Session 1 6

The station has not rocked while the party got down to the hangar - now back in hangar mode, the station-long cannon safetied. Looks like that was a warning shot earlier.
Then again, the comms have been occasional fits of laughter, with few coherent words. Did something happen out there?
If something did, it bought the party time to get ready and launch…
[OOC] Abraham: These are external coms right, not the internal ones?
[OOC] WC GM: Lock and load montage go go go!
[OOC] WC GM: Yep.
[OOC] Abraham: Pole Position theme music go!
Spyboy Pearson follows Heggy up the ladder to his cockpit. Using the abbreviated startup checklist - looks like everything's good to go!
[OOC] Hrrin: Okay, is Hrrin a-flyin', or, as discussed at the end, piloting the 'Station'?
[OOC] WC GM: That is for you to decide ICly at this time.
Abraham jumps into the fighter that is most emphatically not his and runs through an abreviated flight checklist.
Zinda Tegram keys in the access code for the Stern Lanze and taps on the hull expectantly as the frame slides apart to allow entry.
[OOC] Abraham: I'm good with you manning the 'capital ship'.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: As am I.
Hrrin barks orders to the various techs in the control room, calling up screens and meters. The hum of warming energy cannon reverberates through the hotel halls.
[OOC] Abraham: Unless you feel a sudden suicidal depression comming on that will make you crash the hotel into the sun or something.
[OOC] Hrrin: Those are, to clarify, the small ones.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Our evidence! : O
[OOC] Hrrin: Not The Big One. Probably.
Spyboy Pearson sends a text message to Hrrin - all she has to do to reactivate the reactors he shut down to kill the main cannon is reset the safeties. Just in case.
Hrrin texts back. "You got it."
There is another burst comm of laughter - okay, this is starting to get a little creepy, but at least it sounds like it's starting to die down.
Spyboy Pearson: "Everyone ready?"
Zinda Tegram keys into local secured comms.
Zinda Tegram: "The laughter is them messing with you. Ignore it."
Hrrin: "Ready as I'll be."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Hrrin's ship is posted on her page. Math may not be perfect but we'll remake it later. We sort of rushed.
Abraham: "All systems are go, ready."
Zinda Tegram: "Mission control, we are good to go."
Zinda Tegram exhales.
[OOC] Hrrin: 'Magic/More Magic' is the best Aspect ever guys, just saying.
The hangar is open. You can launch at any time.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: I don't think it's the best ever, but I can't think of what would beat it.
Spyboy Pearson: "What's the protocol here, Miss Tegram?"
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Actually - does Zinda have a rank or equivalent in the Confed?
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: No. I'm a contractor.
Zinda Tegram: "Now? They'll try to shoot us as we undock."
Hrrin: "Care for some covering fire?"
Zinda Tegram: "Hrrin, callsign Hotel, what angle are they waiting on at the hanger. And yes please."
Abraham: "I most certainly would."
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: + + - 0 (Base: 3 Total: 4) (Alertness to tag aspect "Saw it coming")
Hrrin: Lo and behold, the external cameras (There *are* external cameras, right?) are checked. Where's the pirate scum waiting?
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Erm, place aspect
Spyboy Pearson quickly programs a decoy.
Spyboy Pearson: "B-4, get us pointed at the hangar door….and…."
Spyboy Pearson: "Oh, Miss Tegram, no! You shouldn't use full afterburner to leave the hangar, we're sitting ducks either way!"
Spyboy Pearson launches the decoy!
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: + - - 0 (Base: 3 Total: 2) (Communications to place aspect "Chasing a decoy")
Zinda Tegram heats the afterburner. "You don't build your hangers to withstand afterburners? The hell?"
[OOC] WC GM: Zinda's roll technically fails - although Hrrin gets to place a similar scene aspect based on what was just PMed.
Abraham: "I rather doubt Spyboy build this hanger. I hope he didn't at least."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK.
Hrrin reports back, "Huh. They're just…hanging there. If they're faking disorganization, it's -verry- convincing. They look out of it."
Hrrin: "Like they've been incapacitated?"
[OOC] WC GM: Because I really doubt Zinda would see *that* coming.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Reasonable. She just expects to undock under fire.
[OOC] Hrrin: Hmmn….as for an appropriate Scene Aspect…
[OOC] Hrrin: 'Drifting Ducks?' as opposed to sitting ducks?
Zinda Tegram: "Are their engines firing?"
[OOC] Hrrin: Are they? Roll Alertness?
Their engines are still warm. Shields and weapons primed. They're ready…or were, and the systems are still up.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: + - 0 + (Base: 2 Total: 3)
[OOC] Abraham: Ah, delete that line. I thought 'cat had called for tha roll and it was a different cat.
[OOC] WC GM: And sure, Drifting Ducks works. It won't last, but then, you only get one free tag.
Hrrin: "No. Whatever it is, or was…if it's a trick, then it's a trick. If it's to our advantage, best not waste it."
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Heh.
Abraham: "I agree. I rather doubt we will have a better opportunity."
Zinda Tegram: "Sounds like they're going to blast engines on undock. Just be ready to disengage and fall back to the asteroid guns if there's a trick."
Zinda Tegram: "Let's go!"
Spyboy Pearson follows the Stern Lanze out the hangar.
Alfred: "Heh, heh…oooh, THERE you are. Okay, boys, enough fun."
Zinda Tegram taps forward and almost immediately on exiting the hangers fires lateral thrusters.
The other two squadrons wheel about and come to face the heroes.
Abraham: "Because I am in a very good mood and I had a truly wonderful cup of coffee today, I am willing to entertain your offers of surrender now."
[OOC] WC GM: Order: Spyboy, Zinda, Abraham, Hrrin, Skulls, Capes
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: KK.
[OOC] Abraham: Should I hold that line until my turn?
Alfred: "Ha! Sorry, but we've had enough comedy for now."
[OOC] WC GM: Nah.
Zinda Tegram: "Spyboy I need to know which one is Alfred."
[OOC] Hrrin: It is a line that amuses me.
Spyboy Pearson: "Copy that, Eyes."
Spyboy Pearson: "B-4, let's get a bunch of them chasing us."
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: 0 - + - (Base: 4 Total: 3) (Tactics to place Aspect "A couple on my tail with no chance of hitting us" on himself.)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Good to know Chessa hasn't changed.
[OOC] WC GM: So placed. Zinda!
Zinda Tegram slams down on the afterburner and comes up behind the few that followed spyboy, guns blazing.
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: + + + - (Base: 7 Total: 9) (Gunnery+Tagging spyboy's aspect+Tagging "Born in the cockpit")
Zinda Tegram: "I'm coming for you!"
[OOC] Abraham: Alphie?
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Holy-
[OOC] Hrrin: God. *DAMN.*
[OOC] WC GM: …13 total. Yeah, that hits.
Zinda Tegram: "Alfred!"
[OOC] Abraham: I think Zinda just converted that target to anti-matter
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Does it hit with SPIN?
[OOC] WC GM: Spin only happens if the defender mega-succeeds, I thought?
[OOC] Hrrin: Or an attacker, I believe. Confirming…
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK NP
[OOC] WC GM: Excessive attack is excessive damage instead.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Technically it happens on all opposed rolls.
[OOC] WC GM: Ah.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Though I would say that it was only 9 total - she included the freetags in the roll.
[OOC] WC GM: Or - wait, the 7 was with the aspects
[OOC] WC GM: Ah. K.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Zinda doesn't have Gunnery+7.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Yet.
[OOC] WC GM: Yeah, I was wondering.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + - - + (Base: 4 Total: 4)
[OOC] Hrrin: Clarifying: Spin is only granted if there isn't another added effect [like really good damage, etc] for a high threshhold of success.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: It was 9 total
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Sense.
That's one of the Cape squadron down. It manages to eject, but now there are 7 total enemy fighters.
[OOC] WC GM: Abraham!
Zinda Tegram blasts past the shredded target and breaks sideways.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: 'Cause I gotta fly through the explosion.
Abraham flys through the explosion to loose himself in the EM and light display.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: + - 0 - (Base: 3 Total: 2) (Pilot Tactics )
[OOC] Abraham: Not on your scopes
[OOC] WC GM: That's the aspect? Placing it on the scene, or…?
[OOC] Abraham: On himself
[OOC] WC GM: Success. Hrrin!
Hrrin: If they're Drifting Ducks, they won't stay so for long. With one furred fist slammed onto the control panel, Hrrin opens up Hotel's entire asteroid gun battery. She has always wanted to be responsible for a firestorm like this.
[OOC] Hrrin: Free-Tagging, and, Combat Engineer if you'll let me.
Hrrin rolled up 4dF: - 0 + + (Base: 3 Total: 4) (Gunnery)
[OOC] Hrrin: Plus 4 for aspects makes 8.
[OOC] Hrrin: I am hoping/assuming that this would be an area attack.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Oh! I forgot Zinda's ship amplifies her attack. Huh.
[OOC] WC GM: I adjusted for that.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Alright.
[OOC] WC GM: For this attack, let's say…Harm 2, after adjusting for armor et al, as well as being AoE. You can hit one squadron or the other.
[OOC] WC GM: So, Capes or Skulls?
[OOC] Hrrin: Whichever one we haven't hit yet. So that'd be….Capes.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: We hit capes.
[OOC] Hrrin: Then we hit them again!
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + - 0 0 (Base: 4 Total: 4)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + + + 0 (Base: 4 Total: 7)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 0 + (Base: 4 Total: 4)
All three are hit, though one only barely…
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Alright.
Alfred: "Sorry we didn't ambush you right out of the hangar. We got an eyeful of the *snrk* 'camoflauge'."
Spyboy Pearson: "Tell me about it! I still don't know how they thought it'd work."
Abraham: "I suspect they resorted to a miliatry mindset and hired the lowest bidder."
The Skulls open up in concert - one on Spyboy, one on Abraham, one on Zinda, and one shooting up the asteroid guns.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 0 0 - (Base: 4 Total: 3)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + - + + (Base: 3 Total: 5)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 - 0 (Base: 3 Total: 1)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + + 0 - (Base: 3 Total: 4)
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: + - - + (Base: 4 Total: 4)
[OOC] Abraham: In concert? Must be Calypso
[OOC] Hrrin: You're awful.
[OOC] WC GM: Zinda gets 1 spin.
[OOC] Abraham: I assume the name order correlates to the roll order?
[OOC] WC GM: Yes.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Excellent.
[OOC] WC GM: Thus the 4 vs. 1 = 1 spin
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: 0 0 - - (Base: 5 Total: 3) (Pilot (B-4) + tagging 'Not Quite Where You Think')
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Ugh.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Good enough, though.
[OOC] WC GM: Yep.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Also has the ship defense stunts, though I don't know if they matter for spin.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: + - + + (Base: 4 Total: 6) (Resolve to weave between the shots and still head towards his opponent.)
[OOC] WC GM: Add those in for your roll & declare them. For now, it was only 4 vs. 1 as rolled.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK. Does V-shift amplify piloting?
The three fighters weave between the shots! Or rather, two of them do; Zinda manages to turn around in the middle of them.
[OOC] WC GM: V-shift is limited by piloting.
[OOC] WC GM: Hrrin, your defense?
[OOC] Hrrin: Oh!
Hrrin rolled up 4dF: 0 + 0 - (Base: 4 Total: 4) (Engineering)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Is Abraham a Skull or a Cape?
[OOC] Abraham: I am a Skull that wears a Cape.
The anti-asteroid-gunner scores clean hits…on pure rock, to no effect, thanks to Hrrin's last-minute spinning of them.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Sorry, wrong name. One moment.
[OOC] WC GM: Abraham is neither. Alfred is Skull leader.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Gotcha.
[OOC] WC GM: Cape leader has yet to be named.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Zinda has beef.
The three remaining Capes follow up - only upon the fighters.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 0 - 0 (Base: 4 Total: 3)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + - - 0 (Base: 3 Total: 2)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - 0 - (Base: 3 Total: 1)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Same order?
They are…not so impressive.
[OOC] WC GM: Yep.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Eh - not taht it matters.
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Our defenses stand quite easily.
[OOC] Abraham: Yay!
[OOC] WC GM: And back to Zinda!
Abraham: "Tsk. I thought said you had enough commedy."
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Zinda?
[OOC] WC GM: After Spyboy.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Yep.
Spyboy Pearson: "What - is that an out of date firewall on your communications network? Why I think it is!"
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: 0 + + - (Base: 3 Total: 4) (Communications to place 'Unencrypted IFF tags' on the Skulls)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 - - (Base: 2 Total: -1)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Spin?
[OOC] Abraham: What is the threshold required for spin?
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Three
Why yes. It is.
[OOC] WC GM: And yes, it is.
Spyboy Pearson: "There's your old friend, Miss Tegram. Why don't you say hello?"
[OOC] WC GM: Now Zinda! Remember, you need to use Spin within 1 turn of its being generated, or it poofs.
Zinda Tegram: "I think I will."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Got it.
Abraham: "Tell him a joke. I think he wants more comedy."
Zinda Tegram pops a shield booster and fires her pitch thrusters, flipping over under fire to return fire, seeking to separate Alfred from the group.
Alfred: "…Zinda. You HAVE told them I am a lady, right?"
Zinda Tegram: "I didn't feel it was relevant."
Zinda Tegram rolled up (Gunnery+Spin, seeking to place aspect "out of position".)dF: (Base: 4 Total: 4)
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: + - + + (Base: 4 Total: 6)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 + + + (Base: 4 Total: 7)
Alfred just barely manages to stay with her squadron.
[OOC] WC GM: Abraham!
[OOC] Abraham: Who the fuck are you and what did you do with Chessa?
[OOC] Hrrin: Chessa and Alfred, sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
Zinda Tegram winces under the strain of the flip. Looks like all this time living in Micro-G has been doing a number on her body. ((Requesting compel.))
Abraham calculates the fireing angles the Skulls and Capes have and tries to maeuver them so they overlap mostly on each other.
[OOC] WC GM: Hmm…sure, but it'll be -1 to your rolls for the rest of this combat.
[OOC] WC GM: Re: compel request
Abraham rolled up 4dF: 0 + + 0 (Base: 2 Total: 4) (Maneuver Science (for Tactics) to add "In Each other's line of fire.")
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: I was thinking a negative aspect but that works.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - - + (Base: 3 Total: 2)
Alfred leads her squadron free. The Capes are not so competent.
[OOC] WC GM: Aspect placed on Capes only.
[OOC] WC GM: Hrrin!
[OOC] Abraham: I'm good with that.
Hrrin: For her next trick, Hrrin directs the asteroid guns more carefully, setting up a continuous wall of fire, intending to zone off part of the battlefield, and restrict the free-flying Capes and Skulls.
Hrrin rolled up 4dF: + + 0 - (Base: 3 Total: 4) (Gunnery to place an Scene Aspect, 'Wall of Fire')
Once again, it is only effective upon the Capes; the Skulls bleed right through…and attack!
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - - + + (Base: 4 Total: 4)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - + - (Base: 4 Total: 3)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + + - + (Base: 4 Total: 6)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 0 + (Base: 3 Total: 3)
[OOC] Hrrin: Huh, so they took it as a compel?
[OOC] WC GM: Spyboy, Abraham, Zinda, Hrrin again
Hrrin rolled up 4dF: 0 - 0 - (Base: 4 Total: 2) (Engineering)
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: - + - 0 (Base: 3 Total: 2) (Piloting)
[OOC] WC GM: Hmm? No compel. Just used the same Piloting dice roll they'd already made.
[OOC] Hrrin: Ahh.
[OOC] WC GM: Skull leader had 7; Cape leader had 2.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Wait forgot my defense stunt on the ship)
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: It's four.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: 0 + - + (Base: 3 Total: 4) (Piloting)
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: + 0 + - (Base: 5 Total: 6) (Pilot to dodge, tagging Not Quite Where You Think)
[OOC] WC GM: 1-stress hit to Hrrin, 2-stress to Zinda.
The shots are getting closer. A few even find their marks…but it's survivable damage.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: What are some of the aspects on Alfred?
The Capes follow up, as best they can…
WC GM rolled up 4dF: - 0 - + (Base: 4 Total: 3)
Hrrin: Hrrin frowns, as Space Hotel takes minor damage. A properly-built station wouldn't have any such problems with fire as tepid as that!
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - 0 + (Base: 3 Total: 3)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - + - (Base: 3 Total: 2)
The Capes' fire is remarkably less effective.
[OOC] WC GM: Spyboy!
[OOC] WC GM: Aspects listed in OOC channel.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Spyboy I need something to tag on Alfred.
Spyboy Pearson: "Zinda, gimme a ventral burn….NOW!"
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Already on it.
Spyboy Pearson rolled up 4dF: + + 0 0 (Base: 4 Total: 6) (Tactics to place "Zinda's Got Me" on Alfred.)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Add Spin to that.
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - + - (Base: 4 Total: 3)
[OOC] WC GM: Placed, and get a shiny new Spin for next turn.
[OOC] WC GM: Zinda!
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: And unless Alfred starts spending Aspects, I get Spin right back out!
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Can I have that spin for this?
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: Go for it.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK let's see. Tagging 'Heavy Dust cannons on my ship, 'Zinda's got me', Born in the cockpit, and 'Old Computers' on Alfred's ship since I'm guessing she has it. And that point of spin.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Old computers 'cause Zinda'd know where the computer systems give unreliable evasive info.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: So that's…12?
[OOC] Abraham: Well, its at least in line with the old firewalls…
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Plus Zinda's amplified gunnery with the penalty?
[OOC] Hrrin: I, uh. That's…an awful lot just to take out one person.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Erm, including.
[OOC] Abraham: Jilted Lovers get special attention it would seem.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Something like that. : P
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: OK.
[OOC] WC GM: Actually 10…for reasons you're about to find out.
[OOC] WC GM: But roll it!
[OOC] Abraham: Turns out Alphred still loves you, so only a 10
Zinda Tegram rolled up 4dF: 0 + + - (Base: 10 Total: 11)
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Describing.
Zinda Tegram kicks her up-thruster to full burn and circles around the top of Alfred, firing a signal burst flare to try disrupt Alfred's external cameras before letting loose with her heavy dust cannons.
Zinda Tegram: "You're not getting away this time! Alfred!"
Abraham: "So Alfred, assuming you get away this time, exactly what did you do to piss of Zinda? I'm guessing you stole the last jelly doughnut, but that's just a guess mind you."
Zinda pours it on, applying her knowledge of Oldziey evasive patterns…wait. That dodge. She had seen it before. That was not Oldziey - that was straight out of classified ConFed training. There is no way she should have that trick.
But it is too little, WAY too late. Before Zinda can ask, Alfred's fighter is going up…
WC GM rolled up 4dF: 0 - + - (Base: 1 Total: 0)
[OOC] Spyboy Pearson: …..ouch
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Umm.
WC GM: …and her squadmates are peeling off and GTFOing.
[OOC] WC GM: Abraham!
[OOC] Hrrin: …ouch.
Abraham: "Gentlemen. We just made the other team turn tail and flee, and they were actually dangerous. But, I'm still basking in the glow of that wonderful coffee, so I will now once again, entertain your offers of surrender."
[OOC] WC GM: Composure attack, or…?
[OOC] Abraham: Yeah.
[OOC] WC GM: Roll it.
Abraham rolled up 4dF: - + 0 + (Base: 4 Total: 5) (Resolve (for general unflappableness)))
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + + - + (Base: 1 Total: 3)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + - - 0 (Base: 2 Total: 1)
WC GM rolled up 4dF: + 0 - - (Base: 1 Total: 0)
[OOC] Abraham: Looks like I'm getting some spin. And since the combat is about to end, I won't be able to use it.
CapeLeader: "We…err…"
Zinda Tegram: "Something to say, Jaeger?"
CapeLeader: "Fine! You win, you win! We're leaving!"
The remaining Capes make to flee…
[OOC] WC GM: Hrrin!
Zinda Tegram: "Good! When you get back, do something for me!"
Abraham: "Excellent!"
[OOC] WC GM: Unless you're letting them go?
Zinda Tegram: "Take the footage of that kill, and make sure Harvest's mad king knows that Zinda Tegram is still alive!"
[OOC] Hrrin: Oh, if they'll flee, then that's fine and dandy.
Hrrin Hrrin directs a few parting shots Cape-wards, herding them on their way as much as anything else.
Abraham: "You know Zinda, if you're going to stage a performance, it's good form to let us all know beforehand so we can settle into our parts."
One of the Capes moves next to the ejectee and docks before fleeing.
And soon space is…well, it is always quiet, but now there are not the shockwaves of ionized gasses from weapon fire to carry even a slight sound.
Zinda Tegram: "…Sorry. I've got some business, and I need someone to know that I've not forgotten what they did, even if their damn court has."
Hrrin: "Hell of a message to send home, Zinda."
Zinda Tegram: "They needed to hear it."
Zinda Tegram scans to see if Alfred ejected.
She did not.
It appears that Alfred's atoms have joined with her fighter's.
[OOC] Abraham: You just made her more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
Zinda Tegram shakes. Revenge is supposed to feel good, but this… "Damn. Just…damn."
Abraham makes a mental note to recommend a counciler for Zinda.
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Not a bad idea.
Abraham: "Okay, that was a fun little diversion. Let's all head back now."
Hrrin: A beep from Zinda's console carries a PM from Hrrin. <Want to get drunk and not talk about it?>
[OOC] Abraham: Hrrin wasn't my first choice, but whatever works.
[OOC] Hrrin: They have a little bit of history together in Oldziey, it made sense to me.
[OOC] Hrrin: Also, that's…hardly the best advice or treatment plan!
Zinda Tegram: <I'll…I'll think about it.>
Zinda Tegram turns her ship into the station and sets it to auto-pilot before saving the engagement footage.
Spyboy Pearson sets a drone to watch and make sure that Cape and Skull flights are actually leaving, then follows.
The - remaining - station crew seem suitably cowed. Wenser, it seems, took the occasion of the fight to throw his weight around…and throw a few would-be bureaucrat-tyrants off.
This can be deduced from what exited the airlocks, the way the station crew looks at him, and his confident posture upon greeting the returning fliers in the hangar bay. It isn't QUITE a cinematic textbook takeover, but he has probably taken some notes from the vids.
Wenser: "Welcome back."
Zinda Tegram glances over at the banners.
Zinda Tegram: "Thanks."
Abraham: "Sir, I assume everything is back in order?"
Zinda Tegram glances at Wenser. "Did that Valet survive?"
Hrrin: Hrrin is perfectly content to let such a bold display of leadership occur. She's there to meet the returning pilots in the hangar, but is busy writing notes and directives on how to increase energy use efficiency in the future.
Spyboy Pearson: "Has there been any word on the jump point?"
Wenser: "The valet's in medical. He's barely hanging on, but he'll live. The jump point - there's a lot of investigation, the scientists are all excited, they've never seen a jump point literally shut down before."
Wenser: "They think it'll reopen on its own, but they don't know if it'll be minutes or months."
Spyboy Pearson: "And where are the Oldziey fighters fleeing to?"
Wenser: "The Rock is still locked down…and that's troubling. They're on radio silence."
Abraham: "But for now we are cut off, without any real way of knowing how long that will last. I see."
Zinda Tegram closes her eyes and asks: "Admiral, did you know a woman named Alfred?"
Hrrin: "Considerable military application in such an ability, sealing points."
Zinda Tegram: "I saw something that seemed out of place."
Wenser: "We're tracking the fighters. I'll let you know where they wind up once we know."
Wenser: "Alfred? …that name sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it. Someone from Oldziey?"
Zinda Tegram: "Something like that."
Zinda Tegram: "You might of known her as 'Skull Leader'."
Wenser: "…that…hrm."
Wenser: "As in the Capes and the Skulls?"
Zinda Tegram stares at Wenser, measuring his reaction.
Wenser appears to be trying to remember something he paid little attention to at the time.
Zinda Tegram: "I see. Thanks."
Wenser: "Oh, right! She was leading the Skulls as a representative of one of the Oldziey factions. She was looking for someone, and hoped this project would help her find that person. She wanted revenge, I think?"
Wenser: "Or to get back together…or to deliver a warning…"
Zinda Tegram squeezes her hands into a fist. "I see. Thank you."
Intercom: "Sir! We've plotted the Skulls' retreat pattern."
Wenser: "Out with it. Everyone here's cleared for it."
Abraham perks up. This should be illuminating.
Intercom: "Yes, sir! They're heading for the planet, at high speed. We think they're trying to use the Shaft."
Hrrin: "Descending to the surface?"
Zinda Tegram leans back. "With Alfred dead, command falls to…Geoffrey, I think?"
Spyboy Pearson: "Why would they go there? They'll stick out like sore thumbs!"
Wenser eyequirks, then looks at Spyboy and BBBB. "Remind me. When was the last time either of you visited the planet? Or have you ever been there?"
Spyboy Pearson: "Uhhhh….never, sir. No one goes downplanet if they can help it."
Zinda Tegram: "What's the shaft?"
B-4: "Which means that if a bunch of spaceborne decide that retreating TO a planet - especially Prime - there must be something important, yes?"
Spyboy Pearson gets the disturbing feeling that he and B-4 can't help it anymore.
Wenser: "Right. Then you might not have heard: they've been digging a large shaft recently. Supposedly, it's a project to help bring Lagos up faster."
Zinda Tegram: "Did Crest fund it?"
Wenser nods. "And recon's seen…well, one analyst thought they looked like hangars, deep in the Shaft. Guess he was right."
Intercom: "Sir! Fighters have engaged cloak. We have lost tracking."
Hrrin wrinkles her nose. "An orbital elevator would be one thing. Even with the Warrens stretching deep underground, this seems strange."
Spyboy Pearson: "Well, that'd be a given, really. Only excuse would be a rail launcher."
Wenser: "Damn. Surprised they went this long without, though."
Zinda Tegram: "Figures. Hey, can you broadcast something for me?"
Wenser: "Sure. Can do it from here if it's audio-only."
Zinda Tegram: "It's text."
Spyboy Pearson: "I'd say…40% probability it's a trap, 50% they were thrown by their leader's death, and 10% margin of error."
Zinda Tegram: "I want to make sure they get it."
Wenser gestures to the intercom. "Type it in. It'll get sent."
Hrrin: "That they'd like to be followed, I thought, was clear."
Zinda_Tegram types: "Key: <gibberish> Frequency: <125> Style: <Harvest>. I'm listening."
Zinda Tegram: "They can figure it out."
Intercom: "Message sent. Are you expecting a reply?"
Zinda Tegram: "Eventually."
Zinda Tegram: "You might not recognize it though."
Zinda Tegram: "Geoffrey's a little skittish. He'll poke at it sooner or later."
Wenser: "Right. We'll tell you if we see a message we think is for you, though."
Zinda Tegram: "Thanks."
Wenser: "So, now what?"
Abraham: "This is the very best kind of trap, the kind we are almost required to walk into. So we will, right after any repairs that need to be done are."
Wenser: "Right." He looks to the intercom. "You heard him. NOW."
Zinda Tegram: "I'd like Hrrin to do mine."
Spyboy Pearson: "The Shaft is in an uninhabited part of the planet, right sir? …….right, sir? ……I knew it…."
…the repair technicians practically flood out the doors, at least until they are all present and Looking Busy.
Wenser: "The Shaft itself is supposed to be uninhabited, but it cuts right close to the Warrens."
Wenser: "Tha's the point."
Spyboy Pearson: "Great. Going to the Warrens….Excuse me Admiral, but is there an armory somewhere on this station?"
Zinda Tegram: "That reminds me."
Zinda Tegram walks off to retrieve her case.
Abraham arches an eyebrow, "Wouldn't that be counter to the ambiance of this obviouly luxury hotel?"
Zinda Tegram shouts back. "I have something just hold on!"
Spyboy Pearson: "Not tucked out of sight."
Wenser: "You'd think there would be." He shakes his head. "I recommend ye land at th' spaceport. At least there, ya can get some help."
Hrrin: "One would think an enormous energy cannon would also run counter to such an ambiance."
[OOC] Zinda Tegram: Assuming the case hasn't been taken, I'll just come back in.
Abraham: "But the cannon was 'disguised'."
[OOC] WC GM: It hasn't.
Zinda Tegram walks back into the station hauling what looks like one of those old-style air travel luggage-bags.
Zinda Tegram: "Someone mentioned an armory?"

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