The designated gunners are Revonoss and Socket, as they have the best abilities to operate the ship's weapons.

Revonoss is operating the forward heavy laser cannon, while Socket is manning the dorsal missile launcher.


The Starhawk took minimal damage from that first shot, which struck the forward dorsal area, doing only two points of damage to the hull. Of course, shields weren't up.

Being redirected from the sensors to the forward laser Revonoss grumbles something under his breath that might sound like a parody of the captain telling him he was to paranoid. As he drops into his seat he calls at Phelar.

"Paint me a target missy!"

"Linking with Starhawk sensors now. Determining target. One moment." She says in general, over the speakers of the bridge. Her own lips not moving anymore. It seems she was getting used to this power.

OOC: Performing Scan Science Officer Action.

17:17, Today: Phelar Morilla rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Computers.

Well unless it's a low tier starship, with low or no defensive countermeasures, yeah.

As soon as the ship is hit, shields went up automatically.

While the captain maneuvers the ship out of the line of fire, Ashina mans the sensors while Revonoss takes over the gunnery function.

Ashina soon identifies the other ship as a Veskarium Starfury (Tier 4), about equivalent to an Idaran Vanserai.

Phelan fails to get a sensor lock on the ship due to the captain's maneuvering behind another mountain.

He'd been 'hiding' in Engineering, mostly keeping out of sight of security, and also tinkering with a wide assortment of gadgets and systems not only because that was what he liked to do but to justify his presence on the ship.

And then the ship was being attacked!

"What the frackin-grackin crappin is going on?!" he muttered as he made a mad dash for the guns. He'd been assigned to the ventral missile launcher--ha! Like he knew what he was doing!--so dropped into the gunner's station with zeal and excitement and a frown.

"Okay, now... push the big red button, flip the blue lever... spin the black dials... and FIRE!"

15:52, Today: Socket rolled 21 using 1d20+10 ((11)).

Ooo! That may have hit!

EDIT: In case it hits, I rolled damage--

16:15, Today: Socket rolled 18 using 4d8 ((4,6,1,7)).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:23, Mon 29 July 2019.

As the ship weaves and dodges and the enmy hides behind a mountain Revonoss waits and the moment it shows itself again adjusts aim and squeezes the trigger sending the deadly beam of light at the enemy.

"Target in sight. Opening fire!"

ooc: Pew pew. Sorry it took a bit misplaced the book. I think i did the right math.
AC 26 for 15 damage.

17:16, Today: Revonoss rolled 15 using 4d8.  Damage.
17:15, Today: Revonoss rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  Lasorzz!! +3 ranks pilot +2 dex +2 computer.

Both shots hit the other ship!

It suddenly shoots up out of the mountains and away from the 'asteroid'. As it goes, sensors detect that it's taken damage... more than just from those two hits.

It's apparently had enough.

"Captain we pursue or you demand its surrender?"

He was getting ready to target its engines to bring it to a halt if they wouldn't give up voluntarily.

"No, let it go," Zenith replies.

"Our first priority is to the downed transport ship, so no pursuit."

"As for it surrendering, what would we do then? We aren't in any position to keep Vesk prisoners on our ship."

"Just keep an eye out for it. It might try to circle around us and attack again. Considering the damage it took, it probably won't. It's surprise attack on us didn't do what they were hoping it would do."

He now piloted the ship toward the downed (crashed?) Gnome transport ship.

"Scan the wreckage for survivors. See if we can determine how much fuel is left and whatever other supplies might still be intact."

"Scanning now captain." Came her voice over the speakers once more, as she unconsciencely began to make the computer scan the downed Gnome ship for life signs, fuel, and supplies. She will also scan for damage, and any other details that would prove beneficial.

OOC:
18:26, Today: Phelar Morilla rolled 26 using 1d20+7 ((19)).

Not a bad roll at all! I'll take it! :)

"Aye captain. Did anyone else notice it got more damage then we inflicted?"

He keeps his laser pointed at the enemy ship till it was well out of reach.

"I'm not so versed in starships that I could say for certain," Sol replies, "but, yeah, it did look like it had a tad more damage than we inflicted."

"It may have gotten the better of the Gnome supply ship, but it may be that the Gnomes got in a few licks of their own."

"Or the damage may be older. Who knows how long the Veskan raider has been prowling the Vast."

>>>>> BEFORE THE SHIP LIFTED OFF <<<<<

When Zenith was informed of the newest hitchhiker, he had him brought to the bridge to meet him.

"In case no one has explained things to you, Mr. Phetumn," the captain said after being introduced, "we're on a long-term mission. It may be years before we return to the Pact Worlds."

"While I have no intention of spacing you or dumping you on the first inhabited world we run across, if it turns out that you are getting in the way or otherwise being disruptive, I will do just that."

"To help avoid that situation, it would be helpful if you gave me some idea of what you are capable of. That would fall into two categories: operating the ship and exploring planets, cities and ruins that we encounter."

He wasn't about to tell this unknown newcomer about the aiudara yet. Besides, it wasn't a guarantee that it would continue working as the distance increased. As it was, it wasn't working her in The Drift anyway.


>>>>> APPROACHING THE GNOME SUPPLY SHIP <<<<<

The captain kept one eye on the sensors, one eye on the viewport/viewscreen, and one eye on the crew. It was a trick that captains had to learn--develop a 'third eye' so you always knew what was going on in and around your ship.

Sensors were good at 'seeing' things that the naked eye couldn't, but there were times when the naked eye saw things that the sensors never could.

The sensors had picked up the distress beacon, which, at the time, had made him smile at the incongruity of the situation. The mining ship had expected resupply from the supply ship which had been overdue and had activated their own beacon. Stuck on the rock the way they were, they couldn't pick up the signal themselves--it wasn't penetrating the rock. That was probably a good indication of why the Gnomes were mining it... dense metals and who-knew-what-else!

He gazed out at the image of the supply ship. It looked like a worm trying to crawl over the jagged surface of the rock. Bent in two places to give that impression, he was amazed that the ship was still 'intact'... though that was a nebulous term at this point. Any other ship that he knew of would have been broken in half... thirds.

"Well, that's never going to fly again. At least not without a full spacedock to repair it. And, unfortunately, we didn't bring one with us."

"It does look like a bloody mess doesn't it."

"May i suggest we get as close as a mile from it and send my drone out first to access the situation or you want to send a salvage team straight away?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Sat 10 Aug 2019.

In reply to Zenith (msg # 243):

He gives a shrug looking to the others.  "I promise not to burden you long." Oraeus explains to the crew he is a researcher compiling data about different alien creatures he finds and how to best fight or coexist with them. "I am also a fair hand in combat if you are in need of more on the ground team. I have some scientific training that would help as well."

Phelar's sensor scan of the ship doesn't reveal any surprises that weren't already obvious. It does show that the hull of the ship had broken in two places, which is what made it look like a segmented worm, but there were so many additional and extraneous devices and modifications to it that the internal integrity was still intact.

The sensors further showed that there were 12 life signs--5 in the forward section and 7 in the mid section. The tail section had significant damage due to several hits on the engines. Even if the rest of the ship had been intact, the half-destroyed engines would never have flown again.

Somewhat oddly, the two cargo holds are also intact. One registers as fuel tanks, the other as standard supplies, plus some mining equipment.

"It'd be foolish to think that we won't need any combat skills," Zenith replies to Oraeus, "even if that's what we'd prefer."

"As for your drone, Revonoss... that's a good idea. It's probably better suited to find a way in for the salvage team as well as a way out for the survivors."

"Phelar, can you attempt to contact the survivors? Maybe comms are working normal, but let's try your way first."

Revonoss nods and gives his drone the instructions to start navigating out of the airlock once the ship is in range and couples its live video feed to one of the ships screens.

"Sir its best someone else takes my gunner seat. The drone can do some light stuff on its own but i think its better i take direct control once we inspect it up close."

The young human standing at the science station nodded, even as her voice came from the speakers within the bridge. "Yes Captain." Then a pause. "Attempting to link both ships computers via mental computer control. Attempting telepathy with one of the Gnomes now." A normally short or medium ranged communication, even for Lashunta, this had to be a sight for Oraeus to see a human do.

If she is able to make contact with one of the Gnomes. ~This is Phelar Morilla of the Lashunta Ship the Starkawk. We are here to render assistance to you and your crew.~

OOC: If needed to make the link. 21:24,

Today: Phelar Morilla rolled 14 using 1d20+7 ((7)).

Having returned to her quarters as soon as she was able to pass off responsibility for the Gnomes onto the Captain Saia isn't seen again until after the ship secures from battle stations, not having any battle station in a space combat, even then she waits outside the bridge, out of the way, to see when the ground crew will be needed next.

"WHAT? WHO? HOW? Oh, damn! Lashuntas," comes the reply to Phelar.

"Damn Lashunta trick!"

"We were ambushed by a fraggin' Vesk raider! Don't know how he found us out here in The Drift. Musta just got lucky. We're a supply ship supplyin' one of our mining ships on the other side of this earth slab. Veskies were smart enough to target our engines so as to steal our supplies. Didn't count on us crashin' on this damn rock!"

"We was hopin' the mining ship'd hear our beacon. Didn't figure anyone else would be out here."

~Actually sir, I am not a Lashunta myself, I am a human. I just have abilities like theirs, and more.~ She explained. ~We found your mining ship on the other side, but we feel that because of whatever this piece of earth is made from they could not hear your beacon. It seems you were not able to hear theirs as well. Honestly, the only reason we knew you were here was a nascent energy signature that we chose to investigate.~ She continued to explain. ~We lack the means to repair your ship, but we might be able to at least get you and your supplies to the mining ship so that you can get transported home, and they can restart their mission. Let me pass this information on to my Captain.~ Since the new link has not been placed on the speakers yet, Phelar will pass everything that the Gnome she is in contact with on the other ship off to the Captain.

"Also sir, he seemed a bit surprised at my contact. Of course I suppose most would be, even I am surprised this worked. Though I might need a nap after. It, as I said before, is a weird feeling splitting my mind like this." Then she thought for a moment, and looked around for a moment. "Captain, might I suggest possible having the Doctor monitor me this time while I am doing this so as to see, well, .... anything? We're in uncharted waters with how I am doing this, so anything we learn could be enlightening."

OOC: Like before putting telepathic talk in ~ ~ since it's only between the two, and verbal talk in " " since those in the room can hear that.

"So, do we do now?" Mundy asks.

"You got any rescue equipment? Might need some to get us out of here."

"Don't now how safe the ship is in this condition. Can you salvage the fuel? The cargo?"

Revonoss has his drone circle the gnome ship and try to have it answer all the questions Mundy was putting forward and to see how safe it was to go over with a resque team and the shuttle.

~We work out a way to rescue you and your crew. That is our priority.~ Phelar said into the Gnome's mind compassionately. ~We will evaluate the situation and determine the equipment needed. I am sure we can come up with something. Can you provide more information on the situation with your ship?~ She is not sure if she can answer his other question. ~We will have to see about the fuel and cargo. Perhaps when you are over here, your people and ours can work on that together.~