.

 

Why should we trust you?

 

Your trust isn't relevant in this honey. And really, this isn't a trust exercise; just go and look, you'll be fine in your own ship.

 

Can't hurt to see... I suppose.

[Havelock Vetinari]

IC (Devas)

 

Devas had been halfway through punching in the crystals and running through the activation procedures when the Colonel contacted him again, this time with a much more urgent tone of voice. It didn't take a genius to puzzle out what was going on. Combat, an ambush, a tentacled abomination from out of time tearing it's way through the void to consume the helpless ants before it....or something along those lines. Devas, rather wanting to avoid being reduced down to base molecules or torn apart, increased his pace, slamming crystals into their compartments at breakneck speeds.

 

IC (Ameli)

 

Ameli, who, as always, was armed, began to back into one of the more tactically sound areas of the bridge. She'd sooner trust a Mantis then trust Skinter, which meant she fully expected Mantis to teleport aboard at any moment.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Basilisk

[Atton Rand]

IC: Nicole had just finished re-sanitizing the last of her surgical equipment, making sure to seal it all tight in bags to minimize any chance of contamination. She had begun to resupply her first aid kit when an alarm sounded. Hastily she placed the equipment into the bag and looked around worriedly.

 

"Dave," she shouted, trying to hear her own voice over the sirens. "What's going on? Where's the emergency?"

[Alex Humva]

IC [The Computer]

 

"Doctor Sarany, this sort of alert is used in battle situations. Multiple Mantis warships have jumped into our point and are engaging the fleet." The ship rocked as several plasma shots hit, the shields dissipating the blunt of the attack. "I would suggest magnetizing your boots, the gravity may completely shut down soon. Please stand by for any medical emergencies."

[avmatoran]

IC:
When the alarm went off and the colonel told everyone to go to their battlestations, Gaven realized he had never been assigned one. Having heard rumors about the computer's sapience, he figured it was worth a shot to ask, "Computer, what is my assigned battlestation?"

[Eevee]

IC

 

"Landes, you heard the Colonel." Estelle said into her comm as she magnetized her boots, already in the hanger. She had already suited up and had been doing some general checks on the Falcon before the Colonel's orders came over.

 

She was eager to see if she would finally get to use the Falcon in combat.

[Alex Humva]

IC [The Computer]

 

"You have been assigned to patrolling deck three for intruders." It chimed at him.

 

IC [The Colonel]

 

"Walker, get your fighters ready for a cold drop. We aren't engaging the Mantis here, but who knows what we'll see when we jump. Weapons will be offline for several minutes until Daniels can get them warmed up again, you and Landes will run cover until we can fight on our own."

[Atton Rand]

IC: "Alright then," Nicole replied, backing into the medbay. "I guess I'll just wait here."

[avmatoran]

OOC:
I'm assuming I've been issued these magnetic boots as well?

 

IC:
"Thank you, computer." With that, Gaven hurried to the uppermost deck before magnetizing his boots and pulling out his Crystal rifle, ready for whatever may pass.

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

IC: "Aye aye Ma'am," Zahm responded, his eye already plotting trajectories that would keep them safely tucked away with a chunk of space rock between them and the nearest mantis dreadnoughts.

 

"If we have potential hostiles awaiting on the other end of a jump, might it be worth waiting her a while until Daniels has the weapons up and running?" he asked, "We might know for sure there are mantis trying to kill us on this end but at least they have bigger fish to fry, their attention will be diverted."

 

It was a cold way of referring to the Brasilia and her fellow ships, but fighting the mantis was what they were here for. They would engage and buy a little time for the Kestrel even if it wasn't their main intention. And they wouldn't be around on the other end, so Zokander would prefer to have all the advantages they could get their hands on

[Alex Humva]

OOC
Part of the standard on-duty uniform, yes.

 

IC [Colonel Ojeda]

 

"Every second we wait here is another second the Mantis have to find us. That brood commander was on our ship, accessed our sensors. While I doubt he got past the encryption, the simple fact that he felt us worthy enough prey to investigate means we've attracted far too much of his attention." A warning blared, right before the asteroid cracked into several large peaces, the shields visibly flickering as the debris crashed against them, that energy transferring itself across the ship and sending it rocking. "Well, that wasn't very helpful. Engines to full, evasive pattern beta. Devas! I don't care what sort of pseudo-science the Mantis are using on us, find a way around it."

[Eevee]

IC

 

"Yes, ma'am!" Estelle replied as she pulled on her helmet and climbed into her fighter. She waited for Landes to get into the Wombat before starting the Falcon, grinning as the engines roared to life.

[Atton Rand]

 

IC: Nicole waited nervously in the medbay. Her bag was placed on the ground nearby, and she stood, watching the door, uncertain of what was to happen.

[Snelly]

IC: Ashley

 

Ashley hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should listen to Emily, however with the constant chittering and the red alert blaring off, she decided she had more to lose by not going to the sensor room. She rushed out of the room and toward the sensor room with abandon, she didn't even bother with magnetizing her boots, she was sure she could figure out how to keep herself on the ground with her psionics...hopefully.

 

She practically slammed the door open (metaphorically) of the sensor room, ignoring pretty much anyone who might have been in their as she went to the window.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Princess Anna of Arendelle

[Wyrd Bid Ful Araed]

IC: Zokander woofed a gasp of breath as the shudders from the debris rocked the ship, his safety harness keeping him in place but knocking the wind out of him for a moment. The Colonel was right, the mantis seemed to have it in for the Kestrel specifically.

Following the orders he mapped pattern beta into the navcom, but gave it a slight twist. The Kestrel would turn in such a way that the thrust from its engine exhausts would flick a chunk of demolished asteroid towards the closest mantis ship. Should give them something to think about other than the Kestrel itself. A bit flashy, sure, but the mantis weren't stupid and might recognise a pre-established flight pattern, and thus intercept it. The asteroid would distract them, delay them, and since it was at the start of the evasion, shouldn't throw off any of the human crew-members activities too much

[Eevee]

IC

 

"Landes, if I don't see your ### entering this hanger, it's drills every morning for a month!" She growled into her comm before switching to contact the Colonel.

 

"Ma'am, Landes isn't here yet. I'm going out alone and I'll make sure the air lock is closed behind me so she can follow."

Edited June 9, 2014 by Queen Elsa of Arendelle

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

"Aye aye, ma'am."

 

Was the only reply from the Weapons Console, a terse acknowledgement of his orders. The Major's hands flew across the controls, diverting all the power allotted to the energy weapons, such as the lasers, back into the main reserves so that they could be used by another system. He hated leaving the systems without power, but it was a necessary evil.

 

"Permission to retain basic power for turrets?" The query floated over his shoulder, not even accompanied by a glance. Daniels was completely focused on his task, almost consumed by it. Each action was performed with lightning speed, almost as if completely instinctual. He could feel his heart rate climbing, adrenaline kicking in almost instantly. The size of the fleet wasn't anything like before, not really... But the red hulls were the same. The behaviors were the same.

 

The Kestrel would pull through. Though the asteroid's impacts knocked him about the seat, his face remained set in a mask of stoicism. The impacts were trivial, not enough to warrant his attention.

 

Things would get worse.

[Atton Rand]

OOC: We're in an asteroid field now? That's all well and good but you guys do know that asteroid fields are actually very easy to navigate? The rocks themselves are usually at least several miles apart. You're not likely to go crashing into one unless that's your intention.

 

IC: Nicole looked around the hospital, finding a set of bandages before she took a seat on one of the cots. Quickly and doing the best she could, she began to tie herself down.

[Alex Humva]

IC [sensors]

 

"Landes! What are you doing in the sensor room? You need to get to your fighter!" The Colonel's voice sounded over the comms, though as Ashley discovered, the outside world's sounds were starting to fade. Instead, her focus was on the fleet. Dozens of Mantis ships, hundreds of small fighters buzzing around, engaging the Terran forces. Railgun slugs hurled through space, great laser beams illuminating the void. The Brasilia unleashed a full broadside, an unlucky Mantis cruiser crumpling under its power. All of that was a distraction, though: Ashley felt a calling of sorts, towards one of the battleships. A... presence, there, utterly alien, but not like Souper or any of the slugs.

 

Yes. You can feel it too. Emily's voice rang. Focus on that point. Focus on that ship. Nothing else matters, now. Focus on that presence.

 

[bridge]

 

"You aren't going anywhere Walker. Stay in the hanger until we jump."

 

"Colonel," the computer chimed, "a Mantis battleship has spotted us. Their forward batteries are charging, anticipated fire time in one minute and forty two seconds."

 

"Devas!"

 

[battleship]

 

The brood commander's brow furrowed, as much as an insect's brow could, anyways. There it was, a presence once again poking at its mind. Not as if this intruder could penetrate its mental defenses, but still... it was a concern. This one felt closer, nearer... but unlike any slug it had felt before. That presence was more alien than anything it could have imagined, yet it was starting to slip through the cracks in its psyche... why? What sort of creature could even begin to hope to slip through a brood commander's defenses? It looked to the stars, to the fleet, and it knew, partially through instinct and partially through deduction, that this presence was coming from its prey. No matter. They would be dead soon enough.

 

[sensors]

 

Harder, Ashley. Push harder. Emily's voice drowned out everything, now, and even Dorian was gone, pushed away by the telepath's presence. The harder Ashley pushed, though, the stronger the wall became. It will break. It must break. We must know.

 

Images began to appear in Ashley's mind. Maps, coordinates, schematics, meaningless to her, though it was clear Emily was eavesdropping in on the trickle of data.

 

Good. That is good. Now... break its mind.

 

With an audible grunt Ashley pushed with her mind, trying with all the effort she could muster to break through, it felt like she was stretching an invisible muscle she hadn't used before, or not to this extent at the very least...she didn't even have time to wonder if doing this would cause her harm, it didn't matter right then, she knew she had to do this...it could mean life or death for everyone...

 

[battleship]

 

And there the presence was, pushing at its mind again. The brood commander spit, watching a nearby console intently. Thirty breaths. Its mind would not crumple in that time. The presence was foolish to think that it could change anything.

 

[sensors]

 

Ashley. Dorian's voice rose out of Emily's encouragement. Ashley, this isn't going work. This isn't some newborn nymph, this has to be a brood commander. You won't break its mind fast enough. That glow... they're charging their main cannon. Everyone on this ship will die if you don't stop that. Focus on the ship.

 

No Ashley, you can do this. Kill its mind, take its secrets. They won't fire without its order, you're almost there.

 

She isn't interested in us. Isn't interested in the ship. She wants information, we can die and it won't bother her or anyone else.

 

You aren't going die, Ashley. Keep pushing.

 

Ashley had little time to decide what to do, in fact she really didn't have any time, so she went with her gut. Sorry Dorian... She pushed all the harder, even as her head throbbed from doing so.

 

[battleship]

 

Insignificant waste. It had become harder to fight off, that was for sure, but whoever this presence was, they had no experience in defeating proper mental barriers. A bit of greenish blood began to trickle down from its eyes, but it was a pain the creature could handle. Finally, the timer ticked over, the weapons fully charged. In a chitter, it gave the order. "[Fire!]"

 

[bridge]

 

"Oh God," the major's eyes widened. "The battleship's firing!"

 

The Colonel slammed her chair, the comm opening. "All crew! Brace for impact!"

 

[sensors]

 

It... didn't work. Emily seemed confused. They must be stronger than we thought.

 

Ashley could only watch as a great light began to shine, but then... time seemed to slow. Details appeared to her that she hadn't noticed before, the battle outside practically coming to a standstill. Looking over, she saw Dorian on one side of her, and Emily on the other. All three looked out the window, at the beam of light slowly advancing towards the vessel.

 

"You are going to have a very bad migraine after this." Emily watched the scene with an odd sense of unawareness. "Increasing your ability to think faster than light... that's one for the physicists."

 

"I think we're in an isolated moment. Things are playing out in real time, on the outside, but in this split second, you're able to just chit-chat with us. Also, I told you so." Dorian's attention turned to the advancing beam. "So, feedback loop? Bend the light back on itself, bust the ship."

 

"It's going hurt," Emily commented.

 

"Like it isn't already going to."

 

"Don't think I have a choice here..." Ashley said with just a tinge of regret, her head was already hurting...could she really pull this off? It didn't really matter, if she didn't do this they would probably be dead for sure...all of them.

 

And so, together, the three focused.

 

[bridge]

 

"...well." The Colonel glanced around the room. "I'm not dead. Am I dead, Chastain?"

 

"No sir."

 

"And I presume the rest of you aren't dead either. What happened, and more importantly, DEVAS!"

 

The Colonel's demands were finally met and the FTL core hummed to life, the world going dark as the ship jumped out of the system, to whatever new fate awaited it.

 

[battleship]

 

Well. That had not been expected.

 

One moment, victory. The next, its ship was crippled, its own weapon turned against the vessel. What power could do that? More importantly, what was it to do now? The fleet was panicking, the local commanders losing control of their crews after witnessing such a horror. Its quest would have to stop, for now, duke it out with these human fools until it could make its way elsewhere.

 

A most annoying setback.

 

[unchartered space]

 

"Well well." The woman rose from her chair, looking out at the jump flare and the ship that accompanied it. "What ever do we have here?"

 

"Their transponder is League, ma'am, but it's no design we've ever seen."

 

"A secret ship? Not the League's style. Nor do they paint their ships like that." The woman smiled. "Life signs?"

 

"Multiple humans, some Mantis, Rock, Engi, Zoltan and Slug."

 

"Even more interesting. Every species in the known galaxy... Federation vessel, no doubt."

 

"What are your orders ma'am?"

 

"Take the crew alive, bring me their commanding officer. Don't bother with the Mantis, though, they won't surrender."

 

[bridge]

 

All on the bridge watched in silence, the Colonel uttering some sort of curse, as the cockpit filled with the image of a ship at least five times the size of the Kestrel, colonial by the looks of it.

 

"One jump." The Colonel remarked. "I'd just like one jump in peace. Who knows though, maybe they're friendly?"

 

A laser skimmed the shields.

 

"No, no they're not." The Colonel gritted her teeth. "Walker, launch! Devas, cool the engine and get ready for another jump. Major, weapons free, I don't care what you hit, just make them stop shooting us."

 

"Colonel Ojeda," the computer came through. "Spaceman Landes has collapsed in the sensor room sir, her vitals are very worrying. I have already requested medical assistance."

 

"We'll sort Landes out in a moment. Get Souper to the medbay, I've got a hunch it's something to do with our miraculous survival."

[Snelly]

IC: Ashley

 

Ashley's whole body was quaking, she wasn't sure how she'd gotten on the floor, probably right after deflecting the beam. She could feel blood trickling down her face from her nose...but she couldn't move...she couldn't hear Dorian or Emily.

 

She was struggling to just keep conscious, she didn't think she would be for along. Though somehow she felt rather at peace. We did it...

Edited June 9, 2014 by Princess Anna of Arendelle

[Eevee]

IC

 

"Roger!" Estelle chimed as the airlock lifted and within a flash the Falcon burst out of the hanger. She kept close to the ship, eyeing the enemy ships. "I'm out ma'am, no signs of enemy fighters yet."

[Constructelf]

IC Vincent

"... Is it over?"

 

Vincent had been on the bridge when the Kestrel made its jump, and witnessed the humongous ship shoot at the Kestrel.

 

"... It's not over."

 

He races towards the engine room, just in case something important broke and he had to fix it.

 

IC Geburah

"... Colonel, should we run an ID on that ship, maybe ascertain which nation it belongs to? Or is getting out our top priority?" Also on the bridge, he eyeed the massive ship with much curiosity.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Last Son Amakusa

[Alex Humva]

IC [Colonel Ojeda]

 

"Purple stripes, ambassador. They're pirates, and apparently well armed ones. We'll see how many holes we can punch in them before they can do the same to us."

[Xomeron]

IC:

 

Can was about to give an order into his command frequency for the boarding crew, when he realized that he had no such frequency. He'd have to wait for Harken.

 

During the short flight from the Mantis fleet, Can had rushed from the hangar bay to his battle station on the teleporter, where he'd stood by helplessly as the ship fled. When they promptly ran into a Pirate ship, however, Can had an idea. "Computer." He ordered out loud as he rushed out of the teleporter room. "Bring up schematics on model of enemy ship. Find area most vulnerable to fire."

[Constructelf]

IC Geburah

"... Pirates again? Guess negotiations are off the table." Geburah took a seat near the comm line out of habit and stared at the apparently pirate ship.

[Havelock Vetinari]

OOC: Thought I posted this before...

 

IC (Ameli)

 

"Colonel..." Ameli smoothed out her uniform out of habit and a wish to distract herself ever-so-slightly from the tense nature of the situation. "I believe I'll be having a conversation with you, about this ships armament and loadout at a later date. We seem to attract bad luck." She paused for a moment. "Orders?"

 

IC (Devas)

 

"Noted." Devas began to run through the various cooldown procedures...ignoring a few of the suggested operating procedures. It'd stress the engine a bit, but not overmuch. It'd also speed up the process by a healthy margin. He keyed a nearby control panels and switched on the cooling dispensers, all of them. Normally, this would freeze the engine rather quickly...now, if he timed it right, it'd buy them a few precious minutes. "I've activated emergency cooling procedures. Should speed things up."

[Alex Humva]

IC [The Computer]

 

"Full schematics unavailable, outer weak point appears to be near the aft thrusters."

 

IC [Colonel Ojeda]

 

"Keep yourself strapped in, it's going be a fun ride."

 

IC [Dorian]

 

Well... Dorian mused. That was pretty painful. But we're alive. That's nice.

[Snelly]

IC: Ashley

 

Ashley lay on the floor, her eyes tearing up from the pain in her head, as well as the rest of her body. Though like Dorian she was pretty happy to be alive.

 

"Yeah...I still can't believe we pulled that off..."

Edited June 9, 2014 by Princess Anna of Arendelle

[Alex Humva]

IC [Dorian]

 

Let me tinker... nope, can't turn off the pain. Too bad. We'll be doped up with more drugs then we care to know about soon enough, though. Dorian started laughing hysterically, the suddenness a jolt to Ashley. Just bent light into itself. With your brain. How stupid is that. Bent light with your brain. It's great.

[Snelly]

IC: Ashley

Not so loud...it hurts... Ashley moaned, her nose was still bleeding steadily...that wasn't good.

[Atton Rand]

IC: Nicole placed a pair of scissors into her bag as a precautionary measure. Now strapped down, she waited. If the gravity failed, she would be able to prepare herself before abruptly falling upward.

 

Getting out would hardly be a challenge. She would have been able to slide or cut her way out once it happened or if there was an emergency.

[Alex Humva]

IC [The Computer]

 

"Doctor Sarany, did you not receive my original dispatch?" The computer beeped. "Spaceman Ashley is currently in possibly critical condition, she needs medical attention."

[Xomeron]

IC:

 

"Computer." Can said as he slid into the armory, surprisingly deftly for a man of his bulk, but half-gravity was half closer to blessed freefall than normal. "Calculate probable location of engine room based on thruster depth, diameter, and resilience. Cross reference with other vessels of similar make when available." As he spoke, Can grabbed a bandoleer of incendiary grenades and an electronic timer to go with them, then began heading back to his station.

[Atton Rand]

IC: "What?" Nicole was startled by the computer's voice. Hastily she reached for her medical bag and grabbed the scissors and cut loose the improvised strap. Within seconds she stood, grabbing the bag and charging outside. "Where is she?" Nicole asked.