Who goes there?

[thespaceopera]

[After weeks of relative silence, our intrepid passengers finally travel within visual range of a blue planet. Marsiva's slow-and-steady course makes it clear that this is the Drift Fleet's next destination--but just as your ships come within scanning range and your computers begin to gather data, a fleet of quick little watchdog ships zip out of the planet's atmosphere, heading straight for you!

They do not swoop in for an attack, but hold their positions between you and the planet. They look close enough to cause some trouble, and any working Communications Officer can tell you that they have weapons locked on the Fleet in warning.

The tell-tale sound of an incoming hailing frequency chimes over your ship's alert system. Someone would like you to pick up the phone. Thanks to their augment, all passengers instinctively know that they'll be looking for the Captain or the Communications Officer of the ship--but no one says someone else can't pick it up first.

On the bridge, the hailing frequency can be viewed on screen, along with the attached subject: "Identify yourselves." The notification chime goes off every seven seconds. These ships don't look like they're going anywhere, but they don't want to be kept waiting, either.

What do you do? Will you accept the frequency?]


ooc → see the July Star System post for details about this event! there is no real rush in this post (we won't even be around to begin responding to it until Sunday afternoon), so take your time, feel free to tag each other in this post (maybe try to get your Comms officers off their asses), and there is no time too late to tag into this post. the element of urgency is all IC, and there is no OOC pressure at all.

Comments

SS Blue Fish

[alwayscomeback]

[A; Blue Fish bridge - private to Blue Fish crew]

[Sokka is 100% done with everything at this point. Between the bugs and the last time they had tag-alongs, plus the fact he's still squirrelly about the Iskaulit being with them does not happy captain make. He gives an annoyed 'ugh' sound as they're surrounded. ]

You know what would be nice? Going back to having a whole month go by where my life didn't feel threatened. That'd be great.

[B; Transmission + Katara]

[Being their communications officer, Sokka trusts Katara to step in if she needs to with this sort of thing. Still, he knows he has to deal with this as best he can. ]

This is the SS Blue Fish, captain Sokka speaking. Utterly harmless and really not worth locking guns on. Seriously. This is just our route.

not keyworded: hawke drinks heavily

[forcemageure]

You know you've doomed us all by saying that, I hope.

[bolder]

But it feels just like home! [Toph's ready at her pilot station, regardless of her humor.] Pretty sure I can get us out of here if you need me to. [A pause.] Bending might be possible if we get close enough.

[forcemageure]

[ Hawke, totally regarding his humor, is also ready at his ....gun station. The fact that honestly he'd rather not use them is none of anyone's business!! ]

People always were aiming deathy implements of murder at me back home, come to think of it. This is like that. Only spacier.

[bolder]

We had implements a lot, too. Plenty of fire for a while, but that went with the territory. [Literally.]

[save_the_souls]

[ Allen is hanging around the captain chair. Man. He really needs to get a folding chair or something with everyone's stations now filled]

Me too. Honestly, I'm a little surprised more planets don't greet us like this.

[alwayscomeback]

[They will totally get him a beach chair. It'll be the best. He'll even write First Mate on it. Badly. With seashells. ]

We don't exactly inspire confidence across the galaxy. [Still, he's thinking, planning, trying to find a way out if needs be. ]

Think we can take them, or at least fly the heck away from them if they attack?

[bolder]

I dunno what metalbending would be like, and this really wouldn't be the best time to find out. But I can help us run like scared little girls if we have to.

[dancingmd]

[Beverly shows up on the bridge as well because that's what Starfleet Doctors do: hang about the bridge inexplicably when they should be in sickbay.]

They look like they're in a standard defense position to me ... I suspect as long as we back off they won't attack.

1/2

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a nod at what Beverly is saying] This seems like their planet, so they'd probably kick our arses if we tried to fight.

[He rubs his chin]

But on the other hand, we need to resupply. And we don't know how long it'll be until we find a another planet or a waystation that isn't trashed...

[hmmmm]

[save_the_souls]

[He'll turn to Sokka cheerfully]

Sokka! Try to be as charming as possible!

[WOO THEM SOKKA. WOO THEM]

[bolder]

.... we're doomed.

[destinyembrace]

...we might want a plan B in case Sokka's charm and wit fail.

[alwayscomeback]

...

It's nice to know I can always rely on the wholehearted support of my crew. Really. It gives me the warm fuzzies.

B

[thespaceopera]

[there is a long pause on the other side of the communications, after that. and when they do respond, it's an audio channel coming from the nearest watchdog ship--sounding like a humanoid female, possibly.]

Blue Fish, please explain. And quickly.

[alwayscomeback]

[Okay, here we go. Don't screw this up. DON'T SCREW THIS UP!!]

We're part of the Drift Fleet, I don't know if you know it? It's a TV show...apparently. That big ship floating over yonder? That's the mothership, we're kinda stuck on her path. But none of us are here to hurt anyone, we just want to stop at your planet to resupply. That's all.

[thespaceopera]

[oh, there's... another pause after that. for several long moments, the watchdogs just hang there in space, in silence. perhaps they're speaking on separate channels in the meantime.

and when she comes back, her voice is full of flat skepticism.]

...Could you run that by me again, Captain?

[TV show, huh?]

[alwayscomeback]

[That isn't a good tone. ]

...That would be a no on hearing about Drift Fleet, then.

Look, it's really complicated and really annoying and we're effectively prisoners, but just know that we've got no intention of hurting anyone. We're just travelling the stars, hoping one day we can get home. All we need is supplies from you, we're running low, once we got them, we'll be on our way.

[thespaceopera]

You claim to be prisoners?

[she might not be buying this story either.]

Is the Nunnilis ship being held prisoner as well?

[alwayscomeback]

Not claiming, flat out stating.

The Nu-

Oh, you mean the bug ship? [He gives an annoyed sound. He KNEW that thing would give them trouble. ]

We found that, and some of members of the Fleet decided it was a good idea to pull it along. It's completely empty, there's no one aboard to take prisoner.

[He leaves out the 'not anymore' part, just in case they decide that's a declaration of war or something. ]

[thespaceopera]

[he is just winning points left and right. now, along with her skepticism, there's a healthy dose of quiet anger brewing.]

The Nunnilis never simply abandon their ships, Captain.

[alwayscomeback]

[Oh, that anger is not a good thing.]

It wasn't abandoned. It had the bu- Nunnilis inside. They were infected with some kind of fungus. From what I understand, our Fleet tried to find a cure, but couldn't, and none of the Nunnilis...es survived. My First Mate was around for that, and can give you a full briefing if you want it. The ship's empty, all the same.

I take it you know who it belongs to? Because I'm all for handing it back to its people.

[He doesn't want that thing anywhere near them. No siree. ]

[thespaceopera]

A briefing, yes. [hurriedly agreeing-- eager for some real information about this newest development, but maybe also interested in talking to someone else on the ship.]

We want any information you can give us.

[alwayscomeback]

Okay, I'll hand him over. You can trust that anything he tells you is completely accurate.

[Hey First Mate, he's waving to you while you stand there, uncomfortable because no chair for you ]

[save_the_souls]

[ Well, at least it's audio only, so he'll be leaning against the captain chair. Ugh getting a chair next planet if it's the last thing he does. ]

[But! He's been listening to the conversation (sometimes wincing when Sokka's been too...well, Sokka), so he gives Sokka a nod and jump in after clearing his throat]

This is First Mate Allen Walker speaking. I'm sorry we couldn't have met under better circumstances, but I'll answer any questions you have about our encounter with the Iskaulit.