Session Close: Sun Aug 17 01:16:00 2003
[narration] Finally repaired, the Freedom cruises along towards it's mysterious destination.
[01:16] * Cuffs leads Waitstate past the office and onto the brig.
[01:17] <Cuffs> He has been requesting to speak with you for weeks now.
[01:18] <Waitstate> I don't doubt it. I think you'll agree when I say I've had better things to deal with though.
[01:18] <Cuffs> Until now we have been too busy to deal with him.
[01:18] <Cuffs> Yes.
[01:18] <Waitstate> Hm, this place held up pretty well.
[01:18] <Waitstate> what were the repairs like down here?
[01:18] * Lifeblood is back in his real body and undergoing final repairs.
[01:19] * Sunspot is in Engineering tweaking a few final details in the control systems.
[01:19] <Cuffs> Yes, sir. Its original design held well against the numerous feedbacks and what not. The repairs were mainly cosmetic.
[01:19] * Waitstate nods appreciatively.
[01:20] * Redliner is goofing off somewhere. Dropping pennies from a balcony somewhere or something.
[01:20] * LeRoy sits in the Obs deck, playing cards with several members of White Star.
[01:20] * Outreach is in medbay, quietly cleaning his tools.
[01:20] * Comet is working in Astrometrics.
[01:20] * Slipstream is catching the pennies Redliner is dropping and hurling them back up at him.
[01:21] * Waitstate mentally prepares himself.
[01:21] <Waitstate> alright, show me the prisoner.
[01:21] * Avalanche is in the plaza just sort of hanging out.
[01:21] * Cuffs leads Waitstate over to the appropriate cell and reactivates the speaker for it.
[01:21] * Earshot is playing around with Spazz in the flightdeck.
[01:22] <Rackham> About time.
[01:22] <Waitstate> As you're well aware, we've been quite busy.
[01:23] <Waitstate> So. What can I do for you?
[01:24] <Rackham> Can't say I'm 'well' aware, personally. But uh, I've been stuck in here for weeks, or months, I'm not sure. I've been thinking, seeing how I'm the only one of my crew in here, I guess I was the only survivor, or the only one who didn't get off your boat, eh?
[01:25] * Dark Star walks around the plaza.
[01:25] * Redliner is playing the reverse of ceiling darts with Slip, but it's just as lethal.
[01:25] <Waitstate> The only one intact enough to complain about it, yes.
[01:25] * Gravix kicks back on the bridge.
[01:26] * Slipstream pegs another penny up and over the balcony railing, trying to get it to land on the bikebot's head.
[01:26] <Rackham> Well, instead of sitting around here, want an extra pair of hands? I ain't doing no good in here, and since I'm the only one left, I ain't got no where else.
[01:26] <Waitstate> You'll have to excuse my bluntness. Your compatriots didnt exactly leave a good impression with me.
[01:26] * Scamp and Diamond Fire fight in a sim room.
[01:26] <Rackham> Uh, heh, yeah...
[01:27] <Rackham> Um, sorry?
[01:27] <Comet> [Ship-wide Comm] All departments, routine status reports please.
[01:27] * Waitstate fights back a smirk.
[01:27] * Ruse and Amethyst walks around the balcony somewhere.
[01:27] <Cuffs> [comm] Security nominal.
[01:28] <Restore> [comm] Medical is at 100%.
[01:28] * Drillmaster sits on the bridge with Gravix.
[01:28] * Outreach smiles. Ahh its good to back in a nice, clean, real medical facility.
[01:28] <Waitstate> So, you expect me to let you out of there? I'm not sure I really need an extra pair of hands that badly.
[01:29] * Redliner shouts over the balcony down at Slipstream, "BALCONY IS SECURE, SIR!" And he doubles over laughing and giggling at his lame joke.
[01:29] <Comet> [comm] Ten-four, Security, Medical.
[01:29] * Comet forwards the status updates to the Bridge.
[01:29] <Rackham> I expected to be slagged by now. Obivously ain't gonna happen... or least I hope not..
[01:30] <Comet> [comm] Engineering? Status please?
[01:30] <Rackham> I figure I got no where to go, we ain't even in the right reality anyway, I might as well see if I can't sign up. Make some sorta use out of myself.
[01:31] <Sunspot> [comm] We're almost totally back online. All the main systems are back up, there're just a couple places where the gravity's a bit funny.
[01:31] <Comet> [comm] Ten-four, Engineering.
[01:32] * Comet forwards that to the Bridge.
[01:32] <Waitstate> What kind of guarentee do I have you wont try and sabotage us as soon as we're back where we're supposed to be?
[01:33] * Slipstream rolls her optics and pegs Scrabble up over the balcony railing at Redliner. The little spiderbot beeps hyperactively as it flies through the air, legs flailing.
[01:33] <Rackham> Well... none I guess.
[01:34] <Gravix> Trouble seems to follow us everywhere we go.
[01:34] <Drill Master> Yeah, that's too bad. I signed up for this to avoid this whole mess.
[01:35] <Drill Master> It was almost easier being a Decepticon. Almost.
[01:35] <Rackham> All I got goin for me I guess is that I'm loyal. No sense stayin loyal to a group that don't exist, and if you guys can put them down, then I guess this is a place I'd feel kinda hanging about with.
[01:35] * Redliner catches Scrabble. He resists the urge to yell "TOUCH DOWN!!" and then does it anyway, without actually spiking the spiderbot.
[01:36] <Waitstate> Dubious logic, if you ask me. I don't like the idea of letting loose someone who tried to loot and kill my crew.
[01:37] <Rackham> I couldn't get much outta that now. A whole ship against one bot like me? Like I said, thought I'd already been slagged.
[01:38] <Waitstate> I suppose you're just a drain on resources where you are now...
[01:40] <Rackham> you can tag me or whatever you want to keep track of me if you want. I ain't got the smarts to be too sneaky about much anyway.
[01:40] * Waitstate mulls that over.
[01:41] * Ruse and Amethyst spot Redliner and walk up to him.
[01:41] <Ruse> You look like you're having fun.
[01:42] <Waitstate> Alright. If you'll accept the installation of a modelock circuit and tracking device, I'll release you. And if you prove worth it, I may not turn you over to the authorities when we get back home. Sound good?
[01:42] * Scrabble beeps at Redliner and gives the bikebot a friendly little electrical zap.
[01:42] <Cuffs> If I may sir, I disapprove of this action.
[01:42] <Rackham> Good to me!
[01:43] * Waitstate turns to the security chief.
[01:43] <Waitstate> why?
[01:43] * Redliner turns to Ruse, holding Scrabble in a friendly way and absently petting it. "Hey man," he grins. "Ah, just messing with Slip..."
[01:43] <Comet> [comm] Slipstream, Redliner, what's your status? Sensors show some activity there.
[01:43] <Slipstream> [comm] Status is a-okay, Comet. We're just messing around.
[01:44] <Cuffs> Like you said, he was tried to kill our crew and loot this craft, in the past. He deserves to stay in this cell.
[01:44] <Comet> [comm] Alright.
[01:44] <Ruse> Give me some time and we can really mess with Slip.
[01:44] <Redliner> [comm] "Yo Comet, wassap?!"
[01:44] * Redliner grins. "Ha, really? What've you got on your mind, man?"
[01:44] <Comet> [comm] Nothing, Redliner. Slipstream answered already. Forgive my intrusion. /:)
[01:45] <Waitstate> Yes, and I imagine all that will lead to a rather cold reception from the crew. Which way is more of a punishment, do you think? Plus, he'll have no freedom beyond what we grant him.
[01:46] <Ruse> Well, first we'll have to make a case study. Find out what she's into.
[01:46] <Cuffs> I shall keep a very close watch on him. I will monitor his activities at all times.
[01:47] <Redliner> [comm] "No probs dude! Peace outside!"
[01:48] <Acer> * Redliner eyes Ruse strangely. "A what? A case study?" he smirks, still petting Scrabble. "Haha, how complicated are you gonna get, man?"
[01:48] <Ruse> A good pratical joke takes work, it's an art form!
[01:49] <Amethyst> Boys are so mean.
[01:49] <Waitstate> I wouldnt expect any less of you, Cuffs.
[01:50] * Scrabble beeps and waves a leg at Ruse.
[01:50] * Spazz, the little buzzing mothbot, circles excitedly over Scrabble, bleeping at the spiderbot.
[01:51] <Waitstate> Make arrangements with medical. When their schedule is clear, and not before, have them see to our guest.
[01:52] * Redliner laughs right out loud. "Oh, man!" he chortles, shoulders shaking, "you're serious! Seems to me like you've been planning this or something..."
[01:53] <Cuffs> Very well.
[01:53] * Scrabble eyes the mothbot hungrily. Mmmm, lunch on the wing.
[01:54] <Rackham> thanks, uh.. boss? if i can call you that yet...
[01:54] <Waitstate> I think "boss" works.
[01:54] * Spazz flitters above Scrabble, bleeting at him, obviously wanting to play.
[01:54] * Scrabble wriggles a little in preparation to pounce on the mothbot...
[01:55] <Rackham> then thanks boss. :)
[01:56] * Spazz flies higher, beeping and swooping about happily.
[01:56] <Cuffs> I will make the arrangements with Medbay shortly.
[01:57] * Splitwit wakes up. Damn, been... how long since Split's had a hangover this big? He shouldn't even have one, because he doesn't remember drinking anything. Oh well, that's to be expected. It would seem, also, his little Powermaster pet is awake and... making toast.
[01:57] <Waitstate> I wouldn't thank me. If we were back home, you'd be turned over to the first authorities I could find. I don't imagine your group was well liked. Consider yourself still a prisoner. It'll keep you in the right mindset.
[01:58] * Splitwit rubs his head. His optics resize themselves a few times, adjusting to the light. "Hey, Avi, how long've you been up?" he asks. The small human, wearing his coat over his metal skin, shrugs and spreads some butter on his DELICIOUS toast.
[01:59] * Scrabble waits for just the right moment... then POUNCES at the flitting mothbot! Rar!
[01:59] * Dark Star casually walks around the plaza.
[01:59] * Redliner blinks as Scrabble leaps out of his arms. Then he laughs at that too. Someone got his robozac today, seems.
[01:59] * Dark Star tries to sniff a plant Autumn Beauty had placed in the plaza.
[02:00] * Splitwit kicks his door open--which is hard to do considering it's a slide door--and leaves Avi behind. You know where he's off to... the plaza! Or at least where everyone else is.
[02:00] <Rackham> right
[02:00] <Comet> [comm] Comet to Plaza. Splitwit is on the loose. You've been warned. :)
[02:01] * Spazz dives under the pouncing spiderbot, beeping out melodious laughter.
[02:02] <Splitwit> *stroll stroll stroll RUN RUN stroll*
[02:02] * Scrabble drops to the floor and beep-swears at the elusive mothbot, shaking one front leg at it.
[02:03] * Admiral Lilwall enters the bridge.
[02:04] * Spaz turns around, waving his mothbot but at the spiderbot, still beep-laughing.
[02:04] * Redliner grins at the insectbots for a moment, and then looks back at Ruse. "So hey, what's your plan?"
[02:04] <Gravix> Welcome Admiral!
[02:05] <Drill Master> Hail Lord Lilwall!
[02:05] <Admiral Lilwall> Gravix, been awhile since you ventured this far up.
[02:05] <Admiral Lilwall> Drill Master.
[02:05] <Gravix> I need to spend more time here, Waitstate said something about "duty" so I though I should make good.
[02:05] <Admiral Lilwall> Sounds good.
[02:06] * Scrabble scuttles over to Redliner and scurries up the bikebot's leg.
[02:06] <Drill Master> You see Admiral, it's a Decepticon thing.
[02:06] <Drill Master> This is why I don't say much.
[02:08] <Admiral Lilwall> Don't worry about it. You've still got the rep of one the sanest of your group to back you up, heh.
[02:08] * Splitwit continues to mosey into the plaza where... oh my god. No bar still.
[02:09] * Splitwit collapses on to his knees, clutching his shaking head.
[02:09] <Avalanche> Hey, Split! Yeah, bar's still gone.
[02:09] * Spazz perches on the ceiling, skittering a around a bit.
[02:09] [narration] Status indicators change as Cirrus drops the ship out of interphase and back into normal space.
[02:10] <Ruse> Well, Slipstream has that pet right?
[02:10] * Splitwit stares up at the celing, breathes deeply, and then groans, "Is there no JUSTICE?" he shouts at the top of his lungs, drawing out his last word until he's completely out of breath, and then he collapses backwards and clocks his head on the bench behind him.
[02:10] <Comet> [comm, private to Cirrus] Do the Decepticons on board ever make you nervous?
[02:11] * Avalanche chuckles.
[02:11] <Waitstate> <Cirrus> [comm to Comet] Why should they?
[02:11] <Sunspot> <Avalanche> C'mon, Split, I'm sure you'll pull through.
[02:11] <Comet> [comm] Well... they're Decepticons.
[02:11] <Comet> [comm] I dunno.
[02:11] <Comet> [comm] Nevermind.
[02:11] <Waitstate> <Cirrus> [comm to Comet] Not anymore they aren't.
[02:11] * Splitwit twitches, "How did I do it, Avi-Two?"
[02:11] <Waitstate> <Cirrus> [comm to Comet] 'Sides, so was I.
[02:12] <Admiral Lilwall> Cirrus, why did we drop out of interphase?
[02:12] <Comet> [comm] *silence*
[02:12] * Splitwit must of course resort to calling Avalanche 'Avi-Two' because he's now bonded to Avi.
[02:12] <Comet> [comm] ...sorry. I didn't know.
[02:12] * Scrabble makes his way up to Redliner's shoulder and perches there, beeping rudely at the mothbot clinging to the ceiling.
[02:12] <Comet> [comm] I didn't mean to offend you. :/
[02:13] <Avalanche> How did you do what?
[02:13] <Cirrus> Sorry sir, I had to. There's a patch of spatial turbulance. I dunno how I missed it. It wasn't on sensors or the star charts the humans gave us.
[02:13] <Cirrus> [comm to Comet] *distracted now* 'sokay...
[02:13] * Splitwit stands rather wobbly, bracing himself against the bench. "I mean, my lilly white friend, how did I get drunk last night?"
[02:13] <Admiral Lilwall> What kind of turbulence?
[02:13] * Comet overhears Cirrus's conversation to the Admiral.
[02:14] * Comet checks on the turbulance.
[02:14] <Comet> [comm to Bridge] I... have no idea what this is.
[02:14] <Admiral Lilwall> Can we get around it and back into interphase?
[02:15] * Comet checks.
[02:15] <Cirrus> I sent a request down to astrometrics to chart it
[02:15] * Comet is calculating.
[02:15] * Spazz bleeps back at him, the tiny laser in his eye giving Scrabble a few annoying 'bites'.
[02:16] <Cirrus> It looks like a small area though. We should be able to skirt around it. I've already plotted the course, but it'll take us a bit t'get back to clear space.
[02:16] <Comet> [comm, Bridge] We can go around it, but it's fairly large. It'll delay us some, so our ETA will require a recalculation if it is to be relied on...
[02:17] * Scrabble hides behind Redliner's head.
[02:17] <Avalanche> I'd have pegged you as having a stash back in your quarters.
[02:18] <Comet> ....hrm.
[02:19] <Admiral Lilwall> Then let's get going. Recalculate ETA.
[02:19] <Cirrus> Til then, the big engines are dead. We were too far in before I noticed, and now it's too late. Sorry. :(
[02:19] <Comet> [comm] Hold, Bridge. My sensors are having some trouble. It seems to be fluctuating, possibly moving. But I don't know if it is or if it's just my end...
[02:20] <Admiral Lilwall> Bring us to a stop, Cirrus.
[02:20] <Comet> [comm] As Cirrus says, though, we are stuck on impulse until we are clear. Unless Engineering has any ideas.
[02:20] <Cirrus> That could be why I didn't see it in time. It coulda moved into our path.
[02:20] <Cirrus> Aye, all stop.
[02:21] <Admiral Lilwall> Double check and make sure sensors are functioning correctly, we don't want to fly into something that might damage the ship. We just got it back together.
[02:21] <Comet> [comm] Request permission for full dedicated sensor sweep, with Cirrus's assistance?
[02:21] <Sunspot> [comm to bridge] What's going on up there? Why are we stopping?
[02:22] <Comet> [comm] Engineering, we've entered a spatial turbulance which we're trying to determine the borders of. It prevents the use of our main drive.
[02:23] <Comet> [comm] ...um, sorry I butted in, Admiral. The comm is yours.
[02:23] <Sunspot> [comm] Okay, cool. Let me know if you need me to check anything, I'm still plugged into the system getting the last of the bugs out.
[02:23] * Comet has to remember to pay attention to who's talking to who when he's monitoring the Bridge.
[02:24] * Waitstate returns to the bridge to investigate.
[02:24] <Admiral-Lilwall> [comm] What he said, Engineering. Sunspot recheck things on your end.
[02:24] <Waitstate> What's going on up here?
[02:24] * Splitwit looks quizically at Avi-Two, "Stash?" he says with a chuckle, "Avi-Two, I thought you thought I thought you thought I was better than that."
[02:25] <Admiral Lilwall> Some sort of spatial disturbance knocked out our interphase. It dind't show up on sensors
[02:25] <Sunspot> [comm] I'll do a double-check on the sensors, give me a moment...
[02:25] <Admiral Lilwall> We're looking into it.
[02:26] <Avalanche> The bar does have to close sometime.
[02:26] <Splitwit> But...
[02:26] * Splitwit finally just plops all the way down on the bench.
[02:27] <Avalanche> But if you didn't have a stash to raid, do you think it could have something to do with adjusting to your new buddy?
[02:27] <Comet> [comm] Bridge!
[02:28] * Waitstate takes his seat and answers the comm.
[02:28] <Sunspot> [comm] Sensors seem to be up and running just fine, guys.
[02:28] <Waitstate> [comm] Waitstate here.
[02:28] <Comet> [comm] I think we have an emergency! I'm reading several large objects coming towards us at *high velocity*!
[02:28] <Comet> [comm] Unable to identify, but they seem to be the source of the disturbance.
[02:28] * Splitwit twitches and looks up. "How would that work? I woke up with a hang over, not a..."--he waves his hands about as if describing somthing--"not a somthing!"
[02:29] <Waitstate> *to tactical* Shields.

[02:30] <Avalanche> Split, you've never *had* a Powermaster before. How do you know what it feels like?
[02:30] [narration] The objects, each about the size of the Freedom itself, are large brown objects, with craggy, almost meteor-like skin. Very ray-like, they have lare swooping wings, flat rounded bodies and a long tail, along with two very circular glowing red eyes.
[02:30] <Admiral Lilwall> No doubt we could if we could maintain interphase.
[02:30] <Comet> [comm] We may be able to destroy the objects if we fire on them within the next minute or so.
[02:31] <Comet> [comm] After that, we'll be close enough to be hit by their debris.
[02:31] <Gravix> Shields up.
[02:31] <Comet> [comm] ...but that's far from a guarantee...
[02:31] <Admiral Lilwall> Hope they aren't magnetic.
[02:32] <Gravix> We're about to find out.
[02:32] <Cirrus, do what you can to get us out of their way.
[02:32] * Dark_Star is now known as Gravix.
[02:32] <Gravix> We're about to find out.
[02:32] * Cirrus attempts evasive manuvers.
[02:32] * One of the Star Riders whips his tail, swooping powerfly towards the ship, brushing against it and causing the entire vessel to shudder.
[02:33] <Gravix> I'm reading some damage to the shields.
[02:33] <Gravix> We're at 80%.
[02:34] * LeRoy spots the Star Rider in the obs deck window, gasping and leaping up and making his way to the bridge quickly.
[02:34] <Waitstate> Prepare weapons. Fire, low power. Warning shots. Comm, see if you can hail... whatever they are.
[02:34] [narration] Another Star Rider comes in on the other side, getting much closer to the ship, his tail whipping angrily at it.
[02:34] <Comet> [comm] Watch that tail...
[02:34] <Admiral Lilwall> They move like sea creatures.
[02:34] <Lifeblood> [comm] Medbay to bridge.
[02:35] * Cirrus whips the ship astern, narrowly avoiding the deadly whiplike tail, and shaking about most of the crew in the process.
[02:35] <Admiral Lilwall> [comm] Go ahead, Lifeblood.
[02:35] <Lifeblood> [comm] Shall I take that impact as an indication to prepare to receive casualties?
[02:36] <Comet> [comm] Like.. stingrays. Could their tails be a sort of virus transmitter? Recommend close monitoring of the shields...
[02:36] * Sunspot uses the fact that she's already hooked into the engineering computer to try to fix and reroute what she can.
[02:36] [narration] The third and final Star Rider slowly barrel rolls, slapping the top of the ship with its gigantic winglike appendage.
[02:36] * Splitwit doesn't seem to notice the ship's motions... He's deep in thought, thinking about how he could've been drunk last night without A) a bar, B) a stash, and C) a babe.
[02:36] <Admiral Lilwall> [comm] Knowing our luck, Lifeblood? Sure thing.
[02:37] * Gravix fires warning shots.
[02:37] <Comet> [comm] Bridge, that hail never went out... shall I?
[02:38] <Gravix> They don't seem to be backing off
[02:38] <Gravix> Want me to fire again?
[02:38] [narration] The warning shots hit one of the Star Riders, doing absolutly nothing but pissing it off more, and it starts moving directly at the Freedom, attempting to ram it head on.
[02:39] <Comet> [comm] Our shots appear to have had no effect...
[02:39] <Avalanche> Where is your guy, anyway?
[02:39] * LeRoy yelps and rols around as the ship dances around and is hit by the creatures, scrambling to his feet and sprinting for the bridge.
[02:39] * Comet sends out hailing calls to the things.
[02:39] <Cirrus> Whoa! *engages in a lateral roll. The strain on the superstructure of the ship is audible*
[02:39] * Splitwit looks up and jerrks a thumb over his shoulder "He's making toast."
[02:41] * Roadkill works the comm.
[02:41] [narration The creature, to bulky and slow to follow, passes underneath the ship, slapping the bottom of the ship with its tail.
[02:42] <Avalanche> ...Toast?
[02:42] * Roadkill continues to try and hail the gigantic floating... things, on any channel he can think of.
[02:42] * Splitwit nods proudly "Yep! Toast. It's this food where you take some stuff and heat it up and then put some goo on it."
[02:42] <Splitwit> Avi says it's delicious.
[02:42] <Avalanche> Weird.
[02:43] <Admiral Lilwall> Any sort of response, Roadkill?
[02:43] <Waitstate> Comm, anything at all?
[02:43] <Roadkill> Nothing, nada, zippo. Sorry guys.
[02:44] <Avalanche> Maybe you have a "toast" hangover.
[02:44] <Gravix> Actually, I got a response. They're trying to kill us.
[02:44] [narration] Two of the Star Riders begin battering the front of the ship with their tails.
[02:44] <Roadkill> Smartaft.
[02:44] <Comet> [comm] Well, that's nice to know.
[02:44] <Waitstate> Slag. I hate to do it, but... Tactical, full power to the particle cannons. Target the three of them and fire.
[02:44] <Cirrus> I can't get us clear!
[02:45] <Admiral Lilwall> We may have to use the DEM.
[02:45] * Splitwit shakes his head in dismay. "I'm dismayed, Avi-Two."
[02:45] <Gravix> Full power.
[02:45] <Comet> [comm] The creatures definitly seem to be the source of the turbulance.
[02:45] <Gravix> Targeting weapon systems now.
[02:45] [narration] The three beings flow around the ship in slow, fluid motions.
[02:46] <Gravix> Firing now!
[02:46] <Avalanche> What's so dismaying? You're in pain, so you probably had fun last night.
[02:46] <Cirrus> They're... too close. I can't get us through at all.
[02:47] <Gravix> Two shots missed, one connected but it didn't seem to have any affect.
[02:47] <Waitstate> *sighs as the ship shakes* Start the DEM charging cycle.
[02:48] [narration] The particle fire does absolutly nothing to slow the creatures, and now they seem to be primarily pissed of at the cannons, flying into them, attempting to smash the weaponry.
[02:48] <Comet> [comm] Are we blocked along all axes?
[02:48] * LeRoy scrambles into the Bridge, doubling over, completly out of breath.
[02:48] <Gravix> Waistate, the shields are at 40% and falling.
[02:48] <Cirrus> [comm] Close enough, yeah.
[02:48] <Gravix> We can't take much more of this.
[02:49] * Waitstate sees the human stumble onto the bridge.
[02:49] <Gravix> DEMS are charged, preparing to fire.
[02:49] <LeRoy> Wuh...wuh-wait....
[02:49] <Waitstate> LeRoy? This isn't a good time really.
[02:50] <Comet> [comm] Engineering, can engine power be redirected to shields?
[02:50] [narration] the three Star Riders work in unison, smashing against the shields in almost every direction.
[02:50] * Gravix fires a shot directly at one of the ships.
[02:50] <Sunspot> [comm] I'm on it!
[02:50] * Gravix fires a shot directly at one of the things.
[02:51] <Waitstate> Gravix! Wait for ORDERS, damnit!
[02:51] <LeRoy> *The shot is absorbed in the creature, and the creatures eyes start glowing a brighter red, its tail smashing the gun to pieces.
[02:52] <LeRoy> No....don't under stand.....jeez I gotta quit smoking....
[02:53] <Cirrus> Got it! *Cirrus initiates a full-impulse burn between the distracted space-creatures*
[02:53] <Comet> [comm] Ack!
[02:54] <Comet> [comm] Careful! I asked Engineering about rerouting engine power to shields! Hopefully they'll leave Impulse...
[02:55] <LeRoy> Dammit, LISTEN!!!!!!
[02:55] <Waitstate> What?!
[02:55] * LeRoy yells at the top of his lungs, stamping his foot hard.
[02:56] <Comet> [comm] Medbay, when this is over, Organic Unit Leroy seems to have some sort of malfunction in his endurance systems.
[02:56] <Admiral Lilwall> Then get on with it and say what you have to.
[02:56] [narration] The three creatures begins circling the ship slowly again, occsionally hitting it with their tails.
[02:56] * Sunspot manages to get power rerouted to the shields.
[02:56] <Gravix> That's it.
[02:57] <Gravix> Shield strength is holding for now.
[02:57] <LeRoy> Those things are Star Riders. Sorta like space whales, if you please. They're benign, but the heat from star engines upsets them greatly. They're just trying to get rid of an annoyance because they don't know any better!
[02:57] <Gravix> Our ship is going to look worse than the Doom Gaze if this keeps up.
[02:58] <Waitstate> Other than blowing them to bits *grabs his chair as the ship shakes* what do you suggest?
[02:58] <LeRoy> The more you shoot more _heat_ at them, the more pissed off they get, and the harder they hit. The less you do the more they circle and try to figure out what to do!
[02:59] <Waitstate> heat...
[02:59] * The Star Riders continue circling, their tails occasionaly hitting the shield but they do not try to ram anymore.
[02:59] <Waitstate> is that all?
[02:59] <Gravix> Too bad we forgot the cold fusion cannons.
[03:00] * LeRoy nods, lighting a cigarette slowly "They are actually very majestic creature. Very few have ever been this close...and, well, survived...
[03:00] <Waitstate> [comm] Engineering, do you think you could modulate the shields to an inverse of the engine's power signature?
[03:00] <Admiral Lilwall> That's nice and all, now how do we get rid of them.
[03:01] <Sunspot> [comm] Um...sure. Will it help?
[03:01] <Waitstate> [comm] I think it will, yes.
[03:01] <LeRoy> Well, you can either disappear, or make a bigger heat source for them to percieve as the bigger threat and annoyance.
[03:01] <Waitstate> [comm] Please, try and hurry.
[03:01] <Sunspot> [comm] All right...
[03:01] <Waitstate> I'm hoping I can make us disappear.
[03:02] <Comet> [comm] What about the turbulance?
[03:02] * LeRoy takes a drag off of his cigarette, nodding "Good Idea. I'd also suggest turning off all uneccessary energy as well.
[03:02] <Sunspot> [comm] Okay, that should do it!
[03:02] <Gravix> I don't believe the turbulance is our biggest concern right now.
[03:02] <Admiral Lilwall> They are the turbulence it seems.
[03:02] <Waitstate> [comm to Comet] We'll have to navigate out as normal, but we had to do that anyway.
[03:02] <Admiral Lilwall> if they go away, and we get far enough away we can get back into interphase.
[03:03] <Comet> [comm] Affirmative.
[03:03] <Waitstate> [comm to Engineering] shut down all unnescesary power on the ship. if this works, we should be clear soon.
[03:03] * The Star Riders, stunned by the now lack of engine heat, float back several hundred meters, their bright red eyes focusing on the Freedom.
[03:04] <LeRoy> If you have a fast, expendable shuttle you can set on autopilot, I think you could give them something else to be pissed off at.
[03:05] <Sunspot> [comm] Okay, I'm working on it...
[03:05] <Admiral Lilwall> And waste valuable euipment? I don't think so.
[03:05] <Waitstate> Tactical, launch a torpedo. Set it away from our course, and away from any inhabited areas. Detonate it at 1000 kilometers.
[03:06] <Gravix> Torpedo launched.
[03:06] <Sunspot> [comm] Okay, we're at minimal power usage... You need me to send this anywhere?
[03:07] <Gravix> Falling back to 500 kilometers.
[03:07] <Gravix> 400, 300, 200, aaand...
[03:07] <Waitstate> [comm to Engineering] No. just keep us on minimum til further notice.
[03:07] <Gravix> Torpedo detonated.
[03:07] * The Star Riders all turn to look at the Torpedo, their huge wings billowing as the move to investigate it.
[03:07] <Sunspot> [comm] Roger that.
[03:08] * LeRoy sighs, wiping his brow and leaning against Wait's leg, taking another drag off of his cigarette.
[03:08] <Waitstate> Cirrus, once they get to the detonation area, bring thrusters online and start moving us away.
[03:10] * The Star Riders gather around the detonated torpedo, circling the area ominously.
[03:10] <Gravix> The Raiders seem to be distracted.
[03:10] <Gravix> They are no longer persuing the ship.
[03:11] <Gravix> Should I launch another torpedo?
[03:11] <Cirrus> Moving us away at minimum thrust.
[03:12] <Waitstate> No. They're ignoring us for now. If we can get clear, we can escape.
[03:12] <Sunspot> [comm] What's the situation? Did it work?
[03:13] <Waitstate> [comm] So far, so good.
[03:13] <Waitstate> Astrometrics, distance from the Star Riders?
[03:13] <Comet> [comm] They caught us previously by coming head-on. Can we outrun them in interphase?
[03:14] <Comet> [comm] Approximately 1150 kilometers.
[03:15] * The Star Riders seem to pay no more attention to the freedom, now moving away back into open space in their small flock. After that burst of heat near them, they are very hesistant to go near anymore heat they see.
[03:15] <Waitstate> Any sign of renewed pursuit?
[03:15] <Comet> [comm] The creatures seem to be leaving of their own volition.
[03:16] <Waitstate> [comm] Engineering, keep an eye on the shields. Try and keep the modulation matched the the inverse. We're going to activate the impulse drives.
[03:17] <Sunspot> [comm] Okay!
[03:17] <Comet> [comm] New course plot coming to you, Bridge.
[03:17] <Waitstate> Cirrus, input the new plot data and engage, half impulse.
[03:18] * Cirrus does so.
[03:18] * LeRoy wipes his brow, moving towards the exit of the bridge, flicking his cigarette aside and lighting another one.
[03:19] <Admiral Lilwall> Pick that up, LeRoy.
[03:19] <Admiral Lilwall> The Bridge is not your ashtray.
[03:19] <Admiral Lilwall> Dispose of it correctly, thanks.
[03:21] * LeRoy leers at Lilwall, then moves over, pocketing the butt, then slowly moves out of the bridge.
[03:22] <Waitstate> Comet, distance from the Riders?
[03:23] * Splitwit ponders heavily.
[03:24] <Comet> [comm] 1600 and rising.
[03:26] <Waitstate> Cirrus, wait til we're 2000 km away, then engage full impulse til we're clear. Then resume interphase cruising velocity.
[03:28] * Several minutes later, Cirrus complies. A few after that, the ship has resumed FTL speeds.
Session Close: Sun Aug 17 03:28:12 2003

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