In reply to The Watcher (msg # 829):

Team Space Trek

Tyndall beams at Rebecca and marches over to the comm board to call home, leaving Rebecca to compose her other emails.

"Um...hello? Is this thing on?"

Tyndall taps on the comm several times experimentally, and another burst of static ushers forth from the speakers.

The receiver is properly powered, Dynamis's voice says. But I cannot raise a signal.

"What...what does that mean?" Tyndall asks.

Kayla sighs, "It means we're being jammed."

Rebecca checks her emails and sees that all of the communications she has attempted to send thus far are still in the Outbox -- they have not actually sent.

Kayla continues to fly after the strange ship, maintaining a constant gap between them.

"Jammed?!" Penny exclaims. "Shoot it down!"

Holt says nothing, but looks to be on-board with Penny's plan.

Gestalt says nothing, but looks profoundly uncomfortable.

Darling decided to take a shower a short while ago and is indisposed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:46, Fri 14 July 2017.

Billy is grateful for whatever air scrubbers exist in his suit.

Sophia's voice comes over the team coms. Xander's ability to engage in combat is virtually nonexistent while he is hacking. Commander, I need you to do something about these two reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Xander/Sophia continue to try to force the AI off the system.

[Attack Healing Module: Success]

In reply to Xander (msg # 832):

That is what the static bursts were!  Their jammers coming online.

Ohhhh... I hate these guys.

she huffs.

Dynamis please project the bearing of this alien craft along with likely destinations enroute.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 833):

The starchart appears on the viewport once more, with the current sector highlighted.

"We are once again within the Sol sector," Dynamis announces. "It is an endpath on the chart. The only known course from here would be back the way we came; through the Mars<->Purple Space<->Jupiter series; or the Jupiter<->Quarantine series."

The sectors and rings light up when mentioned.

"As there is no way out of the Quarantine system except back to this sector, we should assume this is where the ship intends to be."

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 834):

"Shoot. It. Down!" Penny reiterates forcefully. "We screwed up enough leading it here as it is. We've got to make that right."

In reply to Penny Brighton (msg # 835):

Overruled.

Nightmare says calmly.  If you continue this I will remove you from the cockpit.

Dynamis, I do not mean for the star chart, I mean that I want to know its bearing within this sector.  Is it heading towards any planet or colony?

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 836):

"You're a coward, an elitist, and a brat," Penny sneers. "We aren't playing house here. You can't wear a lab coat and a badge at the same time. Grow up already."

She jerks a finger at Rebecca accusingly.

"We've trying to deal with an existential threat to the entire species. It is the MISSION of the IDA to defend this sector, not to sit on our hands and gather empirical data while a forward scout analyzes how many planets are here, and how many might support life, and where to mass an enormous fleet to conquer us with!"

"Don't bother kicking me out. I know the way," Penny concludes, shoving her way out of the cockpit. "I'd forgotten how little scientists liked hearing information that conflicted with their preferred worldview."

In reply to Penny Brighton (msg # 837):

It is impossible to tell from this distance. It could be heading to any of the planets, except Mercury, which is behind us.

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 838):

"Red's gotta point," Gestalt says after Penny has departed. "It's risky to just let it do whatever it wants, isn't it? We have no idea what it's doing, and no way to judge when it's too late to stop them from doing something we don't want them to do, if that's what they're doing."

In reply to Gestalt (msg # 839):

Kayla continues to pursue the ship, though she does reach over to bring the weapon systems online.

"Just in case," she says quietly.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 840):

Holt says nothing, but keeps his arms folded stoically.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 840):

She throws at Penny's back as she is leaving

Penny, in case you have forgotten you are still under suspicion for the events leading to Ceres.  Apologies if your opinion does not yet rate high on my priorities.

She pinches the bridge of her nose looking at the ceiling.  After a moment she says


Holt, shes messing with another missile.  Please stop her.

Kayla, can you get us infront of them?

Fiernas, I plan on getting on their ship and MAKING them deal with me.  I'm open to any ideas other than this stupid one. 

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 842):

"I can probably get us in front of them, yeah," Kayla nods. "But we'll have to drop the adaptive armor to push that much speed out of the engines."

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 843):

Holt doesn't respond to Rebecca, instead turning his head toward Kayla. Only after she nods does the man lumber out of the cockpit with the air of someone on a mission.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:10, Fri 14 July 2017.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 843):

Holt doesn't respond to Rebecca, instead turning his head toward Kayla. Only after she nods does the man lumber out of the cockpit with the air of someone on a mission.

Team Kamikaze

Xander continues to pound on Goethe with a neural stab that deftly dismantles a portion of its defenses.

AI Healing Module: Offline

Damage (Goethe): 10

***

Guards E and F do not fire upon Muse. Instead, they seem to be taking careful aim.

Guards G and H arrive at the outer edge of the CC-5, with more bootfalls continuing to be heard.

***

Goethe begins to feverishly repair its subsystems, its efforts hampered by the lack of its AI module.

[Healing (AI Module): 12]

It then attempts to repel the invader from cyberspace.

[OS (Xander): 10]

The counterattack is less than effective.

***


~~ Disposition ~~

Central Core: Muse, Durst, Guard C, Guard D, Guard A, Timon
CC-1: (GAPING CHASM)
CC-2: Guard E, Guard F
CC-3: (none)
CC-4: (none)
CC-5: Guard G, Guard H
Belowdecks-1: Sarge, Guard B
Belowdecks-2: (none)
Belowdecks-3: Xander
Belowdecks-4: Billy

Please pay attention to the various areas for targeting purposes. "CC-4" means "Central Core (4 areas out)" for nomenclature purposes.

"I'm not sure what exactly to do with a giant robot between me and the guys coming to murder us," Billy comments in reply to Sophia, "I can only shoot one of them at a time, yknow." He then starts gesticulating a bit frantically, though no one on the team hears anything via speakers or comms.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 846):

Nightmare taps away frantically at the keys infront of her.  Her face is tight her tongue sticking out from her lips.


She kindly ushers Tyndall out of the cockpit.

I'm sorry, as soon as we resolve this issue I promise we will get you in touch with your dad.  Please assume precautionary measures once again and get into your EVA suits and strap yourselves and any loose items down.  Hopefully we can resolve this peacefully.

As the door closes behind her.

I'd really rather not discuss battle tactics or rehash tired old arguments from the twenty-teens infront of the non-combatants.  Picking a fight with a larger ship with capabilities beyond our own while there are civilians on board is not something I will do lightly.  If we HAVE to then we will.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:49, Mon 17 July 2017.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 847):

"By the time it's clear, it may be too late."

He keeps his tone neutral.

"At what point do you think they cross a line?"

In reply to Gestalt (msg # 848):

Muse sums the glinting blades, glaring barrels, and galloping boots. Sweat and blood mingle beneath his gouged and shredded EVA suit. His muscles ache from warding the guards' blows. He musters a bit of stamina and comes to grips with the situation.

[Healing: 10]

As Muse surveys the core's circuit-coated circular walling, his pupils gain an amethyst sheen. His gaze snaps upward, seizing on a translucent glass dome atop the four-meter-tall column in the center of the room.

Inside, a soft light flickers intermittently.

"Hm." He says to himself, nodding. "You realize what you're asking me to do."

Muse nods again.

"All right."

"I'm going to finish this." he says over comms. "Be well."


With that, Muse bolts past the guards and races up around the side of the cornerless room like a motorbike in a barrel. Right as gravity imperils his momentum, he springs from the wall to the central column, wrapping himself around it with all six limbs. There's a loud slap and screech as his body slams into the cylinider and slides a few feet down before friction stops him. He muscles his way to the top, leaving a trail of smeared crimson behind him.

The guards look on in puzzlement on as his boots crest the pillar. Their expressions turn to fear as Muse begins to hammer the hardware furiously.

Karma to Red
[Fighting: 2 + 93 = 95, Kill?]

Blood and bits of bone rain down on the guards below as Muse spends flesh in a mad attempt to wreck the ship's AI core.

[Damage (Core): 40]

With his efforts futile and knuckles battered, he exhales fully. The guards begin scaling the structure in an attempt to pull him down.

"Fine. We do it your way."

Karma to Red
[Strength: 83 + 12 = 95, Success]

Muse closes his eyes and grits his teeth. Fingers bore through fascia until they encircle the purple gem in his chest. Blood leaks out around it, and his mouth stiffens into a snarl.

"Graaaaahhhh!"

Muse rips the crystal out of his body. The cracking of his sternum and ribs reverberates like a shotgun blast.

[Damage (Muse): 50]

His darkforce arms disappear and he holds the blood-covered crystal aloft. The gem shines as his heart shudders -- now visible through the gaping cavern in his torso. Muse kneels and drives the crystal into the dome with both hands. Again, again, again. At last, the glass shrieks and chitters as it gives, revealing the core's own vital organs.

Karma to Red
[Fighting: 13 + 82 = 91, Kill?]

He raises the crystal high above his head and slams it into Goethe one final time.

[Damage (Core): 80]

Muse disappears in a magnificent confluence of fire, electricity, and purple energy that likewise claims the forms of Guards A, C, and D. The entire core is torn asunder, and the guards in CC-2 tumble to the floor below.

The darkforce crystal clatters down through fume, flame, and ruptured steel, skittering across the floor belowdecks before coming to rest at Xander's feet. A black mist pours across its facets for a moment, then dissipates.

The crystal's wild gleam ebbs to nil.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Mon 17 July 2017.

In reply to Muse (msg # 849):

The line has been crossed already.  The question is can we unring the bell.

Kayla, either they tracked us through the rings in some way we don't know or understand... or our adaptive armor doesn't work seeing as they followed up through several jump rings with the armor on.  Regardless adaptive armor is not worth it at the moment.

We get infront of them, pop back into space, broadcast at them one more time.  If they continue to be nonresponsive then.....

She looks at the ship and sighs heavily.

I'm going in.  Get me on that ship and I can speak to them directly.  If they remain hostile I will rip that ship apart from the inside out.  If I can't take them on my own... then you guys leave me, complete the mission.  The UN must know about the IDA.

I'll plant some kind of tracker on the ship so you can find it again.  I'm going to go get ready. 

Her tone is monotone and betrays no emotion.  When she talks about leaving her the voice is back in your heads.  She stands up without ceremony and phases through the wall going to the back of the ship to equip an EVA suit.

She will appear back a minute later with the helmet under one arm.  She will dig at one of the EVA suits to remove its tracking system so she can plant it on the ship.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:14, Mon 17 July 2017.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 850):

Team Kamikaze

The lights blink off, then blink back on a moment later as backup systems engage.

Xander's connection to Goethe  flares  white-hot  and sunders as the systems temporarily go down.  His eyes flutter open in time to  see Muse's crystal roll to a stop at Abraxas's feet.


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:01, Mon 17 July 2017.

"Muse what are," Billy attempts before the sudden detonation, "What the fuck?! Gad dammit fuck fuck. Xander!" his voice comes over the comms, "Xander fuck the hacking we gotta get to the bridge.  Now."  He carves a hole in the ceiling of his be-plumbinged room big enough to accommodate Abraxis.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 852):

As she returns back to the cockpit she tests transmissions from the EVA suit to the ship and from her tablet to Dynamis.

Kayla, how much of a hardship would it be if you lost your datapad with a connection to Dynamis.  I feel that its presence on my mission and will assist communication if necessary.  Additionally if we can get some kind of recording capability to assist us in convincing someone this is not a fever dream.

I've also removed the positioning system from EVA suit #5.  Please plan accordingly.
 

She tests the unit to see if it is still communicating signal properly and nudges Holt.

Where should we hit that ship that it would hurt the most.  Also can you ascertain where the bridge is?