The Alien Wars 6: Da Capo

Session 647

Session Start: Mon May 22 00:17:44 2023
Session Ident: #TAW-Session647
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 3
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> Date: 10-654.6.12
<DeathStar> Location: Aquarius
* Xanatos has joined #TAW-Session647
<DeathStar> *Cloé sits re-reading the transmission Bonnie sent to them 3 days ago about what happened on Kumen, glancing at Bella, then back*
<DeathStar> <Cloé> She claims everyone is okay.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...yeah...that was...yeah..."
<Sara> * Cherie looks unsure
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Things are really getting bad."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Should we go back? I mean, I know Yuki is looking for people to go on this digging mission, but...
<DeathStar> *Cloé plays with her hair, looking torn*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "They said mom was alright... right?"
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "We have to do what we can, and right now, I think that means here."
<DeathStar> *Cloé hands the datapad*
<Seraphna> **Nox reaches out if Aka’s tails and grabs a snack**
<DeathStar> *Cloé stares blankly*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...besides...she'd smack for running home when I'm needed here."
<Sara> <Cherie> It all just makes me feel really weird inside...
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "We can do this. Do not worry."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Weird how?
<Sara> * Cherie just shakes her head in response to the question
<Seraphna> **Nox reaches out for another**
<DeathStar> *Cloé looks confused* Alright lets go meet up with Lady Aya
<DeathStar> *She steps out into the hallway toward the hanger, where Aya is preparing the digging equipment. Yuki is also there, storing weapons and other tools into the large equipment*
<Seraphna> **Nox pops out of Aya’s shadow munching**
<Jackieness> <Bella> *heads over*
<Seraphna> **Nell helps float the heavier equipment**
<Alicia> * Jikuu and Akatsuki also help out
<DeathStar> <Aya> Everyone ready?
<DeathStar> *Chad's people are already inside.*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Yurica.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "I wonder which group I would be most helpful in."
<Sara> <Yurica> Shall I keep them all in line?
<Seraphna> Nox> Do you think they’ll detect a spirit?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> It's up to you
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Or you can help Airym on the ship
<DeathStar> <Lenny> I'll follow your lead, Celeste - here or with them.
<Sara> <Yurica> Well, they'd be hopeless without me
<Sara> * She huffs
<Seraphna> Nox> Yeah I should probably stay and help power the ship.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "I feel like they have a strong enough group digging... although, if the spirits are returning to the ship, that might change."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We need stealth once we breach."
* Dias` has joined #TAW-Session647
<Seraphna> Nox> When you breach I can join you through shadows. Before then I might cause them to see you all coming.
<Seraphna> Nox> We spirits aren’t so good at turning off our power… seeing as we are our power.
<DeathStar> <Aya> Everyone good? Alright hop in
<DeathStar> *She climbs in*
<DeathStar> *Cloé climbs in. Rachael leans back inside*
<Seraphna> **Nell climbs in, this is her element**
<DeathStar> <Yuki> I trust your judgement, Yurica
<DeathStar> *She adjusts her uniform and nods to her* Good luck
<DeathStar> *Yuki returns to the bridge*
<Seraphna> **Thena puts an admiral hat on Yurica and skips off**
<Jackieness> <Moira> *settles in next to Rachael*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *climbs in with Cloe*
<DeathStar> <Ben> Prepareing to drop the digging machine near the storms
<Seraphna> Nox> **pops up by Mire**
<DeathStar> *Mireille is hanging out on the bridge. Ben turns toward Cookie*
<DeathStar> <Ben> Would you do the honors?
<Seraphna> **Cookie nods and takes them in for the swoop**
<DeathStar> <Ben> When you get low, press the fire button
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper gives Cookie moral support in the bond, letting her do her thing.
<Alicia> * Jikuu returns to the Aquarius, looking over at the others.
<Seraphna> **Cookie nods and flies in, trusting her sight and dropping them at the right moment** Dropping Team Dig Dug!
<Alicia> * Akatsuki seems uncertain about whether to return, while Celeste goes to join Team Dig Dug
<DeathStar> *The digging machine flies through the air and drops down into the ground, and begins to dig*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> So... who brought games?
<Seraphna> Cookie> Success! Victory brownies all around!
<Seraphna> Nell> My Datapad is full of them.
<DeathStar> <Ben> Oh dear...
<DeathStar> *He eyes something*
<Seraphna> Cookie> Yes, Gloombringer?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...don't say 'uh-oh'."
<DeathStar> <Ben> After the dig machine went into the ground, I detected giant tremors. *he brings it up on the screen*
<DeathStar> *looking like giant worms, following the machine*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Ah. That does not seem good."
<Seraphna> Cookie> Is this a SPICE asteroid?
<DeathStar> <Yuki> What?
<Sara> <Yurica> I think there are sandworms.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I think they're attracted by the vibrations. Can you move without ry... wow. I'm so glad I stayed on the Aquarius."
<Jackieness> <Airym> "How much granularity do we have of the scans of the indigenous creatures?"
<Seraphna> Cookie> A bigger vibration would distract them then.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I can shoot the ground.
<DeathStar> <Ben> I-- We'll see what we can do from here
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "It might make stealth harder, but yes."
<Jackieness> <Airym> "That risks alerting the pirates to our presence."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "When it comes to attracting worms, nothing beats a ground pound."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I think it would defintiely alert anyone around us yes. But otherwise they might get swalloed up.
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Earth
<DeathStar> *Andrea prepares to gather everything she needs in her office for the leyline trip.*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I've finished signing over everything needed for Marcus to take office
<Xanatos> <Marcus> If I die in this defense, it goes to someone boring.
<DeathStar> <John> Like me?
<DeathStar> *Zephyr peers out the windows*
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Please don't appoint Chad to president."
<Dias`> *Chad steps in, rubbing his face a bit and stops, eyeing Hotaru ever so briefly*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmmm?"
<Xanatos> 6* Kane steps in, carrying two large cases with a third slung onto his back like a backpack.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "We are so going to need someone who can keep morale up."
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> So everyone ready to go?
<DeathStar> <Chii> That'd be me
<Seraphna> Angela> Pretty ready.
<Dias`> *Chad shifts his backpack a bit* Best I can be.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> Alright, *She steps in*
<DeathStar> <Lemon> I got our shuttle ready
<DeathStar> <John> So we really going by air?
<Dias`> <Chad> Upgrades and all?
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Why not?"
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> I'll go in position. Come on Chii. *She grabs her and moves out, making Chii flail*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... so you put the leyline right through the suicide woods, mother? How melodramatic of you."
<Xanatos> 6* Kane sets one case down in front of Chad.
<Dias`> *Chad looks at it then Kane*
<Xanatos> <Kane> Inside are the drones I constructed to intercept incoming missiles or slower munitions of that nture.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I didn't put the entrance there, my dear.
<Xanatos> <Kane> I will join Zephyr and use my rifle for backup.
<Dias`> I
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...I'm actually disappointed now."
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Why is the leyline in the suicide woods?!"
<Seraphna> Angela> And I’ll be dropping surprises all over.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Good. I'm willing to deploy to protect our president personally, but I definitely don't want to have to."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> My dear daughter seems to think I'm Goth or something
<Xanatos> 6* Kane steps out to catch up with Zephyr.
<Dias`> <Chad> I'll make sure they're ready to go with the shuttle. I'll have Weapon XVII meet you guys to give you guys support incase something comes in close range.
<DeathStar> *Andrea walks up the steps to the roof*
<DeathStar> *John follows, checking something on his person*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus walks with Andrea
<Alicia> * Hotaru watches for Hunters
<DeathStar> *Lemon melts away to do her thing with Cheryl*
<Seraphna> **Tabetha keeps a mind out for incoming trouble**
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmm...I've seen your childhood pictures, mother." *follows*
<DeathStar> *Chii warps Kane and Zephyr to the woods*
<Seraphna> **Angela hops on a Montana and flies off as her armor forms**
<Dias`> *Chad moves towards the shuttle
<DeathStar> *John takes the pilot seat and prepares the ship while Andrea gets in the back*
<Dias`> *Chad opens up the case and begins attaching the drones to it then moves inside of it*
<DeathStar> <John> Alright, we're taking off.
<Seraphna> **Tabetha takes a seat**
<Dias`> *Chad moves to sit down beside, John, looking over the terminals to make sure everything looks good.*
<DeathStar> *John zooms off the roof and heads for the location once all are on. Andrea leans back*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus stands there, peering over John's shoulder.
<DeathStar> <John> ... You know you can... sit
<Dias`> <Chad> I'll take control of the shuttle if John has to Dragon up to protect it.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> But it's more fun to do this.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... besides... I would have picked the suicide woods just to be dramatic."
<DeathStar> <Andrea> That's my girl. *She seems amused*
<Xanatos> Plus if I have to grab Andrea, wolf out, and jump out the back...better to be ready for that.
<Dias`> <Chad> And are you planning on being a wolf shaped pillow when you hit the ground?
<DeathStar> *John gets them over the suicide woods, preparing to land*
<Seraphna> Tabetha> He has survived worse I think.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Do you have a parachute? Landing might hurt if you don't."
<DeathStar> *Zephyr pauses, tapping Kane; there's a super bright light in the sky over the shuttle/leyline entrance*
<DeathStar> *John blinks, eyeing readings coming from the shuttle as the sky brightens above them*
<DeathStar> <John> What in the hell?
<Dias`> <Chad> The shuttles picking up something.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "That's not a good sign."
<Dias`> *Cel looks at where Zephyr and Kane are looking*
<Seraphna> Tabetha> Blast from space?
<DeathStar> *indeed, a blast from the EarthGov Defense System seems to be raining down at them*
<Xanatos> 6* Kane pulls up his scope and looks at it, then taps an encoded message on his datapad to inform chad on the shuttle.
<Dias`> <Chad> Earthgov's satellites should've...God damn't.
<DeathStar> <John> There's no way to dodge that
<DeathStar> <John> Shit..
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Why are the defense sats attacking?! Who else can authorize that except mother?!"
<Seraphna> **Angela sends in a team of Betas used in the Dark One War, forming a shield wall**
<DeathStar> *John tries to anyway*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> *Grimaces*
<Dias`> *Chad grabs the controls and moves to start evading them* You two might need to intercept.
<Dias`> <Chad> Id, try and overwrite the Defense System and regain control.
<Xanatos> <Kane> I don't think I can hack the defense systems from here.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "I don't think the command is from an official source."
<Dias`> <Chad> Andrea, I need you to give Id access codes so he can get through quicker.
<Xanatos> <Kane> But I can try. 6* He pulls up his two datapad and starts working on it.
<DeathStar> *The Betas are vaporized instantly as the shuttle is engulfed*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus grimaces and moves to shield Andrea.
<DeathStar> *John grabs Hotaru and Tbetha to try to Dragoon*
<Dias`> *Chad's eyes shift silver*
<Seraphna> **Tabetha forms a telekinetic shield around them as they do**
<Seraphna> **Angela’s second squad comes in lower, meant to help with anyone or anything falling**
<DeathStar> *The area around the leyline entrance has been completely destroyed with glass like ground; the shuttle seems to have crashed off to the side - or what's left of it. Zephyr hurries over*
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> Dammit dammit damit
<Seraphna> **Angela peers from her own hiring position, scanning for people**
<Seraphna> **hiding
<Dias`> <Cel> This is bad. *She taps her comm, talking to someone*
<Alicia> * Hotaru searches the area, checking who's around... or still around
<DeathStar> *Chii joins the Betas and finds what looks to be a burnt Marcus, Noire's Dark One body being forced to revive it's powers to save her, and a strange Dragon mechanical body broken of the three of them*
<DeathStar> *laying on Chad*
<Seraphna> **Angela leans out if Delta’s cloaking field as they near and begins to check them for life signs**
<Seraphna> *leaps out of
<Jackieness> <Noire> *in full Dark One form* "...I...am...annoy3ed..."
<DeathStar> <Zephyr> We need medics here
<Xanatos> 6* Burnt Wolf Marcus is crispy
<Seraphna> Angela> **nods starting to use her healing powers**
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...where..is...mother?"
<DeathStar> *Andrea rises, injured herself and touches Marcus*
<Dias`> *Chad's clothes are completely gone, an oddly black tact suit having been under it that seems to have taken some of the damage*
<Alicia> * Hotaru would help out, but is a bit too out of it for that
<DeathStar> *using beginning to chant something and dark energies touching Marcus*
<Seraphna> Angela> Someone contact Darien or Eluere and get the grid secure. If it charges again I’m blowing that cannon.
<Xanatos> 6* Chad's datapad if it's intact would get a ping from Kane.
<DeathStar> *John disconnects from Tabetha*
<DeathStar> *both of them not in great shape*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...have them...find out...who authorized... attack."
<Dias`> *Id over Chii's comm* Satellite images have are showiing the entrance sealed over. The blast essentially turned everything into glass.
<Seraphna> **Tabetha flood naked and crispy as Angela heals John and licks Tabetha’s remarkable regeneration into overdrive**
<Xanatos> 6* Kane considers for a moment then stands up, throwing the rifle over his shoulder and starts to jog towards the group.
<DeathStar> *Cheryl and Lemon arrive with what looks to be medical stuff*
<Dias`> *It pings, but Chad's not moving much, probably having been known out from the crash*
<DeathStar> *kneeling to help out* <Cheryl> And here I thought I'd be bringing in guns
<DeathStar> *Cheryl workso n Chad while Lemon works on John*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus stirs, and opens his eyes slowly.
<Dias`> *Cel moves along side Kane*
<DeathStar> *Andrea's dark energies slowly works on getting Marcus healed*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> We're out in the open....
<Xanatos> <Kane> You're faster than me Cel, get to the group and inform them the order to fire came directly from Andrea.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Is... there anything we can do about that?"
<Seraphna> Angela> Hmm. I have Monty Squad 2 setting up a barrier. **she waves up as they seem to be forming a shield do’
<Xanatos> <Kane> I've stopped it from firing for now, but we haven't long.
<Dias`> *Chad coughs, as his mask retreats back from his head*
<Seraphna> *dome
<DeathStar> <Chii> *looks around* Well, we have a slight problem
<Dias`> <Cel> Understood. *She crackles with electrical energy, and move sto close the gap quickly*
<Seraphna> Angela> What a little digging?
<DeathStar> *Chii points, the entrance to the leyline blocked by what looks to be downed trees and destruction*
<Dias`> <Chad> Bring me up to speed..*he groans a bit as he slowly tries to get up in a sitting position.
<Seraphna> **Angela grins** We have Weapons here. Can any of them Ripple?
<Alicia> * Hotaru stands, shakily. "How long will it take to clear?"
<DeathStar> *John sits up, checking on Tabetha and Hotaru*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Then use your....imaginations." *lashes at tg desbris with tndrils and starts trying to clear the way*
<Dias`> *Cel slides up to the group* Kane wants me to tell you that Andrea sent the order.
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Did I now
<Seraphna> **Tabetha sits up, wounds closing visibly**
<DeathStar> <Andrea> I was always my own worst enemy
<DeathStar> *John stands up and moves toward the blackage, charging his hand and punches at it*
<Seraphna> Angela> Sounds like the Hunter stepped in the moment you left.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Is there a fake Andrea?" *starts carving up debris with her scythe*
<Dias`> <Chad> No. Spirit and X are the only active Ripple users. Spirits currently helping move people, I believe.
<Seraphna> **Angela frowns** It’d take a while to get Kumiko here from Asteroid C too.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Didn't expect the defense system, they outplayed us on that one.
<DeathStar> *As the group manages to break open the entrance, Andrea stands up, holding her side* <Andrea> I'll get in now. It'll close after me. Will you all be alright?
<Dias`> <Chad> I should've. *He rubs his face, wincing as he wipes blood* I must've stretched myself too thing.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> You do your thing. You don't need us to go any further? What if someone's inside?
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... actually I feel like myself again, mother."
<Dias`> <Chad> Someone should go with her, just in case.
<Xanatos> 6* Kane elsewhere has climbed a tree and has sent is normal drones up to fly around and search for people in the area.
<Dias`> <Chad> ...I guess I was right on one of my thoughts about clearing the area out. *He sighs as he nods to Cheryl and stands up*
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Well, once I begin the ritual, the place will close up. For like, months
<DeathStar> <Andrea> Whoever wants to babysit me will have a long time
<Xanatos> <Marcus> You're making me take over the government...
<Dias`> <Chad> Well besides the lack of food and water for them. Someone should be inside just incase.
<Dias`> <Chad> Maybe one of Angela's elite Beta's.
<DeathStar> *Andrea looks around as she holds her side* You all debate. I need to get in.
<DeathStar> *She shuffles down inside the planet*
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Will you be alright?" *she says, probably more hurt than Andrea*
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus looks conflicted.
<Dias`> *Chad taps his neck* Kane, do you have any idea how Andrea ordered the strike?
<DeathStar> <John> She'll be fine. You need rest. *He eyes vehicles approaching, grabbing a gun*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Quit bothering my mother. If they had an assassin insides, they would not have attempted this clumsy, heavyhanded strike."
<Dias`> <
<Dias`> *Chad glances at Noire* You assume they wouldn't have a back up plan incase it failed.
<DeathStar> *Darien and Elueure step out of the vehicle* <Darien> We should get you out of here. More are coming
<Xanatos> 6* Kane steps up to the group, his drones flying back down and landing in ther placed in the case on his back.
<DeathStar> <Darien> More being Andrea. You need to present the document she signed that transfers power to Marcus if you want to cut her at the knees.
<Dias`> *Chad looks at Darien* What now?
<DeathStar> <Darien> She's ordered troops dispatched to this area
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Darien?"
<Jackieness> <Noire> "A Hunter is likely impersonating my mother and gave the attack order."
<Xanatos> <Kane> The defense system will strike again soon if we don't clear the area as well. Odd though, I was under the assumption a hunter needed the body of the person they were impersonating.
<Dias`> <Chad> I thought they needed the source to do that.
<DeathStar> <Darien> Apparently something has changed.
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus glances down to where Andrea had went and glances at Noire.
<Dias`> <Chad> Marcus, it's your turn to step up then.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Fine let's get out of here and get that documentation in to the generals to show.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Show that I'M somehow the fucking president....
<Seraphna> Angela> I’m gonna trigger a surprise for the hunter too.
<Dias`> <Chad> Don't do anything stupid.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Do your best, President Marcus."
<DeathStar> *From below* <Andrea> Hell year
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus makes a face at that and moves to get in Darien's vehicle.
<Seraphna> Angela> Oh I won’t be doing a thing. **she smiles**
<DeathStar> *yeah
<Jackieness> <Noire> *tries pulling herself back into her normal shape before climbing into the vehicle*
<Seraphna> **Angela hops on Delta and vanishes**
<Seraphna> **Tabetha flops into the vehicle**
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Smuggler Planet
<DeathStar> *the digging machine digs toward their target, while Rachael paces paranoid*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> I tell you, I keep hearing something out there
<Jackieness> <Moira> "...yeah...I think I hear it too. Famfrit ears."
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Storms?"
<DeathStar> <Aya> There's sensors you can check to look outside
<Dias`> <Id> Storms? Through the solid earth.
<DeathStar> *Rachael checks and screams*
<Dias`> *Durt sits to the side, having come with the digger*
<Seraphna> Nell> Oooo, worms!
<Alicia> <Celeste> "....ah."
<Jackieness> <Moira> "...really? The Sandworm cliche?"
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Is this sand?"
<DeathStar> <Rachael> It's solid rock!
<Seraphna> **Nell thinks, sensing our ores in the rock**
<DeathStar> <Rachael> How are there worms out there.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Are we sure its not the pirates with digging machines of their own?"
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Either there's softer ground out there, or... those worms are hardcore."
<DeathStar> <Lenny> Hm. Either way it would be quite the batle
<DeathStar> *Yuki appears on communications* <Yuki> The Aquarius is going to attempt to aid you in destroying the creatures
<Dias`> <Durt> As long as we can stay ahead of them, we'll be fine. And on the bright side, they'll probably assume it's the worms and not us.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "We can probably forget about stealth by this point..."
<Seraphna> Nell> Acid ingestion likely… lemme see… **she tries to make some ire deposits a distance away shake and spike to get the worms attentions**
<DeathStar> *while Nell does her thing, the Aquarius emits a noise to try to scare off the worms; it also makes the digging crew, especially those with good hearing, go bonkers*
<DeathStar> <Lenny> ... *makes a face*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "...someone turn down the bass..."
<Seraphna> **Nell holds her ears and keeps up her concentration**
<Sara> <Yurica> I fear this may have the opposite effect
<DeathStar> *Cloé rolls on the ground*
<Dias`> <Id> It may at least give us time to escape and get to our goal
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Sorry sorry sorry sorry
<DeathStar> *The digging machine soon gets a nice lead and the noise fades from them. Aya turns to the others* Would someone like to take a turn digging?
<Jackieness> <Moira> "I have a headache..."
<DeathStar> *Cloé holds head* I think my ears are bleeding
<Dias`> *Id floats around Cloe's head to check*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "I... could but..."
<DeathStar> *surprisingly, there is a little bit in one ear*
<Dias`> <Durt> But what?
<DeathStar> <Aya> Give it a try. *She motions at Celeste, showing her the controls*
<Dias`> <Id> One ear does show blood. You may have bursted an ear drum.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> Nyaaa.
<Alicia> * Celeste shakily uses the controls. "I hope we don't have to go through that again."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Come on, Cloe. You cna use my lap as a pillow."
<DeathStar> *Cloé rests her head, closing her eyes*
<DeathStar> *Prepare yourself, Ali, for a mini OG - the better you do, the further the Digging Machine will go*
<DeathStar> *Ready?*
<Alicia> *yes*
<DeathStar> U, U, U, L, L, U, U, R, U, U, L, U
<DeathStar> 5
<DeathStar> 4
<DeathStar> 3
<Alicia> DDDRRDDLDDRD
<DeathStar> 2
<DeathStar> 1
<DeathStar> -0-
<DeathStar> *Their sensors indicate that the machine is near a cave system with stuff in it*
<DeathStar> <Aya> I Think we're at our destination
<Alicia> <Celeste> "If only I knew which part to aim for."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Just kidn of nudge it in there, then we can sneak and recon."
<DeathStar> *Aya points at an area* Park us here
<DeathStar> <Aya> We'll get out and try to get into one of their ships. GEt as much information as possible
<DeathStar> *Aya turns* We'll need someone left behind to watch the ship
<DeathStar> <Aya> Any volunteers?
<Jackieness> <Moira> *shrugs* "I'll play guard duty."
<Dias`> <Durt> I'll leave an Idlet with you so you can keep in touch with us. *He tosses her an Idlet*
<Jackieness> <Moira> * takes the Idlet and nods*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> Alright
<DeathStar> *Lenny opens the hatch to the digging machine and peers out; they seem to be inside a cave with two ships and a lot of pirates moving about with cargo and stuff strewn all over the place*
<DeathStar> *she climbs out and keeps low; Rachael following*
<DeathStar> *Cloé comedically climbs out and stumbles with her balance*
<Dias`> *Durt steps, out kneeling a bit to take in the scene infront of them*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *hops out and then steadies Cloe*
<Alicia> <Celeste> *quietly* "Well, looks like we found them."
<Dias`> <Id> I should've brought my other shell with. *it says quietly*
<DeathStar> *tied up on the "docks" is what looks to be Templars of both genders, and what appears to be Betas? Or something like them*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "...rescue time."
<Seraphna> **Nell frowns**
<DeathStar> <Aya> First thing first
<DeathStar> *She whispers*
<DeathStar> <Aya> We need to check out the ship
<Dias`> <Durt> Aya's right. Our priority is what's on the ship. Not them.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "... ugh... I hate that you're right..."
<DeathStar> *Aya creeps toward the nearest one; the ships' designs seem to constantly being modified, going from typical a pirate type vessel, to incorporating looks from all the other races. Right now it seems to be incorporating Templar like looks*
<Alicia> * Celeste creeps towards the ship
<Jackieness> <Bella> *nods and ninjas over to the ship*
<Dias`> *Id studies the ship, not scanning it, but recording it as it's floats along* <Durt> Aya. I think that explains another reason we can't track them.
<DeathStar> <Aya> I'm beginning to think so. *Aya opens the door and as they walk in, the inside feels wrong. Lenny makes a face while Rachael begins to twitch like the old days*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "You okay, Rach?"
<Dias`> *Durt glances around* You three are reacting.
<DeathStar> *the hallways have this strange dim lighting like something that is just about to go out, that type of old yellow, but dimmer*
<Dias`> <Id> Please explain to me what you're feeling.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...creepy."
<DeathStar> <Lenny> There is a wrongness to this ship.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> I feel like if I keep going further, I'll go insane
<DeathStar> <Cloé> ... *muses* I feel okay outside the creepiness
<Seraphna> Nell> Feels a bit like walking on graves.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "It does feel gross."
<Dias`> <Id> Something a kin to whenever we encounter the Ny creature?
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Why don't you guys feeling the bad vibes head out to scout around, while those of us who don't pick up on it so much handle the ship?"
<Dias`> *Durt takes a step and pauses a bit* Yeah no, there it is.
<DeathStar> <Aya> Maybe. *She glances at Bella* Hm. I believe that Cookie said there might be people in here.
<Dias`> *Durt reaches behind his back and takes a pull from a bottle* That should help. *He rubs his face* Time's a ticking kids.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Possibly clones. I remember."
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Lets hurry." *starts searching*
<DeathStar> <Aya> Maybe the wrongness is coming from then. Come on.
<Dias`> *Id floats after the group*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Good point..." *heads on*
<DeathStar> *Lenny nods and Rachael takes a breath; as they move along, the group occassionally comes across a pirate moving about. The design seems like a normal ship, but either by avoiding them, or dealing with them, nothing too bad happens*
<DeathStar> *Their first real hurdle is a terminal they come across*
<DeathStar> <Aya> Can we get in?
<Dias`> <Id> Potentially.
<Dias`> *Id floats over to it, looking for a way to interface with it*
<Seraphna> Nell> Aren’t you like, Hackergirl?
<DeathStar> <Aya> Who?
<Dias`> <Id> I believe she assumes that you're skills match that of your fathers.
<DeathStar> <Aya> I am somewhat decent in areas of the computer. *She muses* But I rather help out - something about this place tells me not to overreach
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Yeah, I'm decent with a terminal too, but this place is so weird."
<Dias`> <Id> Aya, I believe I have found a way to interface. Can you please connect me to it. *A compartment opens up and a cable drops*
<DeathStar> *The terminal looks like a normal one, but it's definitely been changed*
<DeathStar> <Aya> Alright, becareful. I don't like the looks of it
<Seraphna> Nell> Now if he suddenly gets glowing red eyes we runZ
<DeathStar> *Aya does so*
<DeathStar> *Rachael paces* I feel something is calling to us further down
<DeathStar> <Lenny> It might be what we want
<Jackieness> <Bella> "something in a place we've nevr been that is callign to us seems like bad news to me."
<DeathStar> <Cloé> But we won't know how large this ship is without a map
<Dias`> *Id disconnects itself from it's hive permanently and begins to try and access the door controls*
<Seraphna> Nell> Or it’s a trap… though so far no alarms.
<Dias`> *Durt glances around*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "It might be... ah, I shouldn't say out loud."
<DeathStar> *As Id connects, it would find the ship has a strange computer AI, that seems to be an almost hive like connection itself. When Id connects, they begin to seek it out, and their unnatural connections begin to try to ad Id even as it seeks data and open doors.*
<DeathStar> <Aya> The door is open. Should I disconnect you?
<Seraphna> Nell> I dunno, felt that. That makes me want to tear my face off. This is just creepy.
<Dias`> <Id> Yes.
<DeathStar> *Aya disconnects. The lights begin to change a bit, flickering*
<DeathStar> *As they step through they're on an elevator*
<DeathStar> <Aya> Up or down?
<DeathStar> <Rachael> We should go down
<Dias`> <Id> ....I do not like what I found.
<DeathStar> <Aya> Up is likely the bridge
<Dias`> <Durt> Trust your guts kids.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Even when they churn?"
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Uhhh... waht did you find?"
<DeathStar> *Cloé taps the down button*
<Dias`> <Id> There is an AI on this ship.
<DeathStar> *Sending them down*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "OK... and?"
<DeathStar> <Rachael> Clearly whatever Id found it didn't like
<Dias`> <Id> It's different. In a strange, while I admit it is fascinating, way.
<DeathStar> *the doors open and inside is the core of the ship; but also what they find is people, tied up to these "Cores". Tons of men and women - mostly women, in circular formats, around them*
<Dias`> <Id> But it was actively trying to add me to it's....*it pauses as it tries to find the right word* Hive...collective...
<DeathStar> <Lenny> By the gods..
<Dias`> *Durt reaches for his pistol as he eyes what's before them, seeing if he recognizes any person or race*
<Alicia> <Celeste> "...lets trash this place."
<Seraphna> Nell> I think we know why your AI is different
<DeathStar> *most are not recognized, but as they walk around, some are - as alternate reality versions of people. Grouped together by power sets*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "We should try to disconnect them first..."
<Dias`> *Id floats around a bit* I am finding different races
<DeathStar> <Cloé> What is this place?
<Alicia> * Celeste moves to try to do so
<Dias`> <Durt> Don't touch anyone.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> Hell. *She pauses, eyeing another version of herself*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "This is how they have been mesing with us, Cloe. They've been kidnapping alternate versions of people with powers."
<Dias`> <Id> Hmmm... That would confirm that they used alternate realities.
<DeathStar> *the elevator rises up*
<DeathStar> *behind the group*
<Dias`> <Durt> Disconnecting them will alert...shit.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Hide." *moves to find a hiding spot*
<Dias`> *Id begins floating around to see if it can find any specific core component to what everyone is hooked up to.
<DeathStar> *The ship jerks, the cores lighting up and the people seem to be in agony*
<Dias`> <Durt> Something's spooked them. We need to disable this or take it over and stop the other ship.
<Alicia> * Celeste continues unplugging, actually more hurriedly
<Dias`> <Durt> ...And I'm going to assume it was you Celeste, because you didn't listen.
<Dias`> <Id> I believe that was our only accessible way out.
<DeathStar> *As Celeste has begun unplugging the people, at first seems to be doing okay, but then the people begin to convulse*
<DeathStar> *Especially as the towers light up*
<Seraphna> Nell> I could… try to pull a bunch at once?
<Jackieness> <Bella> *leaps back out from ehr hiding place* "Well... crap."
<Dias`> *Id begins scanning everything he can now to get as much data as possible*&
<DeathStar> *not to mention Celeste's hand armor is ruined by now due to touching the tower cores*
<DeathStar> *it seems their life signs were tied to the cores as a failsafe.*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> What do we do?!
<Dias`> <Durt> At this point, we either need to destroy everything on this ship and get out, or just get out.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "... destroy it."
<DeathStar> *The elevator begins to lower as it seems the ship ahs begun to leave, the engines having spun up*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "I didn't bring a pocket nuke.. and the ship is moving."
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Well, lets destroy this system."
<DeathStar> *Racael is using heal on the convulsing ones
<DeathStar> *To try to help*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> All I can do is heal - I can't move from this spot
<Seraphna> **Nell closes her eyes, focuses her magnetokenesiss into a ball** I can take a bunch out at once.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Please..." *looks over the system itself, trying to work out how to disable it*
<Seraphna> Nell> Id, shield yourself.,
<DeathStar> *it dings and 10 pirates exit*
<Seraphna> **Nell holds out her hands and extends the magnetic energy into a code, pushing outwards, effectively sending out a field of electromagnetic enegy**
<Dias`> *Id drops low, following something under
<Dias`> *Durt starts firing shots at the incoming pirates as he takes cover behind whatever he can*
<DeathStar> *The pirates charge as the towers go down; and immediately the people connected begin to convulse*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> *her healing finally manages to make the ones Celeste freed cough up some black junk*
<Seraphna> **Nell then throws a tower that’s down at the pirates, ripping it out of its wiring**
<DeathStar> <Rachael> These are ... healed finally.
<DeathStar> *She collapses to her knees*
<Alicia> * Celeste moves to fight the pirates, better at that than disabling weird systems
<Jackieness> <Bella> *draws some throwing blades and then leaps between cover, tossing the blades for pirate eyes and throats as she goes*
<DeathStar> *The pirates are hit by a ton of people and many go down*
<DeathStar> *the ones who haven't move in and begin to fire their attacks, not caring about safety of others or the room - their attacks blowing up anything nearby. Cloe squeels*
<Dias`> *Durt shifts, moving to grab Aya and get her somewhere safer*
<Seraphna> **Nell pulls another tower in front of them as a shield**
<DeathStar> *Aya follows; her breathing is taking deep breaths, like she is keeping herself from going wild*
<Dias`> *Id continues following along the connection point, scanning as it goes*
<DeathStar> **Id would find the grate nearby leading to the engine room with a large connector*
<DeathStar> *Lennny joins Celeste and slashes down the pirates while Nell shields them*
<Jackieness> <Bella> *does a dash toward a wall and then leaps off to try to slip in behind the pirates and go bare knuckle on them now*
<DeathStar> *Bella drops the last of them*
<DeathStar> *But then the first of them coughs up some black crud and begins to rise*
<Dias`> <Id> Nell. Feel for around where I am at for a massive connection. *Id begins to describe it as he talks to her through a comm*
<Seraphna> Nell> Eww.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> ... *is busy healing more of them*
<DeathStar> <Rachael> What IS this?
<Seraphna> **Nell nods and starts to feel for it**
<Dias`> <Durt> Woh now, boss lady. Need you to keep your head straight and relaxed. We're gonna need your smarts soon.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "... don't get it on you, but don't worry too much about what it is for now."
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...that explains why they switched sides... they were possessed by that stuff!"
<Seraphna> Nell> Think I got it>
<Dias`> <Durt> I wouldn't say they switched sides. It's probably what allows the machine to use them as tools
<DeathStar> <Lenny> Cut their heads off
<DeathStar> *Lenny beheads one as they stand up*
<DeathStar> <Cloé> What?!
<Seraphna> Nell> Now I don’t feel so bad about using them as shields.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> *deadpans as she works on saving the civilians*
<Alicia> * Celeste doesn't behead them unless she has to, but doesn't let them get back up.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Are we sure the pirates aren't being controlled too?"
<Dias`> <Durt> STOP BEING SO INDECISIVE RIGHT NOW NAD KILL THEM
<DeathStar> *Cloé goes purple hair and begins to take the pirates out*
<Seraphna> **Nell sighs** Id, need to know what I should do so I can go wild.
<Dias`> <Id> See if you can bring it up as an assy. If not, it might be best to disconnect it.
<DeathStar> *As Nell works on it, the remaiing towers that haven't been taken down suddenly power down*
<DeathStar> *no longer drawing power to the ship*
<Dias`> <Durt> I don't like that. What happened?
<Seraphna> **Nell gives a thumbs up** I think I disconnected the whole network.
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Good going, Nell!"
<DeathStar> *Rachael stacks up the reality people that have been disconnected, eyeing the ones still on the towers* <Rachael> So.. is it safe to remove them or are they going to freak out?
<Dias`> *Id works on rejoining the others
<Seraphna> Nell> Yes. **she says to Rachael**
<DeathStar> <Rachael> I have no mana left
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Let's unhook them while we have time."
<Alicia> <Celeste> "...yeah."
<Seraphna> Nell> Safe and they will still freak out. They need to at least reject the goo.
<DeathStar> <Lenny> We can just behead them if needbe.
<DeathStar> <Lenny> I wouldn't want that stuff in me
<Dias`> <Durt> We need to either get off the ship or take it over now
<Seraphna> Nell> Heroes go for the save. But I suppose it’s another kind of saving.
<DeathStar> *Cloé studies* I think this familiar might be someone from our world. *She grabs them and yanks them off*
<DeathStar> *Rachael tenses*
<DeathStar> *But nothing happens*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "OK, so do we rush the bridge now or what?"
<DeathStar> <Aya> Hm
<Seraphna> Nell> Hey, looks like it’s good. One moment.. **She closes her eyes, then starts using cables and wires around the room to start pulling people free of the machines**
<DeathStar> <Aya> They no longer have their defense system
<DeathStar> <Aya> But they have a lot of pirates that can ressurecct themselves
<Dias`> <Durt> What do you mean? *Id pops up from below*
<Seraphna> Nell> Hmm. If their defenses are down… *she taps her comms**
<DeathStar> *comms still seem to be being blocked by something*
<Seraphna> Nell> Seems we didn’t disable their jammers.
<Seraphna> Nell> I really need to bond with someone so I can send messages that way.
<Dias`> <Durt> We need to try and get to the bridge.
<DeathStar> *as they talk, the group would find their wills begin to weaken, as if telling them to sit down and wait*
<Dias`> *Durt takes a step back, blinking a bit*
<DeathStar> *Cloé plops on her rear*
<Seraphna> **Nell frowns, then suddenly punches herself to startle herself out of it**
<Seraphna> Nell> Oh fuck no.
<DeathStar> <Lenny> ... What..?
<Alicia> <Celeste> "... we are going to the bridge."
<Seraphna> Nell> Someone’s using influence.
<Dias`> *Durt rubs his face to sit down* The aquarius will do the rest.
<Alicia> * Celeste moves that way
<DeathStar> <Rachael> *sits down* Why are you going...
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Influence?!"
<Seraphna> Nell> You don’t feel that sudden need to sit down?
<Seraphna> Nell> Like I’d ever WAIT. **she growls and starts to move for the bridge too, pulling some bars and wires to her and forming a weapon**
<Dias`> <Id> Hmmm. *Id twists and it's shell opens up. It floats over to Aya giving it a small holo-crystal* Please hold on to this. I am going to try and deal with the AI. I recommend destroying me afterward.
<DeathStar> <Aya> .. Good luck, Id
<Dias`> *Id moves over to the terminal for the elevator after Aya takes the holo-chip and it connects itself after a few tries*
<DeathStar> *Lenny joins the others in the elevator to the bridge. Id meets with the hive, which tries to connect itself to it*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...get us up there."
<Dias`> *Id begins to actively try and seek out the AI and when it tries to connect itself to Id, it tries to over take it
<Alicia> <Celeste> "... we need to at least get the comms working."
<Dias`> *Durt sighs at them getting on the elevator and looks at Rachel*
<Seraphna> **Nell mutters in Werebeast and pulls the plate of floor Durt is sitting on up and floats him after them**
<Dias`> <Durt> We did enough.
<DeathStar> <Rachael> We did
<DeathStar> *The group arrives on the bridge*
<DeathStar> *Where a beautiful woman is standing along with the pirates*
<Dias`> <Durt> It's like they just don't understand hard work then rest.
<DeathStar> <Woman> ... You wish to stop. *She tells those on the bridge who haven't given up yet*
<Seraphna> **Nell throws the spear she made at her** Oh fuck off.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "But I cannot."
<Alicia> * Celeste moves for the controls, sword in hand
<DeathStar> *Id and the hive right now are neck in neck for control of each other*
<DeathStar> *The woman is stabbed*
<Alicia> * Celeste pauses... then chops the woman's head off.
<Dias`> *Id begins hiding virus' in pieces of it's coding so that when/if a section get's absorbed it attacks*
<Seraphna> **Nell begins her second mode of resistance with the thing she rarely does, fur growing and her body become more tiger like as she moves in** Now YOU all want to stop.
<DeathStar> *Falling to her knees and bleeding all over her white outfit; then her head comes off*
<DeathStar> *The pirates after the woman dies, goes into a frenzy and leaps at Celeste*
<DeathStar> *slashing and stabbing her*
<DeathStar> *Forcing Lenny to shield*
<Seraphna> **Nell grabs up a chair and throws it at them, ripping it out of the floor**
<Seraphna> Nell> **roars deeply and loudly**
<Alicia> * Celeste fights the pirates, looking increasingly tired, yet unwilling or perhaps unable, to stop
<DeathStar> *the hive slowly begins to take over Id*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...ok...ok..." *uses the fight as a distraction to try to get to the ship controls*
<DeathStar> *Cloé rises up from her stupor with Rachael and Durt, and rushes to help; they manage to lower the shields*
<Dias`> *Id is forced to go on the defensive now and begins changing it's coding to try and slow it down while it attempts to find a weak spot to exploit*
<DeathStar> *By now, the ship is near the sun and it's feeling super hot*
<Dias`> <Durt> ...God damnt. *He sighs at himself as he stands up*
<Seraphna> **Nell peers over the controls the tries to let the dragon part of her brain tell the tiger part to not smash**
<Jackieness> <Bella> *tries to fire maneuvering thrusters away from the sun*
<DeathStar> *the hive, perhaps due to Id, or perhaps distracted by the situation, realizing the situation on the ship is lost, retreats itself from the location here and gives ground to Id; deleting itself completely from the ship. Id now is in control of the ship*
<Seraphna> Nell> Now. The rest of you WANT to surrender, right? Because I’m close to being like my Momma.
<Alicia> * Celeste manages to fight off the pirates, presumably, looking over the controls with Bella.
<Dias`> *Id begins to access what it has control over and where it is and begins to try and slow it's self to a stop and to try and bring itself away from the sun, fighting all it's urges*
<Jackieness> <Bella> "...I think we're going to make it!"
<DeathStar> *The pirates, still in a frenzy since the death of the woman, do not let up - as soon as they ressurect, go at it again*
<DeathStar> <Lenny> ... *chops heads*
<Dias`> *Durt just stares at the sigh*
<Dias`> *sight*
<Alicia> * Celeste joins Lenny in decapitating pirates, too tired to try to find another solution
<Seraphna> **Nell tears one’s head off with a hand covered in shards of metal**
<Jackieness> <Bella> "Space whats left out the airlock."
<Seraphna> Nell> Fine. Fuck you.
<DeathStar> <Cloé> W-We have the ship...
<DeathStar> *Id opens the communications to the Aquarius*
<DeathStar> <Yuki> Id?
<Seraphna> Nell> Yeah just not these weirdos.
<Dias`> *Id's voice appears over the ships comm's if they have any* I have managed to take control of the ship.
<Seraphna> Nell> So who was the bitch anyway?
<Alicia> <Celeste> "No clue." *to Id* "Hail the Aquarius, tell them the situation... I need to get some rest..."
<DeathStar> <Yuki on comms> Good job everyone
<DeathStar> <Yuki on comms> We'll find a safe locations to land both ships and see if we can learn more about this thing.
<Alicia> * Celeste slumps unceremoniously. This took a lot out of her, and now that the situation is handled... she's exhausted.
<Seraphna> Nell> Cookie was right, their power engines are people.
<Alicia> <Celeste> "Hey Durt, Rach. Now we can rest..."
<DeathStar> <Rachael> ... That'll be nice

Session Start: Mon May 22 21:00:35 2023
Session Ident: #TAW-Session647-Ship
* Now talking in #TAW-Session647-Ship
* ipo.esper.net sets mode: +nt
* Dias` has joined #TAW-Session647-Ship
* Seraphna has joined #TAW-Session647-Ship
* Xanatos has joined #TAW-Session647-Ship
<DeathStar> *Yuki peers down after having gotten attention of the worms, they now circle underneath the Aquarius, trying to launch themselves up and eat the ship somehow*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> ...I've never seen a worm jump out of the ground.
<DeathStar> <Ben> What ARE these things?
<DeathStar> <Ben> I half expect them to transform into flying creatures with how persistant they are
<Dias`> <Id> Scan them to see if anything comes up
<Seraphna> Cookie> Spice Worms!
* Jackieness has joined #TAW-Session647-Ship
<DeathStar> <Ben> And what is spice worms?
<DeathStar> *The Aquarius jerks a little as one of them leaps and clips the bottom shield*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Keep an eye on the ground. We have agitated them."
* Alicia has joined #TAW-Session647-Ship
<Xanatos> <Pepper> They're getting higher in their jumps.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "BAck us away slowly."
<DeathStar> *The worms, somehow, use each other to try to leap for the AQuarius*
<DeathStar> *but in the end, the ship can still go higher*
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Why are worms leaping at the ship?"
<Jackieness> <Airym> "I wonder how the pirates discourage the worms from invading the cave system."
<DeathStar> <Mireille> These things are scary. *She brings up the data - showing they were made by someone based on the designs - eating the ground and leaving cave tunnels behind*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "That explains the tunnels."
<Dias`> <Id> May I see the data, Mireille?
<DeathStar> *Mireille transfer the data; it looks like the worms were man-made to eat through hardrock*
<Dias`> *Id sends Mireille something to scan for him*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Perhaps a Cartel mining project that got out of hand."
<DeathStar> *Mireille does so* Interesting
<Xanatos> <Pepper> I wonder if I could turn into a warm and eat rocks.
<Xanatos> (worm)
<Dias`> <Id> Indeed.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I don't think you could digest them..."
<DeathStar> <Mireille> Judging by it's age, it has to be a project that started a few years ago. This would line up with the pirates that broke off from the Red pirates a few years back
<Alicia> * Akatsuki looks a little angry at that
<Dias`> <Id> If your data is correct, then yes, Mireille, that theory has the best odds.
<Dias`> <Id> It would also explain why it's been hard to find them.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Lets take everything we can of theirs."
<Dias`> <Durt> This won't be as easy as that.
<Dias`> *Wrong room*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> You thinkt he pirates are involved, maybe this is one of their homebases and they've been mining minerals here for the past few years?
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Yes."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "No-one has any complaints about us looting them, right? It weakens our enemies, and redistributes Red funds back where they belong."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> I don't mind really
<Jackieness> <Airym> "We are here to eliminate their threat."
<Dias`> <Id> I remind you that the other group is working on infiltrating them. So if you make the wrong move too soon you could either endanger them or cause them to fail.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Id is correct. The mission comes first over any indignation, justified or otherwise."
<DeathStar> <Mireille> I wonder if we could capture a worm
<Dias`> <Id> Even a part of one would be beneficial
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Now who's not taking the mission seriously?"
<Jackieness> <Airym> "The worms may be dealt with after, and only after, the pirates have been neutralized."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Looting the pirates comes afterwards too."
<Dias`> <Id> I only agreed with Mireille's curiousity. I never said it was a priority.
<DeathStar> <Mireille> I did say, I wonder if we could capture one.
<DeathStar> <Mireille> Not when
<DeathStar> *sulk*
<Seraphna> Nox> Is a good idea.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Ben, has the dig ship penetrated the cave system yet?"
<DeathStar> <Ben> We lost contact with them a while ago so I'm assuming they are indeed in the cave system
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Keep an eye out in case the pirate vessels attempt to make a run for it."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Oh, I'm on it. No-one wants to take them out more than me."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "... I feel the same, really."
<DeathStar> <Ben> I will do so
<DeathStar> <Ben> I might be detecting two ships leaving
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Can you hide us with the storm?"
<DeathStar> <Ben> I could try, just know we might be taking damage while in it
<Jackieness> <Airym> "How much time until they emerge?"
<DeathStar> *Ben gets them in the storm; the ship shaking and alarms going off* <Ben> Any minute
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Wish we knew where the others were...
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Likely they have engaged the enemy already, causign this retreat."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Can we attack the one they're *not* on?" *tries to sense which that is*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Ben, does either show any unusual activity?"
<DeathStar> <Ben> They're in space. *he gets them out of the storm*
<DeathStar> <Ben> The Aquarius has taken some damage, but we should be alright to follow
<DeathStar> <Ben> Shields are down
<Seraphna> Nell> I can charge them up with my Darkness!
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Set a course to shadow them."
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper checks weapons as they move.
<DeathStar> *the Aquarius is following along quietly*
<DeathStar> *one ship begins to veer off suddenly*
<DeathStar> *while the other jumps into hyperspace*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I think I know which ship they're on."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "I hope so."
<Jackieness> <Airym> "We found our infiltration team. Prepare to capture the ship."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Tractor beam powered up, can we get a reading of their shields?
<DeathStar> *The ship --- is headed for the nearby star*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Weapons, disable those engines."
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper nods and starts to take careful shots to disable the engines.
<DeathStar> *They score a lucky hit; the enemy vessel begins to fire back*
<DeathStar> *with no shields, the Aquarius is rocked*
<DeathStar> *Mireille rushes into her pod*
<DeathStar> *To power them up*
<Seraphna> **Nox feeds her dark spirit energy into the pod**
<DeathStar> <Yuki> This is our best chance to take them out
<Alicia> * Jikuu helps out, Akatsuki singing to boost their spirits
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Evasive maneuvers. We need to stop that ship before it kills our team."
<DeathStar> <Yuki> And learn how they work
<Seraphna> **Cookie begins to fly, trying Ace of Spades again**
<DeathStar> *The other ship limps on with one engine*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Make another run, then use th trctor beam to divert them to free space."
<Seraphna> **Cookie goes in**
<Seraphna> **Nox adds a trick to the shields, forming Darkness in it, making the ship harder to see in space**
<DeathStar> *The other ship fires at them, using what shields it has to it's one side*
<DeathStar> <Ben> It's trying to shield it's remaining engine
<Xanatos> 6* Peppers begins to fire anyway.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> We can outpower these shields...then tractor em
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Can you get a tractor lock on them?"
<DeathStar> *Pepper's shots break a good majority of it's shields, lowering them, and it fires back, shaking the Aquarius; at this point it's a normal slug fight*
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Someone get on tractor, I'm going to try and disabled their guns.
<Xanatos> 6* Pepper makes faces at them getting pummeled back and fires for the guns firing at them.
<DeathStar> *Pepper blows up the majority of their guns*
<DeathStar> <Mireille> <comms> Good job!
<DeathStar> *Mireille powers up her spirit attack, laced with darkness*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Ben, lock tractor beam and use th Aquarius' momentum to force them toc hange course."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> ...we took a lot of hits, we're going to need major repairs. Sealing off really bad areas.
<DeathStar> *Ben begins to attmept to do so*
<DeathStar> <Ben> I got a tractor beam lock
<DeathStar> *The Aquarius begins to try to steer it away*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Redirect non-essential power to engines and tractor beam."
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Diverting power from weapons to the tractor beam since they're not firing back.
<Seraphna> **Cookie uses the ship to help with the pull**
<DeathStar> *The ship slowly is pulled away from burning up*
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Well done. Ben, d we have a heading for the one that got away?"
<DeathStar> <Ben> We do not
<DeathStar> <Ben> I'm sorry
<Seraphna> Cookie> It’s fine. We probably know all we need to know about them now to screw them over if we find them again.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Then we focus on securing our gains here."
<Dias`> *Their comm beeps from the other ship*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Right. We captured one of the ships."
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Open channel."
<Dias`> <Id on comms> I have taken control of the ship.
<Xanatos> <Pepper> Channel open.
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Success!"
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Have you sufferred any casualties, Id?"
<Dias`> <Id> No. I am still alive.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "And the organic members of your team?"
<Dias`> <IdComm> They are unharmed.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "We took some damage. The other ship escaped."
<Dias`> <IdComm> I am working on disabling any self-destruct protocols but at least we have their tech and can start working on a way to counter it
<DeathStar> <Yuki> We believe we have a location for both of us
<DeathStar> <Yuki> We're land there now
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Take us in."
<Dias`> <IdComm> Excellent
<DeathStar> -TIME HOP-
<DeathStar> Location: Aquarius/Planet Side
<DeathStar> *The Aquarius has landed with the Pirate Ship. Yuki observes the ship, as well as the unconscious civilians they have on hand*
<DeathStar> <Ben> This will be complicated. We will need to study them to see how they interact with the ship
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Id, are any of the databanks still intact?"
<Dias`> <Id> I haveen working on preserving them.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "Good. We need to know as much as possible."
<DeathStar> <Rachael> I think that woman - she had blonde hair I think. Her head is somewhere on the bridge - she might be important
<DeathStar> <Rachael> The crew went nuts after Celeste killed her
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "So... I don't want to keep that horrible engine, at the very least... but someone should study it."
<Alicia> <Celeste> "You really want that ship, don't you?"
<Dias`> <Durt> That's the intent, kid. And it's not your ship to take.
<Jackieness> <Airym> "It is not available to be claimed as anyone's personal property."
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "I mean... it belongs to the Red pirates..."
<Seraphna> Thena> We defeated it in battle! It’s booty!
<Dias`> <Durt> The Red Pirates don't have this kind of tech.
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Yes, that is why certain elements are being donated to be researched."
<Seraphna> Thena> Avast!
<Dias`> <Durt> And quite frankly, no one should. But we need to do figure out this ship quickly so we can track the others. Id, bring in Taiga. *he looks over at Aya*
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "If you mean the creepy life draining tech, I agree."
<DeathStar> *Taiga arrives from Tora's room* <Taiga> I take it it's my time to shine
<Jackieness> <Airym> "The pirate ship is yours. Unravel its mysteries."
<Dias`> <Durt> Yeah. Id will send the data he's found so far. Even the recording of the ship seemingly shifting into a different one.
<Dias`> <Durt> We may want to bring Myria in on this too if she has the free time
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Now, that bit of tech, I'm interested in."
<Alicia> <Jikuu> "Oh, Aka..."
<DeathStar> *Taiga flips through everything, then pauses at something* .... .... Oh my.
<Dias`> <Id> I see you are finding things interesting also, Taiga
<Alicia> <Akatsuki> "Heya Granny!"
<Seraphna> Si> A-Are we grannies Taiga?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> A lot. I'm curious where all this can lead.
<Dias`> <Id> Agreed. I may have to bring in several more Id fragments to help me process it all
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I want to study all the civilians and the head. Check DNA markers on all of them and reality markers
<DeathStar> <Taiga> I imagine we'll have weeks of data to comb through. Hopefully we have enough time
<Dias`> <Id> Durt has already had the body and head send to a medical place to be preserved.
<DeathStar> *Mireille peers at the others, then back* This is all gruesome. Want fun again
<Dias`> <Id> My preliminary data shows two potentials theories. *Id send sher the data*
<Seraphna> Nell> Who was she anyways?
<DeathStar> <Taiga> My guess?
<Seraphna> Nox> Let’s play videogames, Mire.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> A kid of Adeline's or an alternate version of Adeline. *She brings up the blonde face with blue eyes* She doesn't look quite like our Adeline, but there's several markers and indication marks that's very close
<DeathStar> *hair even
<Dias`> <Id> Indeed. The DNA report will narrow it down but that is my running theories also.
<DeathStar> <Taiga> Could be she didn't go through what ours did at a young age.
<DeathStar> *Lenny muses, then decided to pull Celeste close, vowing to protect her from any crazy Adelines out there*
<DeathStar> -END-
* Jackieness has quit IRC
Session Close: Mon May 22 23:17:17 2023

<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Location: Earth
<DeathStar> *Darien has led the group to the Tokyo government building, where soldiers have gathered to try to detain them, but balk when Zephyr takes command* <Soldier> But General... The President said....
<Jackieness> <Noire> *clearly looks agitated*
<DeathStar> *Blue leans on the wall with some of her Repliforce people, having had them on standby*
<Seraphna> Tabetha> The President who left here hours ago with us as a security detail? Did anyone think to check?
<DeathStar> <Blue> Should I kick his ass?
<Dias`> <Chad> Marcus, show them the paperwork.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "It's all up to you, President Marcus."
<Dias`> <Chad> Also, check his neck.
<Alicia> * Hotaru does so
<Seraphna> Tabetha> It would be prudent to seal the building by the way, so the “President” doesn’t leave.
<DeathStar> <Eluere> Well about that
<Xanatos> 6* Marcus scowls at being called president but produces what he has.
<DeathStar> *Eluere begins to plug in stuff without even being asked*
<DeathStar> <Eluere> Here is the fake Andrea. *She shows Andrea, showing up at the station* She showed up and gave the command to attack this area. She had the handprint - everything
<Jackieness> <Noire> "mmmm... my mother is taking a leave of absence, effective several hours ago. The presidential line of succssion is now in effect."
<Dias`> <Chad> Which a Hunter can easily copy.
<Seraphna> Tabetha> I assume she vanished shortly after that.
<DeathStar> <Eluere> But... *She zooms in at Andrea's kimono* You were wondering how a Hunter could copy without having the body or the neck? *there appears to be something in the kimono*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm?"
<Dias`> *Chad takes a seat, clearly sore and exhausted* Can you zoom in on it.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Don't worry Marcus, you'll do fine."
<Xanatos> 6* Kane curiously looks at the footage.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Mmm, yeah it's just making decisions isn't it? That's fine...but the meetings...
<Dias`> <Id> To think, that Marcus would end up in the same position that Dias once held. The universe is full of mysteries
<DeathStar> *Eluere zooms in more*
<Jackieness> <Noire> "Mmmmm... MArcus... if you need it.. I cna tutor you... I have been Earth's daughter for two presidential terms, afterall."
<Seraphna> Tabetha> Half the people he knows have been President too.
<DeathStar> *And it looks like it's the Shining Trapezehedron*
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "What is that?"
<DeathStar> <John> No idea
<Dias`> <Chad> ...Hmm. That thing.
<Seraphna> **Tabetha frowns** Send that to the Peacekeepers.
<Dias`> <Chad> Id let Lana know we found it.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> It'll be the same as beign vice president but people actually listen to you this time.
<Xanatos> <Kane> Lana? One of the peacekeepers on Geyze? Interesting.
<DeathStar> <John> Noire.
<Jackieness> <Noire> "mmmmm?"
<DeathStar> <John> Speaking of Andrea, will her having an injury in her side affect the ritual? I noticed she had a little bit of debris stuck in her
<Jackieness> <Noire> "...it depends...on how stressful the ritual is."
<Dias`> <Chad> Honestly, something of the caliber of what she's going to do, probably will kill her.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> That's something we in the busines call "don't tell the kid"
<Jackieness> <Noire> *clenches her hands into fists then turns on her heel and starts walking away*
<DeathStar> *Lemon steps into the room* Well, I've got news.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "...I should never have let her go alone."
<DeathStar> <Lemon> It looks like the Aquarius managed to beat the pirates.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> Well one of them
<DeathStar> <Lemon> But the odd thing is this is two major encounters with us not actually encountering the Hunters. They decided to stay out of it or attack from afar.
<Dias`> <Chad> Part of her knew it was a possibilty, Cheryl. And in something like this, she'll need that band-aid pulled off sooner than later. *He looks at Lemon* Good new for once.
<Xanatos> <Marcus> You wouldn't have been able to stop or help her Hotaru. This was her decision.
<Dias`> *Chad rubs the back of his neck* Odds are they used it as a distraction for something else.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "..."
<Xanatos> <Kane> I've been reading some reports on the pirate's abilities. I am very interested in learning more about that.
<Seraphna> Tabetha> It makes sense. Them staying away.
<Seraphna> Tabetha> We nearly hunted them to extinction. They’ve grown less confident.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> Well, the Hunters want to make it easier for this Serpent thing to bring about the end of the universe
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Never understood that, they would die too.
<DeathStar> <Cheryl> So Earth succeded. I'm just wondering what other key target they'll want to hit
<Dias`> <Chad> The alliance would be next.
<Xanatos> <Kane> Have we spoken with the PAX recently as well? They are often a prime target for these things.
<DeathStar> <Darien> Maybe it's for one last revenge - we could ask the shapeshifters that we're allied with
<DeathStar> <Darien> They're genetically related after all
<Seraphna> Tabetha> Could help.
<Seraphna> **Angela rejoins them, leaning on Zephyr**
<DeathStar> <Lemon> I'll speak with them. The PAX, Kumen, and Geyze would be high targets. <Zephyr> I know one that'll want. The Tower on Geyze
<Seraphna> Angela> And the towers on Kumen.
<Dias`> <Chad> Than we should send a group to help reinforce that.
<Dias`> <Chad> We also need to let the alliance know what happened. It should help keep them more vigilant
<Seraphna> Angela> As for the PAX… my guess would be trying to steal a battery or assassinating a Royal.
<DeathStar> <Lemon> We'll have spare time, so we'll help out
<Xanatos> <Marcus> Good idea, I'll work with Repliforce and Darien to keep things rolling here.
<DeathStar> <Darien> Sounds good. <Blue> Yep. We still got to get everyone over to Asia
<Dias`> <Chad> No offense, but killing off a Royal won't hamper them.
<DeathStar> <Darien> Oh yeah, I need to speak to the President about someone later one on one. And Warren offers his services since he figures you'll be in over your head
<Seraphna> Angela> Mmm, morale was never one of your strong suits.
<Dias`> <Chad> It'll only anger them and focus their attention, Angela.
<Seraphna> Angela> I hope it isn’t the case anyway.
<DeathStar> -SHIFT-
<DeathStar> Epilogue:
<DeathStar> Location: Unknown
<DeathStar> *The blonde haired woman paces, holding her throat on the bridge of the other ship, her piercing blue eyes staring at nothing* Hatred. Hatred. Hatred. Hatred. No mercy next time. I will make sure to crush them when I come across them. *she moves down to the lower areas of the ship where the people are tied up, along with someone else who seems to be not like a pirate, overseeing the project*
<DeathStar> -TBC-
Session Close: Mon May 22 23:06:26 2023