In reply to Xander (msg # 470):

The Slip

Xander/Abraxas amble out of the facility as nonchalantly as possible, given the circumstances. It's fairly straightforward, as the screaming pilots of the two welding mechs have generally caused an enormous commotion in that area. The intercoms buzz throughout the facility, directing all battlesuit pilots to the medical bay for psychiatric examinations.

Once outside, Xander immediately realizes something is wrong: there is no luxury shuttle to speak of. In its place are two workers who are actively yelling at each other. They both stop and look up at Xander as he approaches in his battlesuit.

"You there! Some asshole stole a sledge and took it for a joyride thataway. That thing flight-capable? We need somebody to go haul him and the sledge back here. We got work to do!"

The 'Roo

"Put-put on your pressure suit," Viceroy burbles to Rebecca from the cockpit. "We are not secure-secured against the elements! Strap-strap the alloy down. We're take-taking off!"

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 471):

The Expensive Shuttle

BeCAUSE ASSHAT!  If I stick my head out the damned window, those tin cans will probably slice it off my shoulders!

The Slip

I warned you...

Battalion Business Class cranks on the steering bar and throttles the sledge directly into the closest battlesuit:

OOC:  55, Green success piloting

The expensive Ship
"Why the hell would they- Don't you have extra heads?!  Stop being a puss-" the phone call suddenly cuts off.

The sledge
Billy has not seen fit to brace for impact.

Yes. Of course. Right away, Xander's voice crackles amicably over the loudspeakers as Abraxas' engines roar to life and vault the mech into the thin atmosphere.

In reply to Xander (msg # 474):

The Expensive Shuttle

Battalion Business-Class uses the Sledge to plow into the nearest battlesuit (as in a charge attack). Part of the impact is blunted by the suit's armor, but the rest leaves a noticeable dent.

[Damage (Battlesuit A): 20]

Unfortunately, while the battlesuit was armored against impacts, the sledge's leaves something to be desired. The engine sputters and chokes, but remains operational (for now).

The battlesuit does, however, lose its grip on the shuttle, causing the wing on that half to plow into the ground and drag comically along the rocky trail while the other battlesuit continues chugging along.

It only travels a dozen meters or so in this way until the second battlesuit comes to a stop, perhaps alerted to his companion's plight via radio or common sense. The second battlesuit drops his half of the shuttle none-too-gently and turns to confront the sledge.





OOC: When there are multiple internal areas to deal with, we resolve them on an area-by-area basis. So we still go straight down the list, but I've divided folks by where they are. This list will change as people move into other areas to help keep track of where everyone actually is.

The Nook

Xander takes off in Abraxas, and from this vantage point notes the brewing conflict. He can join the combat at the start of the next round, either by flying directly into it or by skirting the edges to take pot shots at range.

The 'Roo

Viceroy, having given Rebecca ample time to suit up despite the lack of a direct response, activates the shuttle's thrusters. The battered shuttle-turned-freighter-turned-shuttle-again whips around 180 degrees and lurches forward... directly into the the main section of the facility. Viceroy then pulls the shuttle into a terrifying ascent, ultimately threading the 'Roo through the opening to the facility in order to blast out of the main entrance just a little behind Abraxas.

This was not a subtle exit, and many people, materials, and machines were damaged in the attempt -- not least of all, the 'Roo.

"Help is on the way!" he burbles into the com system, using a secure band that Xander has no trouble picking up.

The 'Roo will join the brewing battle in 2 rounds.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:25, Thu 31 Mar 2016.

"Ssonofabitch!" Billy suddenly becomes much more animated as the impact jars the sledge well beyond normal operation, "What the hell are you doing?  My ship!" Without waiting for a response Billy jumps off the sledge and Begins running for his ship.  On the way he waves both arms at the battlesuits, trying to convince them he's not a threat and/or to stand down. "He is insane!" he shouts, pointing back at the sledge as he distances himself both literally and figuratively from Batallion demolition class.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 475):

WHY CAN NOBODY FLY?!  AND WHY DONT  THEY RESPOND WHEN ADDRESSED?!

Rebecca screams as she is flung back.  She then begins to get her pressure suit on.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Thu 31 Mar 2016.

In reply to Rebecca Taylor (msg # 477):

Battalion Business Class stands his ground neither attempting another ram nor fleeing.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 478):

The Clusterf***

The two battlesuits lower their weapons, then one's speaker clicks on.

"You rammed us in the middle of delicate operation! Who taught you how to drive? What are you doing joyriding out here?"

The other one turns and trudges back toward the shuttle.

"Come on, we're late. We can report the incident later."

~~ End Combat ~~

If nobody stops them, they will heft the shuttle and begin carrying it off again.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:28, Fri 01 Apr 2016.

Abraxas lands, thrusters flaring in a cloud of dust as the mech comes to a rest in front of the shuttle.

Oh good, you guys didn't get too far, he broadcasts to the two mechs over the short range open frequency. No worries, I can take it from here, gentlemen. Need to test this thing's hauling capabilities anyway. There's a big mess back at the dock the boss is looking for help with. If you want to head back you can probably score some brownie points.

"I'm trying to save my goddamn ship!" Billy shouts at the battlesuit using its loudspeaker as he runs to intercept them before they can pick his ship back up, just hoping they can hear him without a radio.  He bangs on the main hatch when Abraxas lands, trusting it to keep them busy long enough for him to get to Batallin, "Open up asshole!"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 481):

JJ gladly opens the hatch for Billy.

Took you long enough... he mutters.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 482):

The two battlesuits look at each other, then at Abraxas, then do an approximation of a shrug.

"I do like brownie points," one ventures before the pair hurry off back toward the facility.

"Don't take too long with the delivery," the other says. "We're running late as it is. And don't think we aren't going to report the sledge incident, either!"

***

Not long after Billy climbs aboard his ship, joining Battalion Prime inside, the 'Roo roars into the sky and comes to a hovering stop just above your location.

"We need-need to get-get someplace safe. Where we can-can fix-fix the 'Roo," Viceroy's voice burbles over the short-range telemetry. "Rebeccaagent is inside a pressure suit. Suggest-suggest we punch-punch through the membrane, leave-leave the crater, and find-find a place in deadspace not far away. Thoughts?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:09, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

"Sure, deadspace, sounds very comforting," Billy says unenthusiastically even as he tries to get his ship up and running despite the static on the displays, "What did the bad men do to you honey?" he coos as he strokes the console gently.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Sun 03 Apr 2016.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 484):

Billy does a simple diagnostic while the rest of the group weighs in on the situation.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 485):

I'd say they were hauling her off to have their way with her.  Good thing you got here in time.  Big damn hero.

Xander establishes a secure com line with his allies. Whatever we decide to do, it needs to involve leaving this place. Now. I was able to pull all their genetics research off their secure R&D server, but I didn't have time to do it particularly artfully. Or cover my tracks. They'll know there was a breach, and they'll trace it to the loading docks. We *have* to go.

Abraxas' engines flare to underscore the sentiment.

In reply to Xander (msg # 487):

I am prepared for unprotected space as I find the vacuum to be both uncomfortable and inconvenient.

Billy stares daggers at Batallion but doesn't say anything until Xander comes over the radio, "You pulled their what?!  No, fuck it.  Leaving is a plan.  We're leaving."  He grabs the controls, raises his ship off the hangar floor and whips it around quite suddenly to face the entrance.  Then he pushes the accelerator as far as it'll go.  About halfway out he looks at Batallion over his shoulder, "Buckle up."

((70 looks good enough to make an exit even despite the static))

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 489):

JJ nearly topples over out of his seat, grabbing the chair arm fast enough to avoid falling, but not fast enough to avoid cracking his head against a panel.

A stream of muttered obscenities accompanies buckling up.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 490):

Abraxas, the Luxury Shuttle, and the 'Roo take to the skies, punching outward with Viceroy in  the lead. He makes a beeline toward the membrane covering the top of the crater and plows through it, tearing a large hole in the precious covering as he does so. A tremendous rush of escaping atmosphere accompanies this gesture, and emergency sirens flare to life -- not that you can hear them from the safety of your respective cockpits.

"That should buy-buy us some time," Viceroy explains over the comms. "They will need-need to fix-fix that as soon as possible."

Abraxas and the Luxury Shuttle follow the larger 'Roo with little difficulty, and soon the trio has put a significant amount of space between them and Deimos.

Literally, space.

It does not appear as though you are being followed... for now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:35, Tue 05 Apr 2016.

Once the ships (and battlesuit) are out of the moon's gravity Billy gets on the radio, "So what's the plan when we get far enough out?  If you still have holes in your ship then I've got no airlock, the only atmosphere we can breathe, and no console.  I'd love to know what kind of repairs we're equipped to perform in the middle of space.  I hear welding is a lot harder when everything is verging on absolute zero."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 492):

"Your ship has-has a laser-based weapon," Viceroy ventures. "Can you use-use it to seal-seal the 'Roo? Abraxas may be able to assist-assist as well. Hull will not look-look pretty, but it will hold-hold. Then emergency life support can be put-put online."

"This ship's experimental engine can-can cover in three days what would take-take your vessel two weeks to traverse-traverse. Recommend-recommend abandon-abandoning your ship and Abraxas, float-floating in deadspace at a certain trajectory and constant speed. Could-could  record-record coordinates and return-return later to collect-collect them. How much breathable atmosphere do-does your ship possess-possess?"

There is a noticeable pause.

"We could-could also attempt-attempt to sneak-sneak onto Mars itself or onto Phobos, where it is significantly warmer. That will extend-extend the time we spend-spend without renew-renewing our air, however."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Tue 05 Apr 2016.

In reply to Viceroy (msg # 493):

Leave the pretty toys in space?.. oh THIS will be fun to watch.

JJ smirks as he watches the discussion.

He is very careful NOT to unclip his safety harness.

In reply to Batallion (msg # 494):

I'm not sure on the life support abilities of either vessel, but if you feel uncomfortable abandoning your ships in space then we could set a sentry either in Billy's ship, or Abraxis while we travel to our operations base and return using the experimental drive.

Additionally we could radio ahead to have them send a team out to our location and cross with them in transit leaving them to pick up the slower vessels.