"Stop running away while I threaten to sue you!" Billy declares angrily, "This is bullshit!  I swear to god if Mal put you up to this..." he begins shouting before something occurs to him and he comments to himself more quietly, "Actually, if Mal put you up to this we're probably fucked by security anyway.  Put that down dammit!" He does not stop running at full speed as he yammers, keeping pace impressively for someone who doesn't look like he works out much.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 446):

Rebecca continues to skulk around watching out for Xander.

[Stealth: White.  Fail.]

Xander continues to fidget in the link.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:58, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

In reply to Xander (msg # 448):

The Expensive Shuttle

Battalion straps in, preps the engines, and gives the controls an exploratory jostle. The ship purrs and hums like a dream, and seems eager to lift off. A blinking light arrests his attention: the navicomputer, prompting for a destination.

There's a handy drop-down menu of recently courses to choose from, if desired: four Earth locations, two Luna locations, Deimos, and someplace you've never heard of called "The Wyrmhole," which is classified on the list as a space station.

The battlesuits continue to lug the shuttle onward, oblivious of this latest development. They are also apparently oblivious to Billy as he speeds toward them at an impressive pace.

Not impressive enough to close the distance, of course, but he's able to keep them from getting further away. So that's something.

The Nook

Battalion Business-Class hops onto the sledge. Looks simple to operate, seeing as the only controls are a joystick, a rudimentary LED display, and a big red button.



OOC: If your plan is to pursue with the sledge, you'll quickly overtake Billy and, soon, the battlesuits. There's plenty of room for Billy to hop on as you pass by, if desired The sledge is only loaded with a handful of crates at the moment, and the display indicates it's only carrying 10% of its load capacity.

The Slip

Xander fidgets at the link for a while, protected non-subtly by Rebecca.


After a period of silence, the 'Roo rumbles and shakes with a surge of energy as the engines scream to life.

"Yippie!!!" Viceroy's voice calls out from somewhere inside of the vessel. "All aboard!"

The welding battlesuits stop their work and stomp over towards Rebecca, waving their arms wildly.

"Stop! Stop! Are you crazy?! Turn that thing off! We're not done patching up the holes in the hull yet!" one of the pilots says, his voice sounding strangely metallic through the speaker system of his battlesuit. The second pilot says nothing at all, but his battlesuit takes a step back to observe the situation more fully.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:56, Tue 22 Mar 2016.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 449):

Rebecca keeps an eye on Xander but with Viceroy providing sufficient distraction she runs up as close as she can to the ship and waves for them to clear out.

YOU TWO!  CLEAR OUT!

She points imperiously.  Then she tilts her head towards the ship and screams

VICEROY!  ALL NOT ABOARD... IF YOU HAVENT NOTICED!  CUT THE ENGINES WE HAVE TO GATHER OUR TEAM!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 450):

The Slip

Battalion Business Class shoves the joystick forward and zooms toward the mechs.

If Billy leaps aboard, that's cool, but Battalion certainly isn't going to slow down to help.

Xander continues to like, space out, man.
This message was last updated by the player at 21:02, Mon 21 Mar 2016.

As he notices the sledge overtaking him to one side Billy glances at its driver, then leaps onto the bed. While trying to keep his bearings at the new velocity he shouts to the professional driver, "Hey, does that look like the engines are running to you?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 453):

The Slip

Xander's limp body jerks suddenly, and a soft light emanates from beneath his eyelids.


The welding battlesuits turn to regard Rebecca, raising their welders threateningly.

"Can't clear out, girlie. Not while the job's unfinished."

Both advance on Rebecca, welders sparking with malice.



The Expensive Shuttle

The console lights up and pulses impatiently, hoping for some kind of input. The battlesuits hurry around, carrying the shuttle along with them.

In Pursuit of the Shuttle

The sledge begins the task of gaining on the battlesuits. It will take about five minutes to overtake them at your current rate... maybe less if you shoot at them or something in the meantime.

The shuttle's engines are definitely, visibly online.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 454):

GIRLIE?!  GIRLIE!!!!!

She says with rage tinging her voice.

OF all of the demeaning, self centered, egotistical, inane things i've heard!!!!!!

ILL SHOW YOU GIRLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This scream might, literally, wake the dead.

[Illusions on both battlesuits: 100, Red success]



[Resist Fear: 4, 25, White Fail]

Both overseers flee from the rage of a very small bundle of dynamite.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 455):

The Slip

How would I know?  Suited Battalion asks Billy.  I'm no damned engineer.

The Expensive Ship

JJ tilts the controls slightly, not really trying to "go" anywhere, but trying to impede the suits carrying him.  (Piloting 57, Green success.)

Billy glares angrily at the Batallion for a moment.  Active engines weren't usually that hard to spot, they just didn't make any sense.  After a moment of angry stare Billy's eyes just seem to lose focus.

 Xander's eyes snap open as he comes out of the interface. Got it! he hisses triumphantly, but then notices the angry looking battlesuits nearby. Oh, shit.

He makes a mad dash for Abraxas, not liking his chances in the unarmored fleshy meatsack that is his body.

In reply to Xander (msg # 458):

The Slip

Both battlesuits flee in terror as their pilots grapple with horrifying illusions. They take no further action this round, but neither do they actually leave the slip, instead preferring to mill around in aimless, comical circles.

~~ Round 2~~
Rebecca
Battlesuit A
Xander/Abraxas
Battlesuit B
Viceroy

The Chase

Billy's eyes assume a far-away look while Battalion Business-Class continues to zip the sledge closer to their shuttle.


Under Battalion Prime's direction, the shuttle's engines flare with a burst of side-thrust, a maneuver that would normally be used to stabilize the during re-entry. On the ground, it serves to spin the battles almost exactly 180 degrees.

The battlesuits just keep on running, only realizing that they are now traveling back the way they came when they notice the sledge bearing down on them. By the time turn to resume their original vector, the sledge has overtaken them.

The battlesuits are now jogging lightly in the correct direction, the ship held between them and the sledge driving easily alongside them.

"Appreciate the assist, but you might as well return to the facility," a metallic voice pings from a speaker system hidden somewhere on the sledge's console. "Unless you have clearance, of course."

The Slip
Billy doesn't seem to notice the voice on the sledge.

The Expensive Ship
A button on the ship's console begins blinking green, along with a simulated phone ring.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:53, Sun 27 Mar 2016.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 460):

The Slip

Battalion business class continues to pilot the sledge, trying to match speeds with the battlesuits.

You've got ten seconds pretty boy, then I slam this thing into those asshats.

The Expensive Ship

JJ taps the speakerphone button.

Who the fuck?  If this is the meathead carrying this ship, knock it off!

The Slip

Billy gives no acknowledgement to Batallion's ultimatum, though his brow furrows slightly.

The Expensive Ship

"No I'm not carrying the ship, why is my ship being carried?!" Billy's voice pipes through the speaker, "What the hell are you trying to talk them down over the phone for, the door's right there!"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 462):

Rebecca wanders over near some cover, skulks and slides into nonexistence

[Stealth: 63 Green success]

I can dismiss your perceived fears at a thought.  However, your demeanor and attitudes have been severely threatining.  I will show you a fraction of my power.  If you do not immediately power down your machines... I will destroy them.  If you are noncompliant after that you will be rendered... ineffective.

[Fighting on A: 92 Red Success.  65 Damage.]
/ooc can you stun a machine? /ooc

[Fighting on B: 31 Green Success.  65 Damage.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:18, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

Xander wastes no time in scrambling up into Abraxas.

Viceroy, it's time to leave, he calls out right before the cockpit hatch hisses shut.

In reply to Xander (msg # 464):

The Slip

The two pilots, seeing their battlesuits shredded by psychic horrors before their eyes, turn tail and flee while their battlesuits remain capable of transporting them.

~~ End Combat ~~

Xander climbs into Abraxas and exits the 'Roo -- without the cargo bay, there's no room for the battlesuit. The ramp remains extended for Rebecca if she wishes to climb on, but it quivers as the engines continue to power up.

"We're go-going! Get-get inside!"

The Expensive Shuttle

The battlesuits keep running as Battalion, Battalion, and Billy try to figure out what to do.

Abraxas ambles back towards the entrance, as quickly as it can without looking blatantly like it's trying to escape. If it could, the battlesuit would be whistling nonchalantly.

In reply to Xander (msg # 466):

Very well. How do you propose to collect Batallion and Billy?

Rebecca says appearing next to Viceroy.

The engineers continue to run pursued by invisible eldritch horrors while the girl smirks cruelly.

Xander what results did your time at the terminal yield?

Xander's voice crackles over the private intercom to the bridge of the 'Roo. Though his voice is outwardly composed, it's not difficult to detect the strain underlying his words. All of it. I don't know. I just took everything they had and wiped it behind me. We'll have plenty of time to look through all the juicy secrets on the flight back, but now is not the time. We have got to get out of here first. Even if there's a way we can talk our ways out of this sudden clusterfuck, there's absolutely no way that breach isn't going to be noticed.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Mon 28 Mar 2016.

In reply to Xander (msg # 468):

Does it make me a bad person that I would like to pay Director Mallory a visit on our way out?

No. Not at all - she's a bitch. But we don't have the time.