Session Start: Sun Feb 22 00:00:01 2004
Session Ident: #Crisis-Angel
[01:32] [The bridge of the Nephilim is unevenly lit, and few of the stations match. Still, they all work, and are mostly state of the art. The captain's chair and the stations behind it look the nicest, because that's what people see when talking to the ship. The rest of the chairs are comfortable, but well worn. Duct tape is a favorite decorating choice on board, it seems.]
[01:32] [The fore stations are weapons and the helm, giving both access to the main viewscreen. Communications and mission ops are to the rear, with engineering, security, and science off to the sides]
[01:34] [Rywoo is at the helm, being a pilot, DC is at tactical, and Capt. Tasker is manning the comms from his big comfy chair, since there's no other crew]
[01:37] * The Nephilim is en route to Nelvada for a job and to pic up crew. But it's a long trip, so people are bored
[01:37] * Rywoo sits at the helm, a small treaded yellow and purple robot with a blocky torso, small manipulator arms and one lare lense in the middle sits next to him
[01:39] * CaptTasker yawns
[01:39] * DC is attentively upright in her chair. She's staring at absolutely nothing on the screens, but she looks impressive while doing it nonetheless.
[01:39] <CaptTasker> Anything interesting on sensors? I'm praying for pirates
[01:41] <DC> No sir, captain. Sensors clean. Except...
[01:41] <CaptTasker> Got something? Alien NPR is getting painful to listen to
[01:42] <DC> There's an interesting array of dust particles on the upper-lefthand corner that vaguely resemble a dog. Or possibly a squirrel.
[01:42] <CaptTasker> Remind me to shoot you. After my nap *yawns again*
[01:43] <DC> Sir, permission to dismiss that statement as sarcasm, sir.
[01:43] <Rywoo> I could play chicken with some nearby astroids....of there _were_ any near...*sighs*
[01:43] <CaptTasker> *rolls eyes* granted
[01:44] <CaptTasker> *to Rywoo* Way to show initiative, at any rate
[01:44] <CaptTasker> Time to Nelvada?
[01:44] <DC> Sir, approximately twenty-two hours, fifty-six minutes, twenty-five-point-nine-six-two seconds, sir.
[01:45] <CaptTasker> Thank you Dani. And despite his appearance, Rywoo CAN handle his station.
[01:45] <DC> Sir, his motor function was delayed by three seconds, sir, I felt obliged to take initiative.
[01:46] <CaptTasker> I'm taking the starch out of the underwear wash cycle, I swear
[01:47] * DC returns to staring at the monitors. Trying to understand the captain's sarcasm grows futile after a while.
[01:48] * Rywoo sighs and leans back in his chair "He asked exactly seven minutes and 25 seconds ago, Dani. I was counting on him to be able to tell time"
[01:48] <CaptTasker> that's it, I'm throwing caution to the wind. Maximum accelleration, helmsman! *I push myself upright by the armrests and gesture dramatically*
[01:48] <DC> *coldly* Please do not refer to me by an informal designation.
[01:50] <DC> Sir, I believe that to be inadvisable--
[01:50] <Rywoo> Okay. How does Tactical Sweetpants strike you? *laughs, and floors it, bringing the ship up to speed* 96 percent and rising, sir.
[01:51] <CaptTasker> Eeeexcellent *sits and folds his hands in his lap*
[01:52] * CaptTasker starts humming to cover the sound of the deckplates vibrating
[01:52] <DC> --quite terribly inadvisable... *gives up* No, Mister Rywoo, you may address me by my surname, Cid, or by my Wodin West End company name, DC, if it strikes you to be informal-- *frustrated again; to Tasker* Really, sir, I must object to this irrational use of fuel resources!
[01:52] <Rywoo> 98....99..maximum speed, sir
[01:53] <CaptTasker> *yells over the rattling of the hull* Are you kidding? This is great!
[01:54] * Rywoo grins broadly "Yea, dont question the captain, Cid!"
[01:54] <Rywoo> *Impactor looks up at Rywoo, lense eye focusing "I must agree with Tactical, Rywoo. This is a useless waste of much needed fuel reserves
[01:55] <CaptTasker> * A buzzer starts going off on the Engineering console. I gleefully ignore it.*
[01:55] * Rywoo chuckles "Fun isnt useless, Impactor. It makes you feel alive"
[01:55] * DC 's Mercurias symbiote flexes violently, growing spikes. "Completely irrational."
[01:55] <Rywoo> *The robot looks down, examining itself "I feel no more functional than before." he states simply
[01:55] <CaptTasker> *Really shouting now* It's times like this I wish Neph was a convertable!
[01:56] <DC> ... *starts suddenly, eyes on the monitors* SIR!
[01:56] <CaptTasker> *rolls his eyes and takes us down to safe speeds with his command override console*
[01:57] <CaptTasker> You're no fun at all Dani
[01:57] <DC> No, sir, don't drop speed!
[01:57] <CaptTasker> *boggles at you, and ramps the speed back*
[01:57] * Rywoo grumbles, turning to DC "What do you got there, Cid?"
[01:58] <DC> Something closing in on us, sir, from the left flank! Keeping pace, possibly just emerged from warp. Identifiers aren't getting a model reading.
[01:59] <CaptTasker> *shouting over the re-increasing noise* Raise shields! Rywoo, evasive. Show me those fancy moves you claim to have. And drop us down once it's safe
[02:00] <DC> *pulling up different holoscreens, trying to get a read* It's a small ship, about three-x the Nephilim, heavy artillery. Outside monitors should be getting us a visual soon...
[02:01] <CaptTasker> I'm not sure I'd call that "small". Threat assesment?
[02:01] * Rywoo laughs at the top of his lungs "I live for this!" and turns and rolls the ship to starboard, away from the larger vessel
[02:02] * CaptTasker prays the intertial dampeners hold
[02:02] <DC> Sir, it's quite obviously tailing us, sir, and seems to be charging its primary cannons. Judging by its reaction time and process speed I would judge that it was a spontaneously-made decision. Err... vernacular... wanton. Random.
[02:04] <CaptTasker> Damnit. probably joyriders then. Power up all weapons. Rywoo, see if you can get us in a defendable position
[02:04] <DC> I judge by way of extension that this is a ship capable of massive damage owned by quite confident, possibly overconfident pilots. Inexpert. Non-naval. Or at least their helmsman is.
[02:05] <DC> Sir, we have visual.
[02:05] <CaptTasker> Show me
[02:07] * DC taps a few keys, and the mainscreen flips from an exterior view to the left flank cam, displaying a heavy, bulky ship, weighty as a freighter but more streamlined. Four primary cannons, six torpedo arrays, et cetera
[02:08] <CaptTasker> Any ID on the silhouette?
[02:08] <CaptTasker> Markings on the hull? anything?
[02:09] * Rywoo looks very deeply at the consoles "both particle cannons charged. Torpedo Failures in Tubes one, five, and seven. All other torpedoes armed. Pulse array charges and drawing a bead now...
[02:09] <DC> A large insignia on the bow, sir. I do not recognize the symbol.
[02:09] <Rywoo> *Turns the ship up and around, bringing all weapons to bear
[02:10] <CaptTasker> Dani, try to disable em. Blow em to bits if you have to though. Er, if you can.
[02:11] <DC> Sir, yes sir.
[02:11] * Rywoo brings the ship face to face with the pirate ship "This is the best shot I can give you, Cidney. Take it if you can"
[02:13] * DC 's expression is set. She turns her attention to the weapons console, eyes dancing over the arrays of keys. "Sir, I am charging fore cannons. If we reallocate power from residential I can power the rear torpedos for an auxillery attack. Permission to initiate?"
[02:13] <CaptTasker> Go for it. Why we were heating empty decks is beyond me anyway
[02:14] * DC 's fingers are a blur. She hesitates for a moment, index finger poised over the initiate key, and adds, "Mister Rywoo, please do not call me Cidney." And fires.
[02:16] * Rywoo smiles and slaps his console in elation "You make anymore shots like that and I'll call you Mommy if you want!" and activates the yaw thrusters, taking evasion from any retalitory shot
[02:16] <CaptTasker> Any effect on the enemy ship?
[02:17] <CaptTasker> And damnit, I thought I had all those launchers FIXED
[02:19] <Rywoo> Impactor, go take a look at them. See if you can bring them online
[02:19] <DC> *studies* Hull breach to starboard bow. Center bow shields deflected head-on damage. Particle cannons are charged, no sign of fire. *hesitates* Sir, they're sending us a hailing signal.
[02:19] <Rywoo> *The small purple/yellow robot rolls out of the room
[02:20] <CaptTasker> Gotcha *thumbs open the channel*
[02:20] <DC> My advice would be to ignore, sir. They initiated-- *deflates, gives up*
[02:21] <CaptTasker> [comm] This is the Nephilim.
[02:21] * CaptTasker does his best to sound imposing
[02:22] <CaptTasker> Keep your guards up people
[02:23] * Rywoo nods and slows the Neph's evasion, but keeps all thrusters hot in case...
[02:23] <DC> [coming through the comm channel, slightly tinny and interrupted by static and crewmen screams coming from the background, a young male voice, sounding like his playful nervousness has just been very gravely interrupted] Hey! Hey! This is-- What are we again? We're the Guardian. We're the Guardian
[02:24] <CaptTasker> *tries to sound unimpeachably confident* [comm] State your business, Guardian.
[02:25] <DC> [Guardian captain] Look, guys, there seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding. Um. Shit. A major misunderstanding-- HOLY FUCK, JEREMY, JUST SEAL OFF THE SECTOR-- Uh, sorry, uh, what was I saying?
[02:25] <CaptTasker> [comm] Something about making a grave mistake, I believe
[02:26] * Rywoo tries his best to keep a straight face and fails miserably
[02:26] * CaptTasker is glad the comm mikes are selective
[02:26] <DC> [Guardian captain] Right, look, about that-- JESUS-- Look, we've just come back from a run and some of the guys were feeling cocky and we saw you guys speeding by, thought we'd give you the old flashing-headlights gag-- You're humans, right? You know that old story
[02:27] <DC> [Guardian captain] *voice cracking* You didn't need to fire on us!
[02:27] <CaptTasker> *grumbles* Joyriders. I hate it when I'm right.
[02:28] <DC> *tersely, to Tasker* Sir, they came at us with weapons armed. We had every reason to retaliate with force.
[02:28] <CaptTasker> no arguements. I'm sure they were expecting us to scream for mercy over the comms
[02:29] <Rywoo> Hah. To bad they weren't expecting the best helmsman in the universe....arm, and a pretty good Tact Operator as well, heh
[02:29] <DC> [Guardian captain] Jesus, guys, we're really fucking sorry, but you've got us hurt bad. We have an entire level hit bad here, we've got a hull breach.
[02:29] <CaptTasker> [comm] You have 10 seconds to either surrender or haul your stinking carcass away from us at top speed. Otherwise, I'll be claiming salvage rights once we finish with you.
[02:31] <DC> [Guardian captain] WHITE FLAG! WHITE FLAG! Fucking Christ. Can't you let bygones be bygones and help us out before we're space dust here? Please, we're begging you!
[02:31] <DC> Sir, you may like to point out that their cannons are still armed.
[02:33] <CaptTasker> [comm] Nice gag. I might believe it if you werent still running hot. Tactical, target their antimatter core...
[02:34] <Rywoo> If their bridge or escape pods are in tact, I call ramming them! *he says it loud enough to be heard on the comm*
[02:34] <DC> [Guardian captain] *shrieking* NO NO! We don't wanna fire on you guys! We're just a bit distracted because WE'VE GOT A FUCKING HULL BREACH. *to the side* Mandy, power down the cannons fer crissakes!
[02:34] <CaptTasker> *mutes the channel* Tone it down. Over the top is MY job.
[02:35] * Rywoo smiles and turns back to his post
[02:35] <Rywoo> *Impactor treads on back in "Captain sir, all Torpedo launchers are now fully operational"
[02:35] <CaptTasker> [comm] Better. Now then... you come at us at top speed with weapons hot, and want help when you get bitten back? Fine, but it'll cost you. Transmitting our price list now.
[02:36] <CaptTasker> Dani, how bad are they really hurt?
[02:37] <DC> Sir, Guardian has sustained significant damage to starboard fore, several levels breached and on fire. Scanners also detect large quantity of small objects floating around the breached hull. *pause* I believe we struck a residental sector, sir.
[02:38] <CaptTasker> Hrm. A ship like that has sensors at least as good as ours. Probably better. They should have known better.
[02:38] <DC> I must confess confusion, as it goes against standard structuring principles. Although I feel it necessary to point out that this was... a custom model. *cough* Excuse me, sir, there are an awful lot of bodies. The fires are spreading.
[02:38] * Rywoo 's smile dies a horrible death
[02:39] <CaptTasker> Damnit people, respond...
[02:39] <DC> I believe the captain of the Guardian is justified in his reaction to his situation, irrational though the causes may be.
[02:39] <Rywoo> Sir, maybe we should forget the price list just this once...
[02:39] <CaptTasker> Prep the field dampeners Dani. Rywoo, prepare to bring us in to range
[02:39] <DC> [Guardian captain] You guys still there?
[02:40] <CaptTasker> [comm] Yes. I thought we'd lost you for a moment.
[02:41] <CaptTasker> if we lose comms, go ahead and take us in.
[02:41] <DC> [Guardian captain] No, we're here. Jim and I were just looking over the list you guys sent. Jesus wept, are you guys military suppliers or something? This is insane.
[02:41] <DC> [Guardian captain] But we'll pay! We'll pay! Somehow. Don't go away!
[02:41] * Rywoo nods and boosts the engine full speed, trying to get to the ship as quick as possible
[02:41] * CaptTasker gives Rywoo a nod to proceed
[02:42] <CaptTasker> [comm] We're coming, Guardian
[02:42] <DC> [Guardian captain] *breathless* Thank you. Thank you.
[02:43] <DC> [Guardian captain] I've just been told you guys nicked a bow power core too. We're going to need to shut off comms to save energy. See you guys when you get here, okay?
[02:44] <CaptTasker> Activate the dampers. See if we can get those fires out. Launch a sheild drone and have it clamp to their hull and reinforce structural integrity
[02:46] * Rywoo angles them in next to the Guardian like a glove
[02:47] <DC> Sir yes sir. Sir, permission to send out the salvage drones to collect debris?
[02:48] <CaptTasker> do it. Put anything they bring back in cargo hold B. It's empty
[02:49] <CaptTasker> We're going to need comms from them. We can probably establish a power transfer once they've stablized a bit
[02:49] <CaptTasker> How're the fires doing?
[02:49] <DC> Sir, outside monitors report an initial 34% decrease in fire intensity on four exposed decks. They have some of their own drones set to the task as well.
[02:50] <DC> Estimated time to total extinguish is eight minutes. Sir, permission to make a suggestion regarding communication links, sir?
[02:50] <Rywoo> We're as close as we're gonna get sir. Would you like me to proceed with docking?
[02:51] <CaptTasker> I'll be glad when we have more crew here. Our hands are pretty tied
[02:51] <CaptTasker> Granted, Dani. And go for it Rywoo
[02:52] * Rywoo nods and releases a docking chute, connecting to the Guardian
[02:52] <DC> I gather from my personality assessment of the captain of the Guardian that he would have left emergency channels online in case of eventualities. *glances toward Rywoo* Although if we are docking I suppose the knowledge is superfluous. I'm sorry, sir.
[02:53] <CaptTasker> Send our repair drones through. I'll try and establish contact via the docking port
[02:53] * CaptTasker works his miniature comm console
[02:55] <Rywoo> Let's help these people. Do you want me to go with you, sir?
[02:55] <CaptTasker> Ok, I think I have it... [comm] Nephilim to Guardian, please respond
[02:55] <DC> Salvage drones have concluded scavange for debris. Net weight in cargo hold B two-point-eight metric tons, primarily significant hull fragments. Thirty-four bodies.
[02:55] <CaptTasker> Damn...
[02:56] <CaptTasker> Have them keep the bodies seperate. And be gentle with them. It's bad enough without mangled corpses
[02:56] <DC> [Guardian crewman] This is Guardian. The captain is on his way to the docking bay.
[02:57] <CaptTasker> [comm] Acknowledged
[02:57] <DC> Sir yes sir. Sir, permission to speak freely?
[02:57] <CaptTasker> *rubs his temples* What is it Dani?
[02:58] <DC> I don't entirely trust these people, sir. Permission to accompany you to the docking bay in Mister Rywoo's stead, if Mister Rywoo agrees.
[02:59] <CaptTasker> No offense Rywoo, but I think I'd rather have her by my side in this case
[02:59] * Rywoo looks at the two and shrugs, turning back to the screen "Suit yourselves"
[03:00] <DC> *inclines head* Thank you, Mister Rywoo.
[03:00] <CaptTasker> Keep a channel open
[03:00] * CaptTasker stands, checks his sidearm, and looks to Dani
[03:01] * DC stands sharply, picking up her claymore. Her Mercurias curls up within itself, becoming a sphere.
* Session End

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