"Not yet," Billy says, clearly anxious about both options.  There is a long strained pause before he reaches for the comms and switches to the internal speakers, "Xander, Rebecca, wake up Gestalt.  Tell him his fleet and an IDA fleet are about to hit each other head on.  Surrender in exchange for a lot of people's lives, that's his deal.  Make it convincing."

"It was a big fleet that killed the Hubris," Fiernas observed. "Could be this IDA fleet, if you're right about the size. And they met with Husker first, on board the yacht."

Billy looks at Fiernas, "You can see the past?  I thought you could tell where that gate goes," Billy shakes his head in frustration, "Fuck it.  Can you tell me if Husker went down with his ship, or where his escorts went?"

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 879):


Fiernas ponders this.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:37, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 880):

"You're going to want to get clear," Faust's voice cuts into the cockpit. "A capital ship just showed up. I'm not going to let them get organized before I hit them..."

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 880):

Nightmare sprints straight through the milling crowd directly to Gestalt.  She tries to rouse him by a combination of cajoling, gentle shaking and shouts directly into his brain.  When he awakes she relays Billy's offer.

When Faust's warning pipes over Billy quickly turns the comms back to his channel, "Hold fire!  We're negotiating a surrender!" he looks back over his shoulder, "I hope," he adds weakly.

In reply to Commander Faust (msg # 881):

The Shuttle

Gestalt is roused groggily, but fails to understand much of what has been explained to him.

"Whu...where am I? Whose fleet? Where? What..."

He slowly comes to grips with the gist of the offer, and coughs.

"Y'beat me near death, haul me into...wherever we are...and expect my orders to still MEAN something to the boys out looking for blood?"

Gestalt spits onto the steel floor.

"No. I don't believe for a second that I'm not already a dead man. Let 'em tear you apart for it. I'll see you all in hell."

Space: The Final Frontier

"Belay that," Faust countermands. "We do not negotiate with terrorists. We destroy them. All ships with capital-caliber batteries, focus on my mark. FIRE!"

Those watching the viewport can see the four ships of Faust's fleet position themselves with broadsides facing the mustering AoS fleet.

Suddenly, the starfield warps and shimmers around you, and you can make out many, many more ships of various shapes and sizes. Freighters. Heavy cruisers. Swarms of fighters. They have this patch of space completely surrounded, and their armored exterior is extremely reflective, making them hard to spot even now that you know where they are.

In the rear of the fleet, an enormous silhouette looms -- potentially a battleship or a carrier.

As one body, a salvo of missiles, lasers, and slugs erupts toward the AoS fleet -- specifically, toward the destroyer than just warped in. As the deadly ordnance races to close the distance, the AoS ships spring into action. Freighters and starfighters bolt forward in tight formation, only to be met head-on by the rapidly decloaking starfighters opposing them.

The targeted destroyer begins firing in defensive patterns, but many missiles work their way through. Explosions rock its hull, and it drifts off the side, streaming plumes of ionize gas, just as a second heavy cruiser warps in.

Things are only going to deteriorate from here.

In reply to The Watcher (msg # 884):

Kayla's eyes widen as the battlefield begins to fill with potential hazards and debris.

"...guys? We're, ah, we're running out of options. You want me to try to gun it out of here, wait around with our fingers crossed, or try our luck with the jump ring?

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 885):

The AoS battlecruiser finally warps in -- and it does so guns blazing. Lasers, missiles, and slugs pour forth from both sides, even as the starfighters continue their individual dogfights.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

Billy turns off the comms as the firing starts, "Run," he answers Kayla somberly.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 887):

"This is your captain, speaking," Kayla broadcasts throughout the ship. "Grab onto something. Strap in. Buckle down. This is going to suck."

She grips the steering controls and nudges the ship toward the jump ring Muse had found.

"I don't think we're gonna be able to escape the perimeter without getting clipped," she says. "So...cross your fingers."

She approaches the ring at low speeds, giving everyone in the cockpit ample time to object if they desire.

[Crossroads]

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 887):

Muse watches conflagration unfold around Persephone.

"Violence only wants more of itself."

He looks over at Fiernas, and seeing him deep in thought asks, "Where are you?"

"Clipped is better than dead. Punch it, Kayla."

Seeming to notice something for the first time Billy blinks, "God dammit.  Fuck, fuck.  Dynamis, take a picture of the stars or something, we need to relay these coordinates once we're clear, wherever we are.  Shit! Take the fucking ring. Shit!" Billy shouts in panic as he runs back out of the cockpit and again dons his helmet.  Thus equipped he grips whatever he can brace on.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

"It's hard to smell things out from here," Fiernas answers. "Calm helps."  The irony of searching for calm in the surrounding missile fire is obvious. "When the wolves are howling, you just run."


He stares out at the approaching gate, searching for something with sharp eyes.

OOC: I'm around, Muse. Just on a road trip, so my updating schedule is slightly slowed.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 891):

Nightmare appears in the copilots seat next to Kayla again, fully strapped in.

When we get back to the Factory first order of business is to reinstall the darn ghost drive!

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 892):

Muse nods at Fiernas. "I agree. Calm is contagious."

In reply to Muse (msg # 893):

I say we take the ring Billy, especially if there is a net closing on us.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Fri 21 Apr 2017.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 894):

"We're taking the ring, Rebecca."

"Unknown territory! We should absolutely take that gate!" Fiernas beams with a feral smile.

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 896):

You don't get a vote!  You aren't even supposed to be in the cockpit!

She snaps at Fiernas.

Your not crew! Billy is C/O on this ship...
This message was last edited by the player at 02:42, Sat 22 Apr 2017.

A video feed comes on one of the secondary monitors in the Persephone's cockpit, showing Xander strapping into pilot Abraxas.

I'm going to ride it out from here, in case we need close-in defense. I agree - we need to take the ring. No matter how this goes, we have civilians on this ship who don't deserve to be caught in the middle of our fight.

He tosses a grin to the camera. Kayla, holler if you need help, but I know you've got this.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:05, Sat 22 Apr 2017.

In reply to Xander (msg # 898):

In the Cockpit

Correction. Billy is the "Boss," but there is only one Captain.

The monitors flicker slightly.

I trust this distinction need not be made again.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:26, Sat 22 Apr 2017.

"Vote, no vote... I tell how it is."

In reply to Fiernas Holm (msg # 900):

With no clear objections and a smattering of support, Kayla guides Persephone toward the hidden jump ring.

And not a moment too soon -- the capital ships on both sides have selected this moment to open their broadsides fully against one another, and the ongoing conflict between swarms of fighters and freighters and support ships is creating a swirling field of debris with few safe passages through it.

Arcs of ionized energy crisscross the viewport as the jump ring activates, whisking you away to another corner of space...

~~ END CHAPTER 07 ~~

Global Karma Breakdown

These are the global things that will affect everyone equally. Individuals will gain bonuses and penalties beyond these. I will not make those public :)

Baseline: +1000

Bonuses
- Rescued Fiernas: +100
- "Rescued" Penny: +100
- Rescued the random prisoners: +400
- Survival (Kayla, Penny, Timon, Gestalt): +400
- Character Backgrounds & Powers Shared: +250

Penalties
- Allowed Husker to escape: -100
- Reckless destruction of property: -100
- Use of unnecessarily excessive force: -250
- Conflict escalation in the face of diplomatic overtures: -250
- Party member defeated (Billy): -50

Adjusted Baseline: +1500
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:36, Mon 24 Apr 2017.