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 Wonderduck

[idealistic]

a; Wonderducks only

[ well. that's a first. and also not a good thing.

Lloyd tells the current pilot to slow down, eyes trained on the fleet facing them with knitted brows. he has his doubts, especially since this fleet actually bothered to send out a signal instead of attacking them outright, but he can't help but ask: ]

Are these the same guys that tried to attack us before...?

b; To the signal (Davesprite and Daneel are free to jump in too if they want!)

[ Lloyd continues to talk amongst the crew, but quickly realizes that these guys would not like to be kept waiting if the guns trained on them are anything to go by. with a single nod at Davesprite and Daneel, Lloyd opens the channel.

okay. okay, how does one do the captaining thing again? ]

This is Lloyd Irving, captain of the Wonderduck. Look, we're not here to hurt anyone, I promise. We just want to go through. [ better to establish that first, right? i mean they don't even have guns. ]

c; open!

A!

[wilder]

[WHO IS FLYING THIS THING?! JADE TAKE THE WHEEL. Kaneis is on the bridge anyway, looking at the radars]

No...I think they're a different bunch.

b;

[feathery]

Do we really. [He's half mumbling, so who knows if it's getting picked up by the channel.] I'd be up for just bowing out if they say no.

[Since a "no" might consist of getting gunned down.]

B

[thespaceopera]

[there's a distinct pause before any response comes through, and scanners read that the answering signal is coming from the nearest watchdog ship. an audio connection patches through, and... it sounds human enough--the voice of a young man.]

Captain Irving, explain yourself. Clearly state your business here.

a

[forsometimenow]

[As soon as the notification signals began going off, Jennifer was on her way to the bridge, looking for Lloyd or Kaneis- and lo and behold.]

God, I hope not. We went through enough trouble last month.

SS Bishop

[everydayhero]

[A; Frequency/Helm]

[As the captain, he thinks it's his responsibility to respond. He's figured out the basics of the communications array long ago. He accepts the transmission and responds promptly.]

This is Hiro Hamada, captain of the SS Bishop, speaking. We mean no harm; we're passing through, that's all.


[B; Bishop-wide PA-system broadcast.]

Hey guys, lock down. Somebody hit the bay door locks, these guys don't look like they particularly want us to be here.

A

[preformthisneigh]

[Cheese peers over the ships controls at all those little ships, squinting a little as he tries to figure out how many there are. He comes from a land where a threat on your existence is otherwise known as Saturday, so there's an inherent distrust towards anything that isn't immediately friendly. ]

What's the plan if they decide that they do mean harm, mon capitaine?

A

[thespaceopera]

[after a delay, a responding signal is finally sent out from the nearest watchdog ship. it's an audio channel, and the person on the other side sounds human enough--an adult female.]

Captain Hamada, please explain your intent, and quickly.

SS Huntress

[boymeetsfatherhood]

[A. Huntress-wide Private Communications]

[It had been a leisurely few weeks of travel, but now, suddenly things were happening. Cory scrambled around to check on everything. First, he issues personal communications to the rest of the ship. He knows he has to warn the others.]

Hey, hey, everyone. We've got company, and it looks like they're locked and loaded. I am going to talk to them, but um, maybe we should be on our guard just in case? [He'll leave the actual decision to others. He's just going to do his Communications thing.]

B. To The Signal! (others can jack in)

[Alright Cory, calm down. It's time to actually do his job and negotiate with aliens. He can do this. "Identify yourselves". Sounds simple enough. So he finally accepts the signal and tries to speak calmly.]

This is Cory Mattews, Communications officer for the SS Huntress. We mean absolutely no harm at all. We're just passing on through. What can we do you for?

B

[thespaceopera]

[whoever they are, they are not quick to respond. after the delay, however, an audio channel patches in from the nearest watchdog ship, and the voice sounds human enough--a middle-aged male, by the sounds of it.]

SS Huntress, be clear. Explain your intent.

A;

[misconceived]

[ As soon as that message goes through, Chris is on the bridge. Like, immediately. Ah, the usefulness of shimmering. ]

You already talk to them? What've you said?

A

[hearsthesea]

[That's...alarming. Shirley heads for the bridge as quick as she can, and she doesn't waste time once she's come in.]

You haven't found out anything about whoever's there, have you?

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.

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.

SS THREE TWINS

[ino]

A -- Shipmates only;

Seriously? Seriously?

[ She's huffing irritably at them being targeted by the other ships. Can they not just move on with their route without being in trouble one time??? ]

Alright, I guess we should do the proper thing and say hello.

B -- Signal; (open to Nel & Dorian as well!)

Yamanaka Ino, captain of the Three Twins speaking. What seems to be the problem?

C -- Open??;

B

[thespaceopera]

[the response is quite delayed. and when someone does respond, it's an audio channel coming in from the nearest watchdog ship. by the sounds of it, they're something like human, adult male, and unhappy.]

--Three Twins, you are in our personal space-- that is the problem. Explain yourself, and do it quickly.

SS Starstruck

[cpt_ressentiment]

► SS Starstruck - [ video] to the others
[ WHOA HOLY CRAP. He panics a little - that was sudden, after all! (More like he wasn't paying complete attention until now) But... welp. Here goes?

He opens a channel to the rest of the ship - private, of course. And if the captain picks up, even better. ]

Uhhh, guys? We're being asked to ID ourselves, and they've got guns. Like, seriously. A lot of 'em. Pointed at us.

So... I'm about to answer their hail, but I thought maybe everyone should know? And if anyone wants me to not they'd better let me know really soon.


► answering the Hail (feel free to jump in, captain!)
[ After long enough of waiting, it's probably A GOOD IDEA to say something, so he just... does. ]

This is Yosuke Hanamura, communications officer of the SS Starstruck. We, uh, we're seriously not here to start anything. Just floating through. [ beat ] Literally.

[thespaceopera]

[and there... is a delay on the other end as well. hmm.

when they do respond, it's an audio signal coming through from the nearest watchdog ship, and the guy on the other side at least sounds human enough.]

Starstruck, explain your presence and your intent, and be clear about it!

SS Vanquish

[fujibayashi]

[A. Crewmates]

[Sheena puts herself on loudspeaker so that anyone on the ship can hear.]

Sheena here. We've got some guests. Make sure everything's locked down and you're strapped in. I don't know how this will go.

[B. Answering the call]

[Sheena is nervous about the ships intruding, but she keeps a calm face and serious demeanor as she handles the hail.]

This is Captain Sheena Fujibayashi of the Vanquish. We don't mean any harm. We're a group of civilian ships attached to the large one, the Marsiva, and we can't stray too far.

If you'd like us to avoid stopping on your planet, we can-- but I'd like to extend an offer of trade if you're willing. The past couple of stops have been pretty desolate and we'd like to resupply.

[geonomy]

[Clay's already slowed to a stop, seeing how he's face to face with these ships. He keeps his hands gripped onto the controls just in case he has to leave quickly, but right now, he stays still, staring at the ships ahead of him and trying not to look nervous about it.]

SS GOLDEN

[unconfines]

A | Closed to the Golden (audio)

[It's moments like this where everyone (Anders included) might wonder seriously, that guy? He hovers at the bridge, watching the frequency like staring at it might glean more information than what they already have. The chime feels like it's drilling through his skull.]

Nobody panic [good start] but I don't think our new friends are precisely friendly. Be on the ready. Sometimes charm only gets you so far.

[He's going to answer it. Maker preserve them.]

B | Transmission (everyone hop in as desired!)

Hello there! Anders speaking, captain of the SS Golden. [He's calm, peppy and friendly.] It looks like there's been a mix up! We were under the impression we were clear to stop here for a bit.

[Well, as far as Atroma gives them an "impression" of anything. But he can spin it to sound like a well-meaning mistake if he has to. Saccharine sweet:]

Not the case?

a;

[interspace]

[ Misha's in the pilot's seat, thankful she doesn't have any kind of pressure on her to speak up. This is not her forte. She can, however, offer Anders and encouraging double thumbs up. Go get 'em, cap'n! ]

SS Pathstone

[heresyandlace]

→A
[does he have to do everything around here? while the more competent captain is on hiatus. once scanners pick up that trouble is approaching... though probably more due to the sudden chatter over the network... Tek is pretty quick to leap out of his nest and head for the helm.

on the way, however, he's on the lookout for a certain communications officer. this crewmember may find themselves soon to be bodily hauled toward bridge. anyone else on board-- I am just sorry. you maybe should have transferred to a different ship.]

→B
[and whether or not his communications officer or co-captain is anywhere around, he will be hastily responding to the signal once he reaches the bridge.]

Captain Tekhetsio of the SS Pathstone, here.

...Let me first offer you my sincere apologies if we are trespassing on your space.

SS Pathstone

[killedwithlove]

[The best bit is that Cole is sitting in the bridge, in the pilot's seat.

Ignoring the chatter completely, because he has no idea it's important, really.

He waves at Tek as he rushes onto the bridge and turns back to flying them in lazy barrel rolls. What?]

ss caprine

[deshabille]

a. signal + helm

[Mal tenses up when the signal comes in. She still isn't entirely sure what she's doing as captain, but one thing she knows for certain: whoever this is, she needs to get rid of them.]

This is the SS Caprine. Who's asking?

b. ship-wide broadcast

Anyone who's not up on the bridge already ought to get up here quick. We've got company.

b

[experiencepoints]

[Nightingale gets back to the bridge within seconds, like she'd already been on her way.]

Ah, I was wondering when I'd get back to the dangerous stupid shit.

SS Bloodsport

[birdsbirdsbirds]

A - Bloodsport Crew (audio and in-person)

Oy, oy! Look alive, we've got company... Stick close to your stations and keep an ear on the frequency, all right?

[if you don't want to do that, or your station isn't clear, Robin can be briefly found on the bridge before he responds to the message... he doesn't want to keep these guys waiting.]

B - The Frequency

[oh, boy. just what he needed. at least your dumbass, flighty captain knows when it's time to sound like he actually knows what he's doing. calm, but serious.]

This is Captain Robin of the SS Bloodsport. We're travelling on a route pre-determined by our flagship, Marsiva. [...well, he can't be 100% serious.] What seems to be the problem, officers?

B

[thespaceopera]

[it takes a minute, but the response finally comes in over an audio channel from the nearest ship. the person responding sounds conceivably human, male, and annoyed.]

Bloodsport. [--it's an incriminating name, guys.] The problem is that you are flying into our space. State your purpose and intent immediately.

SS Red Fish

[blindoptimism]

[she takes a deep breath before she responds to the hail, and makes a deliberate effort to lower the tone of her voice.]

A - Signal (Com Officers Only)
This is the SS Red Fish. My name is Nunnally Lamperouge and I am the ship's captain. We are a travelling leisure vessel, armed only with basic weapons to ensure protection. We mean no harm, and will only be staying for a short while.

[She covers what she assumes are the basics first, and is ready to give more or less detail depending o how they respond, as she waits she flips to a ship-wide broadcast]


B - Red Fish (audio or action)

Everyone, we are being asked our intentions. I believe that trouble can be avoided if we talk over things, but please proceed to safer portions of the ship temporarily until an agreement is worked out.

[yeah, she frets over that whole "we don't have shields" thing a lot]

A

[thespaceopera]

[and after a small delay, the response comes in the form of an audio signal sent from the nearest ship. the man on the other side--could be human--does not sound pleased.]

Captain Lamperouge, explain your intent, and do it quickly.

SS Tourist

[got_it_memorized]

A: [Action on the bridge, across the comm to all areas of the ship]
[As soon as the ships came up on radar Axel made his way to the bridge to see what was up. When he saw their weapons were locked, though, he set his jaw, his shoulders tight. The last thing he wants is another violent altercation in space.]

Look alive, Tourists, we've got some company. Everybody to your stations, if you would; I'm hoping this'll go without incident, but we might wind up having to put up our dukes again.

B: [Video, to the hailing frequency]
This is Axel, captain of the SS Tourist. We're just passing through, here, we don't mean anybody any harm.

B

[thespaceopera]

[the opposing fleet keeps their side of the feed audio-only, but the message is eventually answered by an irritable-sounding male voice. conceivably human.]

Captain, you are "passing through" a guarded airspace. Explain your intent, and why you have an unmanned Nunnilis ship is in your possession.