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 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! ]

[unconfines]

[Anders smiles broadly at her in return, because of course he's fine! This is fine. Everything is fine.

Provided he doesn't encourage them to start blasting right out of the gate, of course.]

Be sure to make our daring escape extra speedy, on the off-chance this goes sideways. As egregiously overequipped as we are [thanks, team security!] I'm not keen on sticking around to test our mettle, if it comes to that.

[a beat]

Not that it's going to go sideways. Just as a— small backup plan.

[interspace]

[ Everything is so totally fine. She has confidence! Or... well, enough sense not to mess with all this shit herself and let someone else take care of it. ]

My foot's on the pedal ready to put it to the metal. Hey, we can't help it if they turn out to be asshats off the bat, right?

[unconfines]

My thoughts exactly. I knew there was a reason I liked you!

[Both for being ready to fly really really fast, and also because he in no way feels obligated to these whoever-they-are beyond making sure they don't turn the ship into swiss cheese immediately. If they're asshats, they're asshats.]

[interspace]

Oh, so my charming wit and good looks aren't enough.

[ She gives him an amused head tilt before shifting to see what's going to happen with the communications. ]

Just give me the signal. Or, like, say a signal. Do we have a signal on this ship?

[unconfines]

We should have one of those, shouldn't we? Do we like hand gestures?

[He does some bizarre and complex configuration with his hands that he'll forget in a half second.]

Or do we prefer codewords?

[interspace]

I like hand gestures. Harder to crack.

[ She grins at that, making a simple a-okay handsign back. ]

But a phrase would work in case we can't see each other. Right?

a; audio

[recopy]

[Ah, well, it was probably only a matter of time before something went wrong. After a chime on the alert comms like that, Ander's voice is not so surprising. Oh boy.]

Well, on the bright side, they're probably just as nervous as we are, right? Nobody's very friendly when they're nervous. It's not like we've done anything yet... [RIGHT......] I bet you'll be fine!

[He really wants to leave it at that, he does! But the worrier in him is on a full kick by now, and so after an almost audible moment of hesitation:]

Ah--would you like me over at the bridge anyhow, though? In case we end up needing our shielding after all...?

[unconfines]

I'm going to go ahead and say yes.

[He's not the greatest diplomat. He's never wanted to be. If he had his way, he'd just ignore this missive until the metaphorical hammer forced him to not ignore it anymore, but... that's not an option here, not with this many people in the crosshairs.

So, yes, shields would be good.]

Can't hurt for us to be a little less nervous, can it?

[recopy]

[Shields are always nice anyway, yes! He may not be one of their bristling security dispatch, but still, he does like to help however he can with things like this...]

It sure can't! I'll be over in a bit.

[And over he is, after about half a minute or so, sticking his head into the bridge and staring at the frequency display first thing before he trails inside properly.]

Man, this didn't happen at that last planet we were at, did it? Though I guess there wasn't anybody really living on that one...have you messaged them back yet?

[unconfines]

Not yet.

[His hand is hovering over the button, though. He casts Megaman a smile over his shoulder.]

Decided I'd hold off until you got here. Wouldn't want you to miss all of the excitement, after all!

[Also: he'd rather have the potential for shields before picking up the transmission, in case the answer on the other line is: "We just wanted to know who we're blowing up.]

[recopy]

[He wanders up to the shield console in question as Anders speaks, returning the smile with an only mildly nervous one of his own. Because they've totally got this. Yes.]

Ah, that's true! I appreciate you waiting, I've always wanted to listen in on scary alien messages... [whoa was that almost sarcasm ANYWAY....] I was thinking though, actually--maybe we should tell them we're part of the Drift Fleet, at some point? Since this is a tv show and all--we could try hoping that they've heard of it, I guess...

[unconfines]

[His grin brightens; he apparently appreciates well-placed sarcasm.]

Ooh, there's a thought! Flaunt our celebrity status, see if that gets them to back down? I have always wanted to shout, "Do you know who I am?" at someone before.

[Is he serious?? Let's hope not.]

[recopy]

[And he's glad to deliver!! When he can, at least...thoughtful, he fidgets at the buttons on the shield console a bit, attention flicking back and forth between Anders and the pending transmission--though that last bit definitely has his glance settling on Anders, at least. How could anyone not help but smile at a statement like that, anyway?]

Hah, something like that! I mean, I don't know if I could pull that off even if I was super famous...but maybe you could! Just sound really important and offended, and things like that. I think that's what famous people do...?

[AT LEAST HE'S ONLY HALF SERIOUS...PROBABLY.....otherwise yeah the Golden probably isn't long for this world, whoops.]

B

[thespaceopera]

[he can go ahead and fret for a bit, while his broadcast is met with silence for several long moments. maybe they're taking time to line up the perfect shot.

they do reply eventually, however, with a human-sounding voice over an audio channel. the woman responding does not sound pleased.]

You have been given no such clearance, Golden. Explain your presence and intent immediately.

[unconfines]

[There is certainly fretting, though he does his very best not to show it. It mostly manifests as fidgeting with the edges of various buttons on the console he's standing in front of; he only knows what about half of them do.

He almost gives Misha the signal to go when the silence stretches too long, paranoia tugging at his edges— but then the voice comes onto the channel, and he holds off.

Still cheerful:]

Well, the presence bit isn't exactly up to us, sorry to say. The big one in the middle, the Marsiva, she's the one who dictates the course we take. The rest of us are just along for the ride, more or less. You can take it up with her, if you like, though I wish you a great good luck on that endeavor.

[He's not inclined to say it in so many words, we're trapped like rats, depending on who he's talking to and who might be listening, but he'll call a spade a spade, at least.]

Intent— drop in for a visit, say hello, restock a bit, be on our way? [He's been fairly blase up until this point, where his tone solidifies, just on the edge of seriousness.] If that's not agreeable, our people can stay off the planet until our fearless leader decides to drift us elsewhere. But I can't speak for the rest of the fleet.

[thespaceopera]

[and it goes over swimmingly.]

...Is that a threat, Captain?

[because she isn't even considering taking all of that literally.]

[unconfines]

Threat? [THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY. He fumbles, losing what little momentum he'd built up, and falls back on:] No. No, no, no. No. Exactly the opposite, actually. Believe me, I'm not that stupid.

[This is fine! Everything is fine!!]

How about we start again, you and I. You sound like an intelligent woman. [Laying it on a little thick, there, Captain.] All I mean to say is that the Golden is willing to work with you to the best of our ability, if we've been dragged somewhere we don't belong.

[beat]

Our ability is a bit limited in places, yes, but we'll still work to the best of it.

im so sorry and yet not

[recopy]

[oh my god Anders you really are laying it a bit thick there wHY

Hello watchdog lady don't mind this alarmed twelve-year-old whisper sidling into the edge of your feed, probably still unfortunately pretty audible with how close the shield console actually is to the signal comm whoops--]

Anders, wait, are--are you flirting? But you don't even know her name yet! Maybe you shouldn't do that...isn't that sort of rude?

it was nice knowing you, Golden

[thespaceopera]

[oops, it's apparently pretty audible.]

Excuse me?

[a beat while she just. takes a moment to step back, take a breath, and refocus.]

...Golden, I highly suggest that you leave your stories and dalliance out of this, and explain yourselves--concisely--starting with what a merchant-class Nunnilis ship is doing in your fleet.

a;

[averagestar]

[And Uzuki's in the communications seat, mostly trying to put together relevant information, and...]

...Captain, if the coordinates are right, that planet should be what the Iskaulit was targeting. They're probably going to want some information on that.

[unconfines]

[The name of the ship, Iskaulit, gets a somewhat pained reaction out of him. He rubs at his eyes before it has a chance to get beyond a flicker in his expression, but... yes, that would make sense, wouldn't it?]

Maker, because that will go swimmingly, won't it? "Oh, it's fine, we just burned what we could and made off with the rest. Nothing to worry about!"

[averagestar]

Well, since we brought it along, I don't really think we have a choice but to give some sort of explanation. We might not need to give the full story, but they're probably going to want the major parts. I could do that, if you want I spent most of last month working on keeping all the information together, at least.

[unconfines]

[He's quiet for a long moment, deliberating.]

Yes. All right. Give them what we know, everything we know, if they ask. But only if they ask. [Grumbling:] Owing them an explanation doesn't mean I want a hole blown in the hull for it.