@Metatrooper Fanny sighs, turning slightly to extend the arm holding the beer as if to place it down, which is what she did, though there was not a bench within her reach. The bottle did get placed, however; it appeared on a flat surface next to a terminal on the far side of the bridge. She looked back at Meta as her features and voice returned to what they were previously.
“I’ll leave that there for when you’re feeling manly enough to drink it. It holds a surprise for you, more information than you’re likely to get from this mouth.”
She then crossed her arms as well, mimicking his staunch persona, possibly in a joking or even ridiculing manner with a little, pompous swing of her head and raise of her brow.
“Dear Meta,” She states frankly, “you seem very sure of yourself, despite the fact that half your ships systems are down. But I was hoping you were the gaming type. So let’s have some fun, shall we?”
As she finished speaking these words, and what might seem as impossible for a ship in Hyper Drive, The Tempest convulsed. The shake was hard enough to set Meta off balance. The movement was a clear indication that the ship had suddenly altered course. Fanny remained unmoving in the jolt.
“It won’t be long now. We’ll soon be arriving. And there…” She smiled graciously. “…never mind my many names and even more abundant descriptions folks have given me – because
that is why I’m here, to see what you’re truly made of. Will you let the seed inside me grow, or will you kill it before it kills you?”
Close to a minute passes, in which time Meta will probably respond, but all the while Fanny will remain unresponsive. At the end of which time the Tempest drops out of Hyper drive with a sudden, unnatural forward sliding-halt force.
The Tempest’s reading will now confirm what can be seen out of any view screen available. they are in orbit of a planet, which by an outward appearance looks like nothing more than an ashen wasteland. However, in orbit of this planet are ten massive ships. The ships are holding an arrowhead formation. Each ship is identical, also similar to being arrow shaped of themselves. Each ship is also heavily armed. Their shielding systems would read off the charts. Each ship is seven miles in length. This is the Quatis Fleet.
Mere seconds pass before the Tempest receives an automated transmission:
“We are the Quatis. We have scanned your vessel. You are at our mercy. For your own good, you will state your designation and intentions.”
@Doc Doctor Donny was successful in escaping his captivity. Four dead Quatis security lay decapitated on the floor of a prisoner’s interrogation cell. But he hasn’t gone unnoticed. Cameras are a way of the past. Each Quatis vessel is fitted with a sensory array that reads and stores each and every bio signature within its hulls limits. Donny’s specific signature has been recorded. Fortunately for Donny, though he wouldn’t be aware of it yet, the Corridors and Turbo lifts on most sub-primary levels are not fitted with tracking sensors, only personnel function (working class) rooms are. He is not being tracked after leaving the holding room.
If Donny looks at the functions of his wrist device, he will find a map of the science vessel he is on. There are 23 levels; living quarters, mess halls, two Bridges, research levels, shuttle bays, etc, just like Fanny had told him. His location is marked by a small red flashing dot on the page of the 21st floor, which was one of the lower four research levels of the ship.
From the holding room where he retrieved his personal effects from the metal crate, Donny will have entered a corridor of the special containment sector. It doesn’t look like much. The corridor is 3 meters wide and arched with occasion doorways that lead into rooms. Each room is numbered and color coded, not named. The corridor extends for several hundred meters in either direction. Every 30 meters is a turbo lift. The turbo lifts are designed to take personnel to different levels of the ship, much like an elevator except multi-directional. The doors to the turbo lifts look different than the doors to allocated room. The turbo lift doors are a light shade of blue. Aside from the color coded numbers above their doorframe, the other doors are the same color as the metallic walls. Each and every door has a security panel next to it. Each person on board the ship has their own security code they will need to type into these keypad panels to gain access to any room or turbo lift. Rank levels are applicable.
The wrist device Donny took from the floor is limited, though it has many functions. He will not be able to teleport off the ship. He will not be able to teleport into rooms or turbo lifts if the doors are closed. He will only be able to teleport to location open to his any given current location. All devices worn by personnel on the ship are the same. The only personnel with devices of greater range are officers of the highest rank clearances; admirals, captains, level 5 lieutenants and some doctors.
Once Donny has made it a small distance down the corridor, a group of ten armed security personnel exit a turbo lift, all dressed in much the same fashion as the four he just killed. They are also carrying the same weapons. Upon exiting the turbo lift in a rush, they had almost run into Donny, halting just a short distance from him. They instantly take a firing squad formation, three in each row, and one in the front. These are the backup personnel that were called for. The man squatting low in the front, only two meters from Donny, speaks into his wrist device, saying; “Command, we are at hands with unfamiliar personnel. Stand By.” The same officer lowers his device to hold his rifle steady on Donny like the others, and then addresses Donny:
“State your name and rank!”
@Zyngard@Dartbored Fairy Dino Squints with a smouldering look at Cuna; “Fuck You. I’m sure you mean well, and perhaps you’ll be important one day. That said, you are welcome to come along.”
“And of course, you’re welcome for the help.” Dino then replies to Pirila. “I think you’ll find me and my people quite useful.”
When he finishes saying so, Lietenent Shart gives Cuna a flirtatious smile and twinkling wave of her fingers. “Haiii!”
“Don’t be such a whore, Lieutenant!” Dino snaps at her. “You don’t know what sort of diseases these barbarians carry. Keep your lobes tucked in and behave like an officer for a change.”
“Of course, sir. As you wish, sir.” Replies Shard, “But I’ve never slept with an alien before.” She can’t help but give Cuna another flirting look.
At that time Dino’s wrist device receives an update from Science officer Cas:
“Admiral, requested report advisable.”
Dino twitches his nose in a disturbed manner, apparently the way Cas reopened communication was suspicious. “What is it, Nerd?” He replies into the device.
“The readings of the area don’t make a full amount of sense.” Cas said. “Our records show the bio signature of a female alien life form that departed the premises within the last five minutes. But she wasn’t alone, sir. She was accompanied by a second bio signature. This other life form was of a different species, it was…
odd, sir, unlike anything I’ve ever prepared for in all my studies. But there’s something else…..”
“Stop with the suspenseful pauses, Nerd!” Dino raised his voice a little at Cas and rolled his eyes at his present company; “Just spit it out, son.”
“Of course, Admirable.” Cas continues; “The entity that vanished with the female was using some type of technology to make the teleport. I believe it to be a biological technology in nature, but I can’t be sure. In any case, the technology the entity used left a very distinct signature, like a residue on the atmosphere in the area. Think of it like a sort of wet hand touching a surface, sir, it won’t be long before the signature is gone... before the wet print left behind evaporates, so to speak. We need to move fast if we want any hope of finding the pairs current location. I’ve already conducted scans of the planet down to one mile beneath the surface. Neither the females nor her abductors bio signature can be found. They are no longer on the planet. We are currently searching nearby systems for any sign of their signature or the signature of the teleportation technology the abductor was using.”
“Well done, Nerd!” Dino tells him, sincerely proud of his science officer. “Keep me informed and do it fast! In the meantime, send down my own private vessel, no need to involve the entire fleet for this. And Nerd… make sure you’re on it.”
“Understood, Admiral. Myself and your private vessel are dispatching momentarily.”
“Dino out.” Dino Gavon lowers his arm to give a narrow stare to each member of the group and announces; “We’re heading out. Make sure you all have what you need. Follow me.”
That said, Dino turns and exits the building, presumably with the rest of the group. As they step outside the hall a vessel the shape of an arrowhead, dark-gray in color and roughly 40 meters in length, descends quietly from the sky and lands on the road in front of the Station Hall. It would be quite a sight for anyone who hasn’t seen space age technology before.
Once landed, each member of Dino's group feel a queer sensation as the particles of their body come apart. They become slightly dizzy at the same time, their vision blackens, and the next thing they know they are standing in a circular metallic room within the ship. The room is 4 meters in diameter, four equally spaced doors around its perimeter. Nothing else is in the room.
Without saying a word, Dino heads out through one of the doors that slides open on his approach and enters the Bridge.
Dino takes his seat in the captains chair. Cas is seated beside him at the helm as well. There are only two more seats on the bridge, located directly behind Dino and Cas.
Cas turns to whoever may have followed Dino onto the bridge and give a congenial nod.
“Hey guys. Welcome aboard The DGS. Make yourselves at home.”
Meanwhile, Dino Gavon is already lifting off. The ashen world outside is quickly falling from sight.
@jorcool Fanny followed orders and walked without aid with the escort as if she were taking a leisurely stroll on a Sunday picnic. Every now and then she provides a member of personnel a warm smile. In one instance she gingerly plucked a little fluff from the shoulder of the officer to her right.
“Not even.” Were Fanny’s exact words when she refused support from the men on the railed transport vehicle. Of course, the men wore magnetic boot to prevent them from losing balance when the vehicle accelerated, and Fanny had nothing but sandals on her feet, yet she stood unmoving from her position when the vehicle took off at breakneck speed. During this part of the journey she analysed the surroundings like a woman browsing an open field for the best flower to pick.
When they finally arrived at Containment Cell HC-3-2-12, Fanny followed James inside and took a seat as requested, thanking the man as she did so. She was silent, her posture was neat, legs together and hands folded on her knees in a ladylike manner, patient until Jens Knaggs finally arrived to meet with her.
Fanny then waited until Jens finished his introduction before she raised from her seat. There were no sudden moves. She was smooth and eloquent, both palms of her hands open and outward and wearing a gracious smile as she stepped toward the man, saying;
“Accept a customary greeting.” She paused for a moment. “I am Fanny May.” She then leans forward, hands on the man’s shoulders as she places a kiss on both his cheeks, his nose then forehead, before taking the needed steps back in order to return to her seat.
“You are correct, Vice-Admiral Knaggs.” She said, reverting to her previous ladylike posture. “I did wish to meet the man whose decision it was to spare my life, mine and the seed inside me.”
“Kind sir,” She continued frankly, “I have chosen to speak with you alone for various reasons. The first being a more immediate matter. That is to say that I advise against your people attempting to repair my craft. As of this very moment, any attempt to do so will result in their lives.” She paused to smile kindly, and adds; “My craft will repair itself in time, but I am thankful, sir, for your temporary hospitality.
Secondly, I would like to be the one to welcome you all, as it is clear that you’re not from around here. But if I’m not mistaken, your arrival here was a little on the bumpy side, was it not? Perhaps it is a sign of things to come.
Thirdly, I would like to offer you a word of kind advice, maybe pass it on to your superior officer….”
She stops speaking, blinks twice, lifts her eyes up to one side as if to consider the matter for a moment, but says no more for now. She returns her look to the admiral and awaits his initial reply.
@Quote5 Fortunately for Ramrod and Hank, the Forte Vessel was spinning for very good reason. The spin helped in the dispersal of sections from its main body. One of these sections was the area of the ship that Ramrod and Hank were in. along with other sections, it was launched at great speed from the spinning ship, and since there was nothing in space to slow it down it will continue on its present course indefinitely. Most importantly, it would be well clear of Hany’s Ribbons when it arrives. Unfortunately, the triangular shaped section was not equipped with its own propulsion system; those inside will have no way of navigating beyond their present course unless by an outside influence.
Inside the section, or let’s just call it a craft, Hank starts screaming like crazy, overly happy about their escape. “Ramrod, you plush-plush, brilliant, brilliant person!!”
A short while later, the reluctant efforts of Gamma, Siren and the members of Rodia pay off. Their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. The remaining section of the Forte vessel explodes. The explosion is massive, damaging and cracking certain areas of The Rodia’s hull, but the force of the explosion also sends Rodia clear from the path of Hany’s ribbon. The spherical vessel spins like a ball as it moves through space in the opposite direction from Ramrod and Hank’s Craft.
@CmdrAlfieq@Quote5 Fanny waits, though visibly a little impatient, until Junior states his case to the Commander.
“Now, Commander.” She says, “If you don’t mind paying attention to the more important matter at hand. You have a lightyear-long space entity converging on your position. If you want to find a safe place for the people you want to save, than anywhere outside the path of Hany’s Ribbon will do! You can always think about finding a location for another home afterwards. But why only save
some of your people when you could possibly save them all??”
Fanny is now sounding a little annoyed. Her eyes are filled with a tint like the flames of a fire as the beer disappears from her hand.
“So allow me to approach my previous point another way, Commander. Hany’s Ribbon will be decimating this station and the planet below within thirty minutes. You’re the ones who are about to be destroyed, not me, and not this little bot beside me. So make it very clear to me - stop playing with your wine and answer this question; Who are you going to save? Tell me! Which of your people will you spare??”
In her finishing words, Fanny’s irritated voice has reached decibels that are causing the room to quake.
@Oh no my soup Magnus set the destination to the nearest habitable planet, but as most people and even Magnus should know, habitable doesn’t necessarily mean hospitable.
As the planet came into view, Magnus receives a transmission from an unknown source. The monitor display lights up with the words:
I miss you so much, my dear Magnus. I should have never let you go… I long to feel you against my skin again.The planet, now much closer, could be seen as a giant green and blue marble. If Magnus conducted detailed scans, he would discover the flora of the planet was abundant with life, as too was the fauna both on land and in the oceans. There is no sign of modernized civilizations though; no cities, not industrialized complexes, no real evidence of sentient life.
Approaching the outer atmosphere of the planet, the small ship encounters an unnatural amount of turbulence that ultimately reflects the ship away with minimal damage. If Magnus further studies the barrier, he will find that the outer atmosphere is composed of a volatile gas-like substance that condenses upon contact from an outer force. He will need to find a way through the shield without damaging his ship, that is, if he wants to visit the surface below.
