The empires of the galaxy have enjoyed quite a bit of prosperity due to gorging on the resources of recently colonized systems.  It's been a race to control the most colonies to gain the most wealth to afford the largest fleet to dominate the other empires.  But the colonies are becoming discontented with the mistreatment they've received at the hands of their parent empires.

The scene opens on one such colony, Planet Boslin, part of the Andromedan cluster of colonies controlled by arguably the wealthiest of empires: The Red Giant, Engrif.  Taxes are getting outlandishly high, and the savage natives are getting bolder as the colonists are finding it harder to make ends meet.

Space bunny! Angel, a rather decorated young captain in the Engrif empire is on a ship en route to Planet Boslin. She's hoping to talk with the planet's representatives about their recent complaints. Recently, however, she had been passed over for a promotion she very rightly earned while some idiot who had the right connections got promoted higher than Angel. She's been hiding her bitterness quite well...

OOC: This is intended to be a Sci-Fi version of the American Revolution.  "Good guys" are the colonists.  "Bad guys" are the Empire.  However, even George Washington had his start as a Red Coat, so that doesn't mean starting as part of the Empire locks you into that faction.  And of course, there's Benedict Arnold.  But story will be told from the point of view of the colony, so if your char makes a permanent choice to side with anyone but the Rebels, you'll wind up relegated to off-panelness.  :P

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Life Systems: ONLINE
Visual Receptors: ONLINE
Audio: ONLINE
It had been 70 years, 4 months, 21 days, 6 hours and 45 minutes since he first came ONLINE. Though his surroundings had changed several times over the years, the family he served had not. That is, until recently. Now he was "free". The concept still puzzled him, but yet, that is what he was. Free. And now, here he was, aboard a ship, piloted by a giant rabbit. Strange, was the word that came to him.

OCC: I had several ideas for a picture with this character, ultimately choosing the more human pic. But my other thoughts were a Tuxedo Penguin, made to look like C3P0 (which would have been cool for a more hilarious game) or a steampunk robot dressed like a butler. Both fit the name really well, but after reading the opening crawl for the game I chose instead to go for more of a Star Trek Data feel.

The pic, on the other hand, is EPIC for the character because it is the actor from LOST. And that character was a man who could not age. Immortal, more or less. So the look and similarity is what I love about the pic. I thought about using John Cleese as my pic, making this character older. But since he's an android, then the outword appearance can be whatever I want.

Cogsworth isn't a name I love, however, for this character. But it works, for now. I will be doing some looking for a proper name.

  Joe meanwhile, is a less decorated, less bunny agent under Angel's command.  With such important tasks like getting Angel a letter opener.  Or stabbing someone with a letter opener.  It's a very open ended job description.  That guy who follows someone around with a clipboard if they were also on hand to beat people to death with it on request.  Or at the very least pinch some fingers with the pencil holder.

  ...Do they even have letter openers and clipboards in THE FUTURE?

Angel's communications officer contacts her.  "Rear Admiral Arnold would like to speak with you."

Angel says, "Open a channel."

Alas, Joe somehow doubts this call is coming from an Austrian Movie Star.

Unless it was.  Schwarzenegger Is, BENEDICT.  This time, it's personal.

A holographic image of the Rear Admiral appears.  Once all the saluting and stuff is dealt with, he explains Angel's orders.

"You would do well to read up on the history of the colony you have been assigned to, Captain," he begins, "Lord North has labeled it the most dangerous hotbed of rebel activity in the entire Empire, and things are worsening rapidly.  I will be transmitting to you the wording of the law we are to enforce, but the gist of it is that the colony is to be blockaded until it pays damages for the shipment of cargo it destroyed."

A heads-up-display shows a tactical map of the current locations of several other empire ships present in orbit and silhouettes of ships expected to soon arrive and their designated posts.

"The more capable vessels will be comprising the blockade.  Yours is to land at the starport and you and your crew are to provide assistance to the governor's guard on the ground.  Consider any ground officer of equal rank your superior.  That is all."

(Which of course is relegating navy folks to grunt duty.)  The hologram vanishes and the text of the blockade law is sent in all it's legalese mumbo-jumbo glory.

OCC: What? I'm confused at what you're getting at. I get the Arnold reference in the first sentence, but this, "'Unless it was.  Schwarzenegger Is, BENEDICT.  This time, it's personal.'" I'm completely lost. Explain por favor.

Angel orders, "Send that data to my pad. Research the history of this colony and send that to me as well. Let's bring this ship to port."

Angel puts on that confident smile she always has and says, "We'll learn about these rebels. And if we're smart... we can engage the rebels without a single casualty."

Angel gets preparations under way. She is sure to have her trusty custom guns with her. Perks of officer rank is being allowed to go beyond a "standard issue" weapon if you so desire.

Cogsworth runs his hand over the metallic interior. He senses the imperfections in the workmenship, noting that had the manufacture used a Sonic Resonator Buffer, the ripples would have been decreased by 5.7%. This decrease on the entire ship's hull would have increased the thrusters' output by 9.2%. Making it faster than any of its design.

The thought was only a brief second in his binary processor. And soon his circuitry was a buzz about his latest situation, Free. Hm. He considered it . . .

The ship comes to port and is immediately pelted with rocks and flaming bags of dog poo.  A huge mob of thousands of civilians are shouting "Lobsters go home!" and "Burn in Hell, murderers!" and various other angry mob shouts.  The governer's security forces in full riot gear are carving a path to Angel's ship through the mob with tear gas, force field shields, and armored vehicles mounted with snow plows.  A headline on her datapad catches Angels eye: "MASSECRE DAY!"  The article reads: "Today marks the 4th anniversary of the infamous confrontation that ended in over 5,000 dead civilians..."

Angel loses her smile briefly. But just before she can get her smile back, she stops herself. A smile would be a bad thing to wear in front of an angry mob. She instead, puts on a serious expression and says, "Put up the shields and allow our friends passage through."

The ship's forcefield appears and begins spreading out, pushing the people away like an invisible wall. But the Engrif troops have been aligned with the resonance of the forcefield. Angel walks down the ramp to meet with the commander of the approaching troops. She is quick to note the guy's rank before addressing him, though she still does the exact military protocol demanded of her.

  Joe nods, making sure she gets her portable data.  "Of course Angel.  Shall I slap anyone who asks 'how will you take out the rebels without causing them a single casualty'?"  He follows after his superior officer.  Short post is short.

OOC: Explain you say?  A few posts above my own said...

Narrator:

And of course, there's Benedict Arnold.

Only slightly confusing, the riot police officer's rank is Captain.  Which Angel knows is 3 ranks below her own.  It seems the officer is aware of this fact as well and salutes Angel.  "Welcome to Pergatory, Captain."

The ship's force field may not be a lethal weapon, but rioters are injured as they're knocked down and pushed around by it.  This of course does not go over well with the crowd and the violence intensifies.  But a voice amplified by megaphone can be heard from behind the crowd.

"We are not the low down, dirty scallywags that our oppressors are!  So we won't be drawing blood for bruises, will we?!  Instead let's send them a better message!  Kenningham style!"

The crowd roars and laughs!  Everyone turns about face, bends over, and moons the new arrivals.

"See all those buttholes?!" the voice asks, "You should feel right at home!"

Angel would have answered Joe with a simple, "That won't be necessary."

Thankfully, name tags are part of any military OR police personnel's uniform. Angel sees the guy's name tag and salutes him back. "Thanks, Captain Nork. Someone get me a megaphone."

Once she has one, she holds it up. "I am Captain Angel Bard. My crew and I have not done anything besides land so far and you have attacked us before we did that much. The force field is a defense, not an attack. I am here to talk civil with whoever wishes to do so. There is no need for violence as I am here purely on talking terms. My orders do not include harming anyone. I and my crew will defend ourselves if need be, so please do not make that necessary."