In reply to Xander (msg # 220):

OUTSIDE

The freighter sparks and shudders and emits a satisfying explosion as its lights go dark.

The Mastodon remains unable to do much, though her crew are another matter.

INSIDE

Captain Blaise and the crew take pot shots at the boarders, killing two before ducking back under cover.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 221):

Rebecca silently broods behind any available cover and focuses her anger...  Targeting three soldiers in the middle of the formation.



These soldiers appear to be made of sterner stuff than their comrades and none of them panic.

Sir we appear to be in the presence of an abnormal... there is a new threat to be neutralized.


One of the boarding party grunts as he is hit in the chest by something no one else can see (20 Damage)

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 222):

... home, home on the range... where boarders are tied up and maimed...

Another soldier bamphs beside his companions.  3 now guard the shuttle door.

The Battalion Corps continues to make its way toward Deck 4.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 223):

All freighters are damaged or destroyed, and the pulses of energy come to an end. Ostensibly, this also means all the portals have been closed, though you're not able to confirm this yet.

The boarding party opens fire on the bridge, destroying lots of important equipment but doing very little meaningful damage.

Three soldiers fire at what looks like nothing at all, with mixed results.

[Damage (Illusion): 23]

The SAGE capital ships continue to move closer, nearly triangulating the Mastodon's position at this point. Still, they hold their fire.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 224):

(Autofollow)

"I'm coming in for a landing. And a hot shower. And a hot toddy."

He latches onto the airlock magnetically and pulls himself toward the bay with startling speed, nearly reaching it in one go.

In reply to Flux (msg # 225):

** Disposition Recap **

Outside

The smouldering wreckage of the freighters and the wasps float around. Flux is heading toward the airlock and Xander is within Abraxis nearby.

Docking Bay

Battalion has little to do as he sits in the shuttle and whistles a jaunty tune

Deck 4

The Battalion Corps floats awkwardly in this direction, but haven't quite made it yet. Flickering emergency lights remind them as to the precariousness of their situation.

Bridge

Rebecca is crouched in a reasonably safe space here, using her illusion beast to attack 3 of the 14 remaining boarders. They are trading fire with Captain Blaise and the command crew, who are taking cover behind some of the ship's most important equipment in the helm as they pop up and duck down between shots. It's hard to tell how many allies remain on the bridge, but there are at least 5.

The smell of acrid smoke and damaged circuitry is almost overwhelming, and the screaming suggests that nobody is happy.


This message was last edited by the GM at 16:16, Thu 03 Dec 2015.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 226):

Rebecca melds back into her hiding spot.

Stealth 61 green success

The illusiory beast howls its defiance to swat all three engaged troops

Fighting 55, 57, 64 green success

20 damage each

She focuses on the already damaged boarder boring into his brain

Brain drain 10 white derp

10 damage to the already smacked boarder.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 227):

Captain hold on. I am doing my best to neutralize attackers I have reason to believe Battalion will be providing reinforcements shortly.

With the immediate external threats nullified, Xander turns his attention to his disabled suit. Alright, let's see what we can do about this mess.

Pulling the control panel out from in front of him, Xander plugs his neural face directly into the diagnostics computer, and his eyes go blank.

[Repair: Success]

Scant moments later, the instrumentation lights come back up online, in some cases displaying even more power than before. Abraxis' engines thump back on with renewed vigor.

Damn, I'm good...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Thu 03 Dec 2015.

In reply to Xander (msg # 229):

The Mastodon still does nothing, though Captain Blaise and the rest of the command crew manage to kill two more members of the boarding party with their shots. (None of these were previously damaged by illusion beasts.)

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 230):

Another copy of Battalion flashes in.  This one, however, isn't armed.  Instead, he's dressed exactly like the original.  Wordlessly, he slides into a seat beside Battalion so that any boarder wouldn't be sure which to shoot first.

The three door guards hold the entrance ramp to the shuttle... just in case.

Battalion switches to the intercom.

Are you all done playing around out there?  Flux and I have things to drink.

The Battalion Corps continues to move toward Deck 4.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 231):

The boarding party shoots the ever-loving crap out of more consoles but doesn't actually kill anyone.

The S.A.G.E. capital ships continue to triangulate their position around the listing Mastodon.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 232):

(Autofollow)

Flux enters the airlock but doesn't shuck his deep space gear.

"What happened to the gravity? Because it's about to get KINKY."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:13, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

In reply to Flux (msg # 233):

** Disposition Recap **

Outside

The smouldering wreckage of the freighters and the wasps float around. Xander is within Abraxis nearby.

Docking Bay

Battalion has little to do as he sits in the shuttle and whistles a jaunty tune. Flux has just entered the bay and looks confused by the carnage and lack of power.

Deck 4

The Battalion Corps floats into Deck 4. Ten boarding party members are sprawled across the floor, dead or unconscious. There's a hole in the wall and air is hissing out of it. There are no allied crew to be seen. The bridge is two turns away for the corps if they want to head in that direction.

Bridge

Rebecca is crouched in a reasonably safe space here, using her illusion beast to attack 3 of the 12 remaining boarders. They are trading fire with Captain Blaise and the command crew, who are taking cover behind some of the ship's most important equipment in the helm as they pop up and duck down between shots. It's hard to tell how many allies remain on the bridge, but there are at least 5.

The smell of acrid smoke and damaged circuitry is almost overwhelming, and the screaming suggests that nobody is happy.


This message was last edited by the GM at 21:16, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 234):

The writhing illusion bellows its rage as it sweeps out at the engaged boarders.  Missing the damaged boarder and one of his friends... the third boarder is not so lucky as it smashes him to the ground.

Fighting [20, 73, 17 White, Yellow, White].

[20 Damage to one boarder and knocked prone]

She continues to focus in on the damaged boarder with much better success this time

Brain Drain [65, Green]

[30 Damage]

The injured boarder whimpers and crumples to the ground, blood streaming from his nose.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Sat 05 Dec 2015.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 235):

Your boarding party is about to suffer an additional 2 casualties, which will bring you near even force with our party on the bridge and there is a large group of less reasonable reinforcements on the way.  Your chances for success are negligible and I strongly recommend that you surrender before reinforcements arrive and parlay with myself and the captain if you value your lives.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 236):

Deck 4

Nobody alive here, let's move out.

The Battalion Corps starts moving toward the bridge.

Docking Bay

While the two identical Battalions sit at the controls and sing an off-key duet, a man in a suit (who happens to look just like Battalion) pops into existence.

He marches down walkway out of the shuttle and starts making his way toward the prisoners.

3 Battalion soldiers continue to guard the shuttle entrance.

Xander, lacking any active targets, opts to cover the damaged freighters. He encodes a short range radio transmission across several frequencies.

Attention SAGE freighters, you are currently under the crosshairs of a very powerful railgun capable of turning your vessel into a block of swiss cheese in about three tenths of a second. Ammo is expensive, however, so I have no wish to pull the trigger unless you do something stupid. Also, for those who would prefer not to die in a vacuum, medical facilities are standing by, and we're willing to accept your surrender.

In reply to Xander (msg # 238):

One Battalion cracks his knuckles loudly.

The other picks at something in his ear.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 239):

There is no response from the freighters, though a few sparks emit fitfully from one of the more damaged units as it lists against the Mammoth's unpowered hull.

The remaining boarders look at Rebecca for a moment, then the check their own telemetry. The swearing that follows informs you that perhaps they did not realize all the freighters were down until now.

"Parley?" the leader of the boarding party says at last. "What is there to discuss? Surrender your stolen technology, and you're free to go. If we're unable to reclaim it, though... well, I'm sure you saw our overwatch. They'll destroy the tech rather than let it escape."

Despite his words, he gives a signal and his men lower their weapons... though everyone still looks twitchy.

~~ End Combat ~~
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:53, Wed 09 Dec 2015.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 240):

(Autofollow)

Docking Bay

"Well, don't you look comfortable," Flux says to the not-Battalion walking toward the prisoners. "What's going on? Why is the gravity offline? It doesn't affect me, of course, but it looks uncomfortable for everyone else."

He looks at the shuttle for a moment.

"You got a medbay in there? If power's out on the Mammoth, its medbay won't do me any good. And I won't take a cold shower, either." He makes a face. "Seriously. We're meant to be civilized here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:59, Wed 09 Dec 2015.

In reply to Flux (msg # 241):

Bridge

"That technology is the key to unlocking the mysteries of the universe," Captain Blaise says, popping his head out from behind the dashboard as soon as it's safe. "Come with us! Together we can change the future of... well... of everything."

The boarder commander simply shakes his head.

"We're already doing that," he says. "But we're doing it through science, not piracy. It's only a matter of time before the support ships decide that our gambit has failed and open fire. Why don't we hail them?"

Captain Blaise scowls and folds his arms.

"We COULD if the comms weren't down."

The commander taps his helmet.

"Mine aren't. Shall I?"

OOC: Paused here in case Rebecca wishes to partake in this conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Wed 09 Dec 2015.

In reply to Captain Blaise (msg # 242):

Docking Bay

The suited not-Battalion shrugs at Flux.

I'm going to question the prisoners.  I'll start with words, then move on to other tactics.

He swims awkwardly toward the prisoners.

And if you've got some gravity to spare so I can walk, that would be a big help.

The Battalions in the shuttle hold their ground.

They done shooting?  Everyone surrender?  Time for beer and pizza?  a Battalion in the shuttle shouts at Flux.

Bridge

At some point, Blaise receives a huge influx of armed troops.

Captain, are we still killing them or not? one asks when he notices that nobody is shooting.  Please don't say we're going to invite them along... this family is dysfunctional as it is.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Wed 09 Dec 2015.

Xander begins towing the damaged freighters into the Mastodon's docking bays.

In reply to Xander (msg # 244):

When you get down to it... change is change whether via science or piracy.

she walks completely unafraid through the ranks dragging Percy behind her directly towards the captain

You are telling me that your superiors would accept not only the loss of their property but also all team members to return this technology?  Thereby leaving two options...

A.  The technology is not replicable, in which case you are scuttling years of money, research and development for no gain thereby losing all ability to learn.

B.  The technology  is replaceable, in which case you are sacrificing human life and some small semblance of time to prevent your research from being put into more hands that have a greater chance of solving the problem.  In order to preserve your Monopoly on the technology


She hands Percy to the captain, the doll is holding a note and then she fastens the full strength of her white-faced-black-eyed stare at him.


Commander, do NOT presume to lecture me on the virtues of science as a cult.  You are out of your depth and SAGE is acting neither in the vein of scientific discovery nor in the best interests of civilization.  I would be happy to give your commanding officers a primer if they are capable of understanding.

She says spite dripping from her tone.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Wed 09 Dec 2015.