driftfleet | warning! warning!

[The nebulas are beautiful in this region of space, at the very least. They gleam as great distorting clouds of space-stuff that your scanners don't even want to attempt to analyze. They affect the ships' instruments much like other areas of disruption have in the past, but these are actually visible as large swathes of light--like giant flames frozen in their swirling shapes, suspended across impressive stretches of space. For once, there's something like scenery to look at, out here in the black...

And then, the proximity alarms begin to blare.

From a gap between the two nearest clouds comes an assemblage of ships! Familiar to some and new to others--they do not respond to hails or communications of any kind, and they're gunning straight for the Fleet without slowing. Their weapons are locking on and firing as soon as they are in range.

Many passengers have been through this before, and many of the ships are bigger and better than they'd been in the previous skirmish. Today, the Drift Fleet will put up a better fight, even punch a few holes in their attackers.

Your augment knows where you need to go! Do you run to your station? Do you dodge your job? Are you unsure how to help? Are the captains giving orders or panicking, and are their crews paying attention? Everyone's got a chance to fight back before the enemy fleet runs them into the nearest nebula--and things suddenly take a bad turn.

As soon as each Drift Fleet ship hits the nebula, its systems overload and short-circuit before going dead. It stays silent for minutes, no radar, no comms, no network. Stubborn stragglers are ganged up on and forced into the cloud, followed by the poor ships on autopilot being bodily hauled into the nebula with tractor beams. Once the entire Fleet has been set adrift as sitting ducks, before the Marsiva can get too close, the attacking fleet... turns and flees through the cloud, seemingly untouched by the nebula that scrambles your ships.

Eventually, the systems flicker back to life, blinking on one by one. It will be several hours before any other effects of the attack will be noticeable. The network shows up as live again, but Atroma never shows up to explain a thing...]

ooc: the out-of-character event post is over here! respond to this post any way you like; you can have action, comm messages, play during the attack, being stuck in the nebula, checking in after the network comes back online, or whatever else seems fitting.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Wanda's tactical support augment had enabled her to serve as the ship's substitute weapons handler, and now it seemed to be giving her the information she needed to operate the Starstruck's comm station adequately enough for her current need. Luckily, Peggy and Yosuke were both nearby if Wanda needed the extra hand. She just hopes her message is able to get through.]

Nat- ...re you ther-? It's Wan- on the Starstr... can- hear me? Are you- ...Vision okay?

[The Windrose doesn't have a communications officer, and therefore no way to really best use the comms, but they can still respond to messages. After a moment, there's a loud banging and the slightly less staticky reply comes through.]

Wanda? We're...ll fine. Few scra--s and bruises, nothing...struck okay?

[Wanda's response returns with some static still affecting the message's quality.]

Nat? Na- is that yo- ? If you ca- --ar me, we are all rig--. The Starstr--- has taken a few hi--. But we ar- all rig--.

[There's a slight pause before her message continues. Her tone sounding more reassured and happy.]

I am gla- --u are all ok--.

Wa--a??

[There are several loud bangs, the static growing louder before mostly clearing away just in time for the tail end of a string of Russian cursing to be caught by the audio. Her voice is still blurry and indistinct, but it's mostly intelligible.]

Wanda? Still there? Repeat your last transmission.

Yes! Yes, I am still here.

[There's a sigh of relief that carries over the transmission. When Wanda resumes her communication, she sounds more calm and in control.]

It is good to hear that you are all right. The Starstruck took a few hits, and our electronics are acting up somewhat. This transmission could break up any minute. Otherwise, we are all alright. What about you and Vision? What is your ship's status?

Our electronics are down. Comms took a hit too, apparently. The fleetwide network in general is in and out. I can't raise most of the fleet. The Windrose took some hits, but the nebula did the most damage. Fried our systems, and without a pilot we're stuck. Think help might be coming, though. Don't worry. We'll be fine.

[Wanda nods her head. Her own ship was without a pilot as well, and with the autopilot fried it didn't look like they were going anywhere themselves for a little while.]

Any idea who it was that attacked us?

My guess would be whoever it was that attacked the fleet back in the spring. Before my time, but everything I've heard from others points that way. I guess that could be intentional, though. That's assuming they haven't been hired by Atroma to begin with.

[Wanda could remember a few of the fleet members mentioning an attack by some mysterious space craft a little before her own arrival in the fleet. If these were the same attackers...]

Why did they leave only to attack us again? Why not try to finish us off?

That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? We're not finding any answers in here, at least not without power.

[A thud as she kicks the console.]

Are you dealing with systems outages, too?

Yes. There have been a few outages for us, but everything seems to be holding at the moment.

We can't get a steady power flow. Once we're out, hopefully it'll stabilize. Let me know if things change over there.

[Wanda gives a firm nod in response, a small grin on her face.]

Same goes for you.

Of course.

[The smile she offers in return is more of a suggestion, but it's there, just before she cuts the feed.]

warning! warning!

After, encoded broadcast to Windrose Comms

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