All is silent for a few seconds, then:
Right, I'm off to bed then.
Accustomed to catching shut-eye at odd hours in the blackness of space, Booker takes his rest immediately. When he awakes, he dumps out his null-space chamber into a cargo bay, carefully selects his weapons, meticulously counts his precious supply of heavy weapon rounds, and tinkers with a few of the kishalee batteries
When the time comes, Booker is already in the pilot's chair, his pack clipped to the back, his weapons locked and loaded.
|
Familiar with the routine of war, Dunklezahn doesn't waste any time. He whips up a quick snack for everyone, eats a bit himself, then heads to his bunk. He quickly falls asleep, knowing it might be their last for some time.
When he wakes, he fixes as big a breakfast as he can manage for everyone, wolfs down his meal, then goes about the business of readying his kit and preparing for battle.
Hack-It ignores Janzi, instead heading to his quarters. He charges up all several batteries, and sets to tinkering. He grabs the remaining six pulse gauntlets, a disruption pistol, a personal comms device he's had kicking around, and within short order has the items disassembled.
The mess of parts, something only a ysoki mind could comprehend and catalog. He begins rapidly assembling components, soldering parts, rewiring parts, and updating code within a pair of devices that he builds.
"Hey guys, going to test a few things," Hack-It says over comms. He doesn't wait for an answer before pressing a button on one of the jammers to block out all radio communications. He turns the device off, then flicks the switch for the other device, blocking wireless communications for a second.
Ignoring any gripes from the others, Hack-It pockets both devices and gets some shut eye.
Before you know it, Osteth calls you all to the bridge. The surrounding space is constantly illuminated by flaring beams of energy that lash out from the system’s controller moons, and gouts of incandescent flame pulled from the suns by gravitational pulses. The ancient weapons are wildly inaccurate and fire haphazardly, often fading out before reaching their
targets or detonating in apparently empty space, but even so, the Corpse Fleet armada is beginning to show signs of extensive damage. The largest of the Corpse Fleet vessels is enormous—bigger than many space stations. It is surrounded by explosions and debris, both from its own hull and from the escort ships that were destroyed protecting it, forming a cloud that blocks most efforts to get a clear image of its exact shape. However, blasts from the massive ship’s powerful weapons clearly mark it as the most effective member of the armada.
There, in the center of it all is a portal to the demiplane. The Stellar Degenerator is coming!
Osteth reports, "It is worse than I feared. I have analyzed the weapon, and I'm locked into our weapons. There is nothing we can do. Absolutely nothing. Only a ship like that capital ship has a hope of doing anything. I... I am truly sorry."
There is a long pause before Booker speaks. "So... you're saying we need commandeer that flagship to have any chance of destroying the Degenerator?" The mix of trepidation and anger is clear in the veteran's voice.
"Do you have any idea how impossible that is? What the Hells happened t'the exhaust port you mentioned? No self-destruct button? Surely a civilization as advanced as yours thought this through?!"
Booker points at the massive capital ship on the screen. His volume gets increasingly loud, until he is almost shouting. "Lookit those guns. Lookit 'em. Sayin' nothin' about the support ships. You expect us t'attack an entire fleet w' an exploration vessel? Are you nuts?"
"We shoulda just destroyed that control board."
"I did not mean to suggest that, but the idea may not be as far fetched as you think. Also, I have no doubt that the fleet would have found another board. Regardless, I do not see another option."
"It is worse than I feared. I have analyzed the weapon, and I'm locked into our weapons. There is nothing we can do. Absolutely nothing. Only a ship like that capital ship has a hope of doing anything. I... I am truly sorry."
"What do you mean there is nothing we can do? I gave up a new career as the keyboardist for a band called Hurry for this job and now you are telling me there is nothing we can do? What have we been doing all of this time?"
Turning in disgust at the coming answer, Gig hops on a computer station and scans the capital ship.
"Arggh! I don't care if I'm running low. I'm going to chew on a fresh stick of gum. I think my other piece is already over two weeks old."
"You know, I always wanted a capital ship of my own. That'll do," Hack-It says, scanning the ship.
"Do you think they have a supply of gum on that ship? These sensors cannot pick up any."
Gig immediately sneaks in a scan, and Hack-It puts it up on the view.
Osteth immediately digests the data, "Booker, I think... I think you may actually be on to something."
This massive vessel is the Empire of Bones, and it is bigger than even a Colossal starship. It is practically bristling with capital weapons. Like most Corpse Fleet starships, it doesn’t contain any atmosphere. The many explosions of the ongoing battle are partially clouding the Empire of Bones’s sensors, and many of its weapons are trained on the ancient kishalee defenses. It might be possible to slip in closer to the vessel and board it without those on board noticing. A Medium or smaller starship that landed on the Empire of Bones’s hull could remain undetected for an extended period of time. The Empire of Bones has several hangar bays along its length, one of which is currently launching a small squadron of fighters. This leaves a wide-open entryway protected by a minor force field that keeps out small space debris. A Small or smaller starship can be landed in that bay. Alternatively, a person could slip into the bay via a space walk along the flagship’s exterior....
"No. No. No way!" Booker scowls, waving his hand at the screen in an exasperated fashion. "Do you see those capital weapons? One hit, we're gone. Done fer. Space dust. How in the bloody Vast are we s'pposed t'get that close? The Maiden wouldn't even fit in that hangar, anyway."
Booker puts out his cigarette, then changes his mind and lights it again.
"I mean, even if we, SOMEHOW, managed to land on the hull, it's not like we can just waltz in. We'd probably lose half our numbers tryin' to spacewalk to the hangar. I mean, I've got a jetpack, so I'm probably fine. But what about the rest o' you? What, am I supposed to cable the lotta you to my leg? I guess we've got some titanium line..."
The veteran pauses for a moment, considering, then shakes his head again with another wave at the screen. "But even if we, SOMEHOW, got inside... a ship that size's got a crew of, what? Hundreds? Thousands? And we're s'pposed to just blast our way onto the bridge? Then point their biggest gun a' the Degenerator? An' fire away 'til it goes boom? That's gotta be the dumbest plan in th'history of tactical maneuvers. The DUMBEST."
"I know this won't help if you want to attack, but I've been practicing a spell I call "Invisibility". It makes the target vanish from sight. It might be useful against these undead . . . for about ten minutes anyway. I've tried it out sneaking into Hack's room and he did not see me at all!"
Booker snorts. "Can ya make the whole ship invisible?"
"Well, that's a bit too much for the limitations of my spell. We would have to find another way to fly stealthily."
"Some help you are," the old soldier grunts ungratefully.
Hack-It smiles, his whiskers twitching. "Osteth, you are the best VI ever! I love this idea!"
To Booker he says, "We can do this. A bit of fancy flying, maybe take down a fighter or two along the way. That thing isn't looking for us. And even if it did, there's no way it's going to waste time on us."
The ysoki gets more excited, his mind racing as he schemes. "Hum can fly me in, so it doesn't need to be a spacewalk for one. Land this thing on the hull, and I'll make use of my signal jammers that I just made to stop any comms. These babies are good for a 4 mile radius, though I could hook them up to the Maiden and boost that to 12 miles. It'll take a savvy hacker to bypass the jammer, and even then the'll lose a minute easy just doing that. Which gives us enough time to put down resistance if need be. And if I keep the jammer with me, use it judiciously, they'll be in a black-out long enough that we can take over."
"Gig, you got the right idea with that space magic of yours. And if needed we can take a few people out and dress up as corpse fleet troops. They're definitely too busy to start checking credentials on everyone."
"I want that ship," Hack-It says with a note of finality. "So start thinking about your flight path, and the rest of you get ready to go stealth or make things messy."
”That ship is awfully big. I think it might take quite a long time to clear it out. Is there a good spot to get to that would allow us to take over the ship without having to fight our way through an entire undead army?”
"They're corpses, moron," Booker snaps at Hack-It. "They don't need to check credentials when they can just check whether we're breathing. Oh, and didja forget that the ship has no atmo?"
Booker shakes his head.
"Gig's right. No way we'd ever clear the whole ship. I'll remind you, Hack-It," Booker adds with a pointed growl, "what happened the last time you wanted your own ship. I saved yer life then, but I won't do it again. You try to take that dreadnought for keeps an' I'm leavin' you for dead."
Osteth chimes in, "This is likely the only chance we have. If this fleet gains control of the weapon, I assume they would use it. I do not think you need to control the whole ship, just the bridge."
Osteth goes offline for a split second, then returns, "It appears our hand has been forced."
While the capital ship seems busy, a quartet of Crypt Wardens spot you!
Osteth, "If we can land on the hull of the Empire of Bones I think we'll be safe. We just need to get by these foes."
Captain (Janzi): Action?
Science Officer (Hack-it): Action?
Engineer (Gig): Action?
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
0
Normal
[color=red]RED[/color]
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
0
Normal
Gig quickly moves into his engineering station and starts diverting power to the engines.
You can divert auxiliary power into one of your starship’s systems, giving it a boost. This requires a successful Engineering check (DC = 10 + 1–1/2 × your starship’s tier), and the results depend on where you decide to send this extra power. If you send it to the engines, your starship’s speed increases by 2 this round. If you send it to the science equipment, all science officers receive a +2 bonus to their crew actions this round. If you send it to the starship’s weapons, treat each damage die that rolls a 1 this round as having rolled a 2 instead. If you send it to the shields, restore an amount of Shield Points equal to 5% of the PCU rating of the Starship’s power core, up to the shields’ maximum value. Evenly distribute the restored Shield Points to all four quadrants (putting any excess Shield Points in the forward quadrant).
"I'll get you some extra power, Booker! Let's see if we can lose them!"
Gig's brain is on fire as he turns nobs and pushes buttons.
"Oh my gosh, the emergency bypass control of the matter-antimatter integrator is fused. Wait, this might do it!"
"OH MAN! I LOVE IT WHEN I'M RIGHT!" Hack-It crows before starting a scan of nearest ship.
"I want that ship," Hack-It says with a note of finality. "So start thinking about your flight path, and the rest of you get ready to go stealth or make things messy."
That, right there, is reason enough to ignore your rodent ass, Janzi says, his voice raising as he speaks.
You've got a negative history with wanting things bigger than will fit in your cheek pouches. Or have you forgotten? Wait, of course you've forgotten cos you were fracking dead. Well, let me tell you, it's a negative history that includes getting your happy ass killed and leaving us to pick up what was left of your sorry--
Osteth interrupts the lashunta, who barks You can shut your AI pie hole too, as he scrambles into the captain's chair, crackling into Gig's ear: It's not the matter-antimatter integrator you need to worry about, it's the antimatter-matter integrator. Or else nothing you do will matter.
Gig drives the Sunrise Maiden as hard as she can handle. Hack-it runs a quick scan on the Crypt Warden:
Tactical Readout
+2 AC/TL
FAIL
+2 AC/TL
FAIL
Captain (Janzi): Encourage
Science Officer (Hack-it): Scan
Engineer (Gig):Push
Pilot (Booker): Action?
Gunner 1 (Dunklezahn): Action?
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
0
Normal
[color=red]RED[/color]
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
0
Normal
Booker guns the Maiden towards the flagship, banking hard starboard only once past the third interceptor. He calls out battle orders.
"Janzi, I want you helping Dunklezahn. Dunk, take the linked particle beams and give 'em Hell. Hack-It, we're about to take some heavy fire so get ready t'divert aux power to shields. And Gig, I'mma need you on guns, on my mark."
SUCCESS +2 AC/TL
Maiden AC 26, TL 31.
Gun Disposition
Heavy Turret 1: Linked Particle Beams (16d6, long range, any target)
Heavy Turret 2: Heavy Laser Net (5d6, short range only, yellow/green in range)
Starboard: Heavy Laser Array (6d4, short range, yellow target)
Aft: Light Laser Cannon (2d4, short range, green in range/red at penalty)
The enemy ships open up, trying to blast you out of the sky!
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
for
for
MISS
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
MISS
MISS
[color=red]RED[/color]
MISS
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
Stopped by shields
"Hey Janzi, you gonna let Booker talk to you like that? And Booker, I got it. I'm paying attention. This isn't my first rodeo, as you humans like to say."
Dunklezahn gets a bit trigger happy and fires too soon!
Captain (Janzi): Action?
Science Officer (Hack-it): Action?
Engineer (Gig): Action?
---------------
I'd rather him talk to me like that than talk to you at all, Janzi says to Hack-It, before opening a private channel to Booker -- Thanks, dad, I'll keep your views in mind. Please direct all further comments to that steel wall over there -- and then to Dunkelzahn.
Become one with the turret. Let go, Luke Dunk.
Without turning around, Booker raises an eyebrow at Janzi. "We're in the same room, you know."
Gig gets into Turret 1 and engages Yellow with the Heavy Laser Net.
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
Gunnery 1s are 2s
Turn in Place
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
Gunnery 1s are 2s
Back off
[color=red]RED[/color]
Engines
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
Gunnery
Flip and burn
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
0
Normal
[color=red]RED[/color]
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
0
Normal
Judging the broadside fire of the enemy to be weaker than their forward fire, Booker maneuvers the Maiden through the knot of enemy ships and towards the edge of the battle. "All fire on the nearest ship... NOW!!!"
SUCCESS
Gun Disposition
Heavy Turret 1: Linked Particle Beams (16d6, long range, any target)
Heavy Turret 2: Heavy Laser Net (5d6, short range only, Green in range)
Starboard: Heavy Laser Array (6d4, short range, Green in range, Yellow/Blue at penalty)
Aft: Light Laser Cannon (2d4, short range, Red at penalty)
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color] Attacking Starboard
MISS
MISS
[color=green]GREEN[/color] Attacking Starboard
MISS
MISS
[color=red]RED[/color] Attacking Aft
MISS
MISS
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
MISS
MISS
"Ooo, the particle beam is unmanned. Let me grab controls and...BAM!" A very animated Hack-It fires upon the green ship.
Gun Disposition (Updated)
Heavy Turret 1: Linked Particle Beams (16d6, long range, any target)
Heavy Turret 2: Heavy Laser Net (5d6, short range only, Green in range)
Starboard: Heavy Solar Cannon (3d8, medium range, Green/Blue in range, Yellow at penalty)
Aft: Light Laser Cannon (2d4, short range, Red at penalty)
Hack-it, Gig, and Dunklezahn all land hits on the same Crypt Warden! The starboard arc of the green ship is rocked! It's shields are obliterated, and it's hull takes a beating:
Life Support
Sensors
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
65
All Life Support glitching, Sensors glitching
[color=red]RED[/color]
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
0
Normal
Just be the ball. Be the ball. Be the ball.
Sensors (Malfunctioning)
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
+2 Gunnery
+2 Speed
-
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
+2 Gunner
+10 Shields
REbalance
65
Sensors Malfunctioning
[color=red]RED[/color]
+2 Gunner
+2 Speed
Scan
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
FAIL
+2 Speed
Scan
0
Normal
"Good start," Booker grunts. He swings the Maiden around to follow the wounded vessel, juking in evasive maneuvers here and there but keeping the enemy to starboard.
SUCCESS
Gun Disposition
Heavy Turret 1: Linked Particle Beams (16d6, long range, any target)
Heavy Turret 2: Heavy Laser Net (5d6, short range only, Green/Yellow/Red in range)
Starboard: Heavy Solar Cannon (4d8, medium range, Green in range)
Port: Light Laser Cannon (2d4, short range, Red in range)
Aft: Light Laser Cannon (2d4, short range, Yellow in range, Blue at penalty)
[color=green]Blue[/color]
Miss
for
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
Miss
MISS
[color=red]RED[/color]
[ooc]Blocked by shields
for
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
Miss
MISS
[color=Blue]BLUE[/color]
0
Normal
[color=green]GREEN[/color]
65
All Life Support glitching, Sensors glitching
[color=red]RED[/color]
0
Normal
[color=yellow]YELLOW[/color]
0
Normal
Gig quickly jumps into the cockpit of the Linked Particle Beam Turret and quickly turns on his aiming sequencer and aims at Green