M'kira's Fighter moves into position to intercept the drones, the three small automated fighters powerd up and began to accelerate, their top speed was far bellow the top speed of the Crow and the fighter. their small size however makes them a tough target.


OOC: order of combat

M'kira:
Azizza and crew: Pilot Azizza, Commander T'risa, Gunner Rhic, Engineer Robots
Drones:
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:03, Wed 25 June 2008.

  The drones bore in as the sensors sweep the surrounding dark matter rich nebula, a few moments pass as the range closes and then a single faint blip appears on the Crows scope hovering just inside her sensor range a heavy freighter calss ship lurking among the starnds and clouds of drifiting dust filling that regeon of Hyperspace.

  Rhictor straps into the gun station and rotates the turrets to track the drones, charging up the ships weapons and loading the drones movements into the ships fire control system. "Ten seconds till weapons range, call the shot boss,I'm hot, locked, and ready to rock,

Since there was time she helped the crow with the sensor sweep to pick up the heavy freighter that was lurking out there. "Looks like that's our company out there. After we clean up the mess here we should say hello. Unless of course you feel otherwise Aziza and T'risa."

M'kira also took the time to enhance her weapons systems. Against the drones it really wasn't needed however if something nastier decided to say hello it couldn't hurt. Aziza, T'risa I am going to chase them into your field of fire. Pinning them between us we should make short work. Will adapt as necessary should there be need. Good luck in there. If your still dealing with trouble I can come back aboard any time you like probably after the drones are dealt with."

Keeping a sharp eye on them she moves her fighter into position timing it to fall into a tail chase. The Quetzl K'ro's Ion engine glows in space as she opens up at full attack speed easily closing on the drones! The moment one of them was in range she will open fire only to happy to blow them out of the stars. Counting down the seconds she breaths out softly. "That's right. Come to me so we can properly say hello to each other!"

Once they were in range she watches them bob and weave inside her targeting array. Grinning her lovely honey hued eyes sparkle with excitement. There were few places she felt truly alive! Out here amongst the stars was one of them! Gently squeezing the trigger she breaths out softly in a happy voice. "Good bye!"

The linked Gauss Guns flash repeatedly as they send multiple rounds at the tiny target ahead! In moments she would know if she had a confirmed kill or not! Unless they were stronger then she thought!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:48, Wed 25 June 2008.

  M'kira's first salvo slices between the two trailing drones, darts of tungsten carbide tipped with depleted urnium punch holes in the engine section of the lead drone, the mechanical wasp twists, turns the rolls over shedding parts as streams of hypersonic speed metal punch through it's light hull. Pieces peel away and spread into a spreading swathe of destruction as the tumblining drone disintegrates into shards of steel ceramic and burning debris.

     " Nice shot Rhic shouts through the comms as he tracks the second drone waiting for his shot to clear and his weapons to lock onto the now wildly maneuvering drones.

"Very Well." Aziza sighs over the communicator.  "Being killed while being flanking enemy is not much different from being killed while being run away."
So saying Aziza turns the surprisingly agile scout and moves to the other side of the enemy formation.
"Mr. Rhictor, please being fire weapons at enemy." she suggests.

  Sh'chrrrrl Maghhhh Rhictor Snarls something as his eyes go cold and his finger which had been tapping on the weapons controls still instantly. the cursor on his screeen flashed red and began to track the drone moving to fire on M'kira. " The only thing dying today are the badguys.
    The Plasma cannons glowed for a second as their systems hyper excited pellets of lithium Hydride into super hot coherant gas and funneled it into a cylinder of magnetic coils and down range toward the rapidly maneuvering drone. the twin cannons kicked twice and spat plasma the bolts slammed into the drone spinning and tumbling it with precise shots.


Sh'chrrrrl Ma'ghhhh = "I obey she who leads the hunt"


15:59, Today: John 'Rhic' Rhictor rolled 63 using 15d8. damage double tapped plasma cannons.
15:56, Today: John 'Rhic' Rhictor rolled 18 using 1d20+9. attack -4 double tap plasma cannons.
17:28, Thu 26 June: Victor Grym rolled 8 using 2d4+1. Damage.

T'risa flashed a brief pulse of congratulations towards M'Kira, Aziza and Rhic.

"The job is not over yet, let's catch the last drone in a crossfire."


OOC: remember people still get +1 to hit and +! to skills for three rounds now

  The surviving drone spun on it's axis, the lower section of the drone unfolded and the glow of plasma filled the opening of the drones abdomen. a stream of lightening bright bolts lanced out of the drone tracing the faster moving fighters movements and it spun and twisted to track the nimble Quetzl built craft. The stram of super charged gass cut through space a single bolt splashed off the ships airfoil a glancing hit dispersing harmlessly against the ships but sending a sharp shudder through the spaceframe.


Order of comabt:

M'kira ( pilot roll to maintain or open distance, or maintain flanking position on drone.)

Aziza : pilot roll to maintain flanking position ( you allso have missiles and your mass cannon available that can be fired by the pilot)
T'risa: you can act in support, or execute Commander action ( rhic is on guns and the mass cannon and missiles are fired by the pilot)
Rhic: Attack roll

Okay since you guys might not be combat pilots you can use a couple of maneuvers to keep in position.

Immelman turn
flip/spin turn
throttle hop
Loop
hard brake

A hard brake will lose speed quick and if something else shows up you might be at a disadvantage to keep it off your rear arc where only your plasma guns can fire
Ship quirk the crow mounts its mass cannon, and missile tubes so that the fire forward only the pilot would need to slde, rotate or pitch the ship over ( opposed pilot roll) to keep fixed weapons on the target, good thing you have a damn good pilot huh.

  "Mmmm! Two down one to go for now! Sure thing T'risa I have no problem with sandwiching this little bugger if Aziza's up for it. Either way I am going to blow it out of space!"

Smiling M'kira executes a high speed Immelman turn coming around to bring the little bobbing and weaving target back into her line of fire.  Maintaning her speed for now she knew she would continue to close the range. At least for now she wanted to keep the pressure on making it as easy for Aziza and Rhic as possible. "Nice Shot Rhic. Let's put this one to bed and then we can go after the main course if everyone's hungry for more!"

Lining up the shot she wriggles in her chair for a moment feeling a little tingly which surprised her. Still M'kira wasn't about to let that distract her! Gently squeezing the trigger she watches the Gauss gun rounds blazing into space!

  The third drone spinns trying to evade the sleet of penetrators suddenly surrounding it. a wild jink to the left puts the drone dead center of a swarm of penetrators. Armor collapses and it's engines detonate leaving a painfully bright after image in M'kira's retinas before her helmets Flash visor dims to compensate.

   A quick Sweeep of the area indicates no new contacts, the lower edge of Azziza's screen flashes No proximity Alerts: Area Clear on the monitors the blip marking the Pirate caarrier is still moving on a course that will carry it behind the Crow in a wide slowly closing arc although the readings are varying as some activity begins on the drifting ship.

Aziza: Sensor check
All others: combat over( for now ), nice job.

"I am being scan for enemies that are ambushing us." Aziza announces, performing the actions.


16:02, Today: Aziza rolled 22 using 1d20+13. Computer Use.


Dangit, I waited too long to do anything and wasted the probably only critical I'll roll this game. . .

T'risa turned her attention to the security monitors.

"Well done Aziza, M'kira and Rhic. Now we've dealt with the external threat for the moment all that remains is to deal with the internal one."

T'risa focussed for a moment.

"Leo, are you and the others coping with the disturbance. Do you need reinforcements"

Not for the first time T'risa was thinking her life would be simpler if she were just a battlewitch.

Coming around she spins her craft in harmless playful display of skill even as she links into Aziza's sensor sweep keeping her own eyes sharp. "Thank you T'risa. Coming closer to the ship Aziza. With a Carrier of some sort out here I don't want to present to juicy a target. Maybe I can help with those sensor sweeps!"

Doing her best to assist she feeds any data she gathers back to Aziza intent on spotting trouble before it finds them!

"Enemy carrier is undoubtedly being powerful and dangerous to us.  But carrier is being less dangerous now that many fighters are destroyed, and maybe being attack us later.  I am being move into position to destroy or force carrier to surrender with offensive fire.  M'Kira please being provide cover from unknown ambush fighters." Aziza suggests, turning the scouts prow towards the distant vessel and gunning the engines.  Paranoid and overcautious she might be, but the cat wasn't afraid to actually face danger when it came.  She just preferred to be well-prepared for it.

OOC~ Okay, move in on the carrier.  Ships have two move and 1 standard action so I'll move twice to close and ready an action to fire the mass driver if an enemy makes a hostile action in it's firing arc.

"Understood. I will take out enemy fighters while you pound the Carrier. If we have to jump out of here I might need to dock very quickly. Also I wouldn't mind giving you a little support fire of my own rather then let the carrier take pot shots at you. After I am done with my first task of course. By the way if we do capture this ship can we manage a prize crew? Another problem is if we take it out but there are survivors what do we do with the prisoners. If nothing else the passenger capacity of the crow might be a factor aside."

Laughing softly M'kira was feeling the effects of the chocolate coursing through her system. Not quite sure why she was feeling so good! Checking her sensors cautiously she remains in formation with the crow. Randomly bobbing and weaving from one side to the other while she searches for any sort of trouble. Last thing she wanted was a nasty surprise. She also scans the hull of the crow looking for anything of interest.

"Aziza. I am scanning the crows hull looking for anything that shouldn't be there. They boarded the crow and I wonder what other surprises they might have. Has anyone found their entry point yet?"

"I am being perform thorough ship search before launch and am not being find anything unusual." Aziza replies, lining up on the carrier.  "I am perform sensor scan again now but detection of warp gate is not being effective.  I am being suspect jamming from enemy vessel and am being continue to scan."  Aziza strokes the controls.  "I am being also line up for mass cannon bombardment."

OOC~ Man, this is what, my fifth natural 1 this game?  Bleh, and that 19 is my best roll, not one twenty so far.

For my attacks, should I just keep the old rolls or use new ones?

14:03, Today: Aziza rolled 14 using 1d20+13. Sensor Scan.
16:01, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 25 using 4d12. Possible KE damage.
16:00, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 50 using 10d12. Mass Cannon Damage.
16:00, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 14 using 1d20-1. Mass Cannon Critical Confirm.
15:59, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 16 using 1d20-3. KE Missile Attack.
15:59, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 9 using 1d20-3. KE Missile Attack.
15:58, Tue 01 July: Aziza rolled 18 using 1d20-1. Mass Cannon Attack.

T'risa thought she noticed something suspicious on the monitor.

"Aziza, can you try focussing on that are over there?"



OOC:
06:46, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 16 using 1d20+4. DC:15.
Aziza gets +2 to all skill checks +3 at this moment in time.

This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Tue 08 July 2008.

"I will guard your back Aziza. This looks like it's about to get very interesting indeed." Smiling as she feels the thrill in her blood M'kira shivers for a moment her eyes sharp and alert.

Listening to the com she grins speaking softly. "Sharp as ever T'risa. Let me know if you need anything special from me. I am looking for any incoming trouble nothing on sensors just yet!"

   The sensor sweeps flicker and shift as sheets of neon light fill the sensor screens of both ships. A shoal of shimmering stingrays made of translucent light burst from the sheet of dust and dimly glowing gass astearn of the Crow. A spit second later the bulky form of a Heavy Merchantman refitted as an Auxillery drone carrier rushes out of the firewall scattering a pod of wake angels.

    Cesti Carrier Crow stand down cut your engines and surrender your cargo. the Comms channels crackle as three more drones launch from the ships now empty hardpoints. I'm not warning you again Flea Bag...tell that Gnat of yours to stand off or I swear I'll come out their and spank your pet blue bitch myself.


OOC:
From preious experience Aziza and M'kira know an Armed Merchantman is about as well armored as the Crow but it has a more rugged hull, and is often slower and harder to maneuver than a scout. their weapons also tend to be poorly mounted compaired to a purpose built

Ship Quirk: improvised weapons Systems  A spot or sensor check by Aziza or M'kira can spot a dead zone in the ships firing arcs allowin them to get in and fire without the enemy returning fire unless the pilot can Beat the PC pilot in an opposed pilot roll.

Aziza casually ignores the comms channel, knowing that her skills at English invariable make her the big loser when it comes to witty dialogue.  Instead she simply carries out a professional scan of the area, followed by a highly incompetent piece of piloting while she tries to analyze the data.

[orange]
The dice roller is trying to kill me.
22:57, Today: Aziza rolled 15 using 1d20+13. Pilot.
22:42, Today: Aziza rolled 22 using 1d20+13. Sensor Scan.
[/orange]

M'kira yawns into the com with a bored look then smiles as she rolls her eyes and speaks in a amused voice. "Please by all means come out here. Based off of your pathetic performance so far I will enjoy spanking you in front of your crew. Assuming you survive are you so weak that you prefer my bare hand or would you prefer a wooden paddle. I do so like the idea of leaving splinters in your ass little man."

Bobbing and weaving to make it hard for the drones to hit her M'kira does her best she trying to fly into the Armed merchantmans blind spots or dead zones. It would serve to further infuriate the talkative man over there if he couldn't get a shot off at her! Suddenly flipping end over end she fires at one of the drones attempting to catch the enemy totally by surprise and blast it out of space. After all he probably thought she was going for the main ship!

T'risa listened to the communication with some consternation. They'd taken significant casualties and were pushing the issue. The drones couldn't have been cheap. They'd lost the element of surprise. Their chances of getting enough out of recovering the Crow to cover the losses were not great, especially as they weren't about to give up.....in fact they were acting somewhat out of character for pirates.

"Aziza what exactly do you have in the cargo pod that these people think is so valuable?"

The odds still didn't look good for the Crow, M'Kira's fortuitous arrival evened the odds and perhaps stacked them a little in the Crows favour, but the fundamental questions to be asked needed a captive from amongst the pirate crew. There was much about this situation that didn't make sense to T'risa.

  " Locked and hot." Rhic reported as he swiveled the cannons onto the carrier." I know that ship she's a merc not a pirate, The Golden Hind, she's a tough ship but the captain has some issues."

   Rhic slid a metal sheathed finger tip across the controls and powered the guns to highest output locking onto the ships engines hoping to slow the ship down a bit. Piss him off and he gets stupid, but he will back off before he thinks his ship is in danger.

On a human the brow would have furrowed.  For a Cesti the comparable expression was a flattening of the ears and a slight hunch to the shoulders as she considered this new data.
"Cargo Bays are being convert into crew quarters to CASAR inspection team." she comments to M'Kira.  "There are being no valuable cargo, only foodstuffs and spare parts suitable for inspection of Archeological dig and for being capture of hostile alien life-form attacking the same."

After thinking on Rhictor's words Aziza decides to risk witty repartee after all, and switches over to broadcast towards.
"Bald Tailed impotent human." she snarls.  "The only reason I am being not board your garbage scow for to eat you is because brain parasites are surely being already eat the best parts.  Even newborn kittens are being know one cannot steal cargo from passenger vessel carrying inspection team, and scans show your feeble ship is being have less firepower than Cesti tugboat, much less advanced courier ship."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:24, Sun 13 July 2008.

     The Merchantman suddenly finds itself flanked by M'kira's Krow and the Larger Cesti ship. the Drones fan out to flank the shp and fire in support of the mother craft filling space with their lighter lasers making it difficult to manuever into a firing position on the ship. Aziza's opening volley hit's hard the missiles and mass cannon scoring hits on it's drives staggering the ship for several seconds as the engineers deal with overloads and feed back into the maneuvering thrusters.
     The merchanmans guns punch holes in space the heavier weapons targeting the Crow while it's plasma guns swivel and attempt t target the smaller fighter. a single missile managess to detonate close to the crow inflicting cosmetic damage to the hull and knocking a secondary sensor array offline, but doing no real damage to the tough little ship.

    Tug?" the merc captain replied with an irritated snort.You need to check your scanners.....<< sound of explosions and alarms on the bridge of the Merc ships>>..alright you wanna play, we'll play.

  M'kira's guns trace a line through space in a short arc as she tracks on of the drones catching the darting craft in the center of her sights. High velocity metal tears into the drones lightly armored internal components and punch out the far side leaving a trial of debris as the drone flies apart proving to be no more rugged than the first three.

    " Give me a minute..." The angry capatain snarled."" I'm going to skin your freind then I'm gonna take my time with your blue ass."

T'risa frowned in thought.

"If he's a merc then he's purposefully targeted our ship. Someone has paid him to purposefully attack us. Who would do such a thing? The attack is not against me personally, but against everyone here, so it must be to prevent our mission. Why would anyone wish to prevent us from defending a dig site? I think, Rhic that we've stumbled upon something much bigger."

She laid back in her seat, looking at the scanners.

"Aziza! Look, he's left an opening on his right upper hind quarter. Fly around him and shoot that thingy."


OOC:This turn Aziza get +3 to all skills and +1 attack
Everyone on bridge gets +1 attack and +1 skills. (Last round of this)
19:33, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Knowledge:Tactics.

"That is being excellent deduction T'risa, but are human mercenaries being not sometimes pirates as well?" Aziza suggests.  "Conditions being permit inspection, we should interrogate enemy ship's computer core after battle, if we are being somehow survive." she finishes.  Meanwhile she unleashes a new barrage of missiles and lands a devastating cannon hit on an enemy.

I'll target the Golden Hind if it's in range now, otherwise smash a drone.  I'm not sure if the 16 on the second missile hit or not, so I didn't roll damage.  It will be aimed at a drone in either case on the theory that missiles probably won't punch through heavy armor like the cannon will.

20:09, Today: Aziza rolled 58 using 10d12. Cannon Damage.
20:08, Today: Aziza rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Critical Confirmation, Cannon.
20:07, Today: Aziza rolled 26 using 1d20+7. Ranged Attack, Cannon.
20:06, Today: Aziza rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Ranged Attack, Missile.
20:06, Today: Aziza rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Ranged Attack, Missile.
19:45, Today: Aziza rolled 33 using 1d20+16. Pilot.

"Mmm I think I hit a nerve he's in a bad mood. Watch out Balkir he likes blue asses. He might grab yours if you don't watch it. T'risa I think we have competition for the men!" She tried not to laugh but the amusement was clearly in her voice. Now that she knew there was a tactical advantage she couldn't resist pissing him off. Even if it meant he might try to concentrate his fire on her.

M'kira's piloting was graceful and only a few moments before flawless something she would be proud to tell her parents about some day. Doing a few random turns and spins she suddenly loops trying to get a bead on the last drone. squeezing the trigger she sees the rounds go off into space wondering what she had been thinking! A clear miss if she ever saw one still she didn't let it ratter her. Calmly she continues the deadly dance in space knowing that sooner or later she would get her target!

OOC: Piloting 30 gauss guns 15

  once again the Merchantman is caught between the two ships and even with it's drones providing fire support the ship has a hard time meeting the two ships coordinated attack. M'kira easily avoids the drones fire and dances nimbly around the heavier ship. although her guns fail to do any damage to the drone she targeted.

      "Son of a bit....." The captain shouted in anger as he was thrown out of his command couch and into the floor as the ship bucks hard as it's starboard fuel cell detonates under the impact of tyhe Crow's Mass cannon. Cease Fire!!!, damn cat where did you learn to shoot?" Cease fire and I'll withdraw, there ain't no money worth dying over."

OOC: at this point you can continue fire or accept his terms, or whatever you want his ship has take two critical hits and he is losing systems so he can't effectively fight back.

T'risa looked over to the others on the bridge, to let him go without something in return was too magnanimous in her opinion. They needed something in return. After all the Crow had taken some damage.

"I suggest we accept his offer providing he turn over all details on his employer. Perhaps if M'kira destroys another drone or two we might further persuade him of the futility of his current course of action. Currently we seem to be in a better position to press our advantage. So his employer and all details or we continue. Everyone agree?"

T'risa looked around for the others opinions.

"I am being agree with you T'risa." Aziza decides, having thought it over.  "I am being think you are best choice for being speak with him on our behalf to be avoiding misunderstanding.  Please to being handle negotiations?" she suggests.

T'risa nodded switching the ships comm system over to her station.

"Commander of the heavily damaged pirate vessel, I am Colonial Marshall K'mahda. You are guilty of the serious crime of piracy against a rescue vessel on its way to relieve some souls in jeopardy. I will ask one thing and one thing alone  in return for clemency for this act. The sole reason I am inclined to grant clemency is because you have delayed us enough on our mission of mercy. However, any subterfuge on your part will result in your vessel being destroyed and every crewmember surviving being charged and tried as a pirate. I believe the customary summary punishment for such is death. To begin with return all of your drones to your vessel and shut down all weapon systems, including the drone inside this vessel. Your captain should then make his way to our vessel with all documents and materials in original formats relating to the targeting of this ship. You have 10 seconds to agree to these terms before we continue firing. Any subterfuge will also be met with extreme force. If you comply with these terms, we will not assist you with repairs, but we will not fire upon your vessel further. Our fighter shall make sure your vessel does not disappear back into the depths from which it first appeared, any movement towards it shall also be seen as your abandonment of this truce."

T'risa opened a comms channel to M'Kira.
"Any of the drones fire on you or try to gain a tactical position on you destroy them. If the merchantman moves towards the cloud destroy it."

T'risa took a deep breath.
"Rhic....see if you can get a good draw on their power supply. Let's hope the captain agrees. Start the countdown timer please. Mark it at ten seconds. Commence firing at that point. Aziza....I think a maneuver to put us in his rear quarter might be adequate to make him consider his next move most carefully."


OOC:
12:31, Today: T'risa K'mahda rolled 22 using 1d20+13. Diplomacy. Phooey!

Laughing M'kira smiles having been listening to everyone's conversations. Before T'risa begins negotiations with the Merc captain. "I agree. He's so angry with me right now he wouldn't listen to a thing I had to say. Besides if I know T'risa she will have him eating out of her hand soon enough." Her voice was filled with confidence and a touch of affection for her friend.

Keeping a sharp eye on the surviving drone and the ship it belonged to she answers the com almost instantly. "Already on it. Let's hope he complies. Mmm Didn't you have some on board problems with intruders? One of them might talk and I also wouldn't trust him as long as he's got someone still active onboard."

  " The facedancer is down, but the Doc is working on her so she might make it." Rhic reported as he checked the monitors," Leo did a tap dance on her face."

  Colonial Marshal?" The man sounded genuinely alarmed and angry." What the hell are you hauling on that thing?"

   " Sending stand down codes to all drones," The captain spoke as a high pitched shreik filled the com channels for a split second," I want my people back, we were paid to Jack a cargo pod not get into a dust up with the CA."

   The merc captain nodded to his crew who quickly powered down their weapons and set the drones on a return path to the carrier." as soon as my people are back on my ship I'll transmit the contract, it's through a broker so you won't get much....although I do have some files you might want to look at."

T'risa responded over the comms channel.

"No, you have my word, if you bring any relevant data to me, I will release you and your crew with no further issues. This will however be your last chance at this with me. If I ever catch you in the act of piracy again I will use all forces at my disposal to have your ship obliterated. Your drone is close to being destroyed and your face dancer pet is seriously injured." T'risa paused a moment to let that sink in "Our doctor is working on her now, he thinks she stands a reasonable chance. Now whether that is to stand a reasonable chance at Imperial court, or at living on your vessel....that is up to you captain. I offer you my word and nothing more. We are in the better position here, Captain. My offer is not open to negotiation. Take it or leave it."

   "Well if I weren't setting here in the dark I might decide to see who is in a better position. Oh by the way, I don't trust anyone," The captain replied," I'm a Merc not a tourist on Aphyria VII, we'll have a face to face and I'll collect my girl."

   "somebody put a mass round through my docking hatch, so I'll have to come over on my own. If that little twitch outside makes one move, or I see one gun tracking me. I'll blast her out of space" the Captain growled as he shut down the ships comms.

T'risa looked over to the others on the bridge, feeling both proud and relieved at how the crew had managed to pull through this.

"Aziza, Rhic, can you please stay on alert here and let me know if anything changes through the ships comm."

Her fingers opened up the comms to the rest of the ship.

"It seems as though the enemy vessel is standing down. Doctor please stabilise the An'lasahr woman and have her suited and ready for transport by the airlock. Everyone else, please arm yourselves and meet me by the airlock. The enemy captain has agreed to come aboard in return for some concessions. Perhaps now we shall have more pieces to this puzzle."

T'risa stood up from her seat, ready to head down.

"I don't trust this man as far as I can throw him. I will read his mind to determine if what he is telling us is the truth. Be on the lookout for tricks on the part of his crew. Especially once he's recovered the face dancer."

Aziza nods to T'risa and, puzzled by the Merc Captain's comments she queries Rhictor:
"Mr. Rhictor, Mercenary is being sit in darkness while we are being sit in functional ship.  Isn't this being proof that we are in better position?"

   " Well, yes." Rhic laughed and shook his head." I can see why you would be confused. It's a human trait. We never admit we're defeated, even when the fangs are at our throat."

   "He'll protest and posture but he knows he's beat and he'll behave as long as he thinks he can wiggle out of the trap he's in."

Listening to the com she smiles wondering if Aziza would really try to eat the mercenary or if that was just an insult. She wasn't as familiar with Aziza's culture as she would like to be. Though she did love the grass matts and natural scent the ship had. She transmits for Aziza and crew only!

"We can't be certain exactly what tacitcal position he's in Aziza. For example IF I knew I was in trouble or even if I wasn't I might try to pull something sneaky to get the advantage. For example he's taking a pounding in the current battle. To cut his losses and perhaps carry the day he might try boarding us in force. Which is why not doubt T'risa wants us meeting him in force."


"Another option is to send a powerful explosive device over to our ship. Once he docks well you know what happens next. Course He wouldn't be on board not wanting to blow himself up. Then there's the fact he supposedly wants his crew back which leads me to think IF he care's he's going to behave. Maybe you should perform a full body cavity search on him just to prove he's on the up and up. No  scratch that he would likely fight to the death to prevent that."

The following events couldn't really be called anybody's fault.  M'Kira couldn't have realized that Aziza's paranoia made telling her scary stories equivalent to handing aphrodisiacs to a Tau.  There was just no way it would lead to a happy ending.
Aziza didn't realize that she'd actually acted, however she was a brilliant pilot and her ship had been so heavily customized that it nearly read her mind when she was touching the controls, and her subconscious mind was not happy.
Thus, as visions of horror raced through her mind, the massive barrel of the Mass Driver cannon began to inch towards the Mercenary shuttlecraft. . .
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Thu 17 July 2008.

  The merc captain's Shuttle pod detached from the ship and began to move liesurely toward the Crow. The small craft cleared the bulk of the enemy ship and with a puff of the thrusters closed on the docking collar maneuvering clumsily to math up with the clamps.

Aziza worries and waffles for perhaps ten more seconds before making up her mind and suddenly swinging the prow of the Strange and Wonderful Black Bird With the Cunning to Use Tools and a Love of Shiny Objects around to bear on the shuttlecraft, squarely aiming enough firepower to destroy several city blocks on the unoffensive craft.
"Mercenary Captain, please being shed Delta V to relative rest position and wait for intensive scan to search for suicide bomb or invasion force.  Do not being move or I am being open fire."

    " What the hell?" was the response from the shuttle pod, then a sudden burst of thrusters to bring it to a relative Halt compared to the Crow." And I thought Mercs were suspicious, hurry up, this thing aint a luxury suite ya know."

Despite the Merc Captain's words Aziza takes her time to do a thorough scan examining the shuttle before deflecting the turrets a couple of degrees, although not enough that they aren't still menacingly close, and giving him leave to dock.

14:23, Today: Aziza rolled 23 using 1d20+13. Sensor Scan.

Smiling M'kira smiles her eyes sharp as she keeps a lookout for anything underhanded the Mercs might be up to. So far everything seems fine. Nodding with approval at the scan she speaks softly into the com. "Any bets on if he has something or not? Looks like not since he's being allowed to dock. Aziza if it's any help once this is over I do have some repair skills. Though I remember you mentioning repair bot's. Might not need help with whatever damage the mercs did."

  The scan proceeds the close proximity of the shuttle pod allowAziza's scanners to pierce the hull and give the small pod a close inspection. no large explosive devices or weapons are detected smd one life sign is detected by the shi[ps systems. The shuttle pod continues on it's way docking with the Crow and locking onto the docking clamps fixxing it firmly to the hull.

Keeping an eye on the main ship M'kira slowly circles Aziza's crow looking for anything unusual. Just in case she wasn't about to take a chance that something was amiss while things appeared to be going so well.

Sends a private message to T'risa knowing she was in negotiations. The info wouldn't get in the way and it might prove helpful. "For the moment at least it's all quiet out here. Hope your having a good time in there. Let me know when I can dock I might want to say hello to the captain. I am curious how he knew my race. That's pretty detailed Intel unless the face Dancer reported the info to him."

Meanwhile Aziza keeps her weapons trained on the mercenary craft, and decides there's no harm in performing a particularly thorough scan of it, in case she might need to destroy the vessel quickly now, or in the future.

OOC~ Take 20 on a scan of the ship.

T'risa left the sickbay momentarily to communicate with the others.

"I detect no deception from the captain. He's infuriated only with his employer. Nonetheless, I'd prefer if both you and Aziza kept a very careful eye on his vessel. Though he might have no deception planned, that does not say anything for the others in his crew. M'Kira I'd prefer for you to remain patrolling outside this vessel until after the Captain has safely returned to his vessel. He's agreed to hand over all relevant information. I'm sure we'll find out how we came to be targetted in due course. Aziza, if you have the free time, I'd like for you to prepare to scan a data disk for any discrepancies prior to allowing the captain to leave. Just to make sure he hasn't tampered with the data or put anything that might cause us issues when we try to read it. I didn't read any deception, that still doesn't mean I trust him."

"Sounds good to me. Try not to have to much fun in there!" M'kira flicks a few controls staying alert and on the move. Last thing she wanted was to present a easy target. With their captain aboard the crow and wounded crew they should be on their best behavior. At least that's what she hopes.

Aziza considers the possibilities, while locking every weapon onto the enemy ship and contemplating what clan the rival Cesti she was hearing about on the intercom.  Seeing as the feeble bald-tailed Pasha clan had already tried to stop the mission twice, and the Pasha's were generally behind all evil in the universe anyway, it was obvious who these Cesti were but Aziza listened carefully to the Merc Captain's description of the rival Cesti, on the off chance that the vile Pasha had corrupted the dupe of some other clan.