thespaceopera: (dial tone)
Voices from Heaven ([personal profile] thespaceopera) wrote in [community profile] driftfleet2015-02-01 02:05 pm

a blip

[the fleet has been clear of the musical signals for a day or so... but things still aren't quite right. signals occasionally fail, there is static in the wires. and, apparently, the ships' scanning equipment hasn't been as sensitive as it should be.

it isn't until the fleet is far from the last planet's range that some kind of invisible cloud clears... and several blips show up on every ship's radar. those ships that have a communications officer on-board will actually hear a little alert. and those that don't may miss it entirely, if no one else on board happens to glance at the monitors.

--you aren't alone.

for the first time, there is something showing up on the scanners that isn't the innocuous signatures of local traffic between stations, or the lone, short-range ships out doing their jobs. this is something else.

the communications officers and pilots can attempt to scan them, maybe try and hail... but they lie at the absolute far edge of the equipment's range. just hovering--maybe watching, maybe waiting. maybe not realizing that the drifting fleet is unblinded enough to see them. and there's no telling how long they may have been there.

and once noticed, they only remain for a few minutes before disappearing again into the black.]

...

ooc: this is an entirely-optional mini-event. you can reply or not, and there is no rush to do so. the ships on the radar cannot actually be reached, and will disappear regardless of what is attempted. but if you want to try anyway, post reactions, etc., go ahead and knock yourself out here. they won't answer, but maybe they are listening regardless. this can also be used as a mingle, if anyone wants to talk to each other, or try to bludgeon their communications officer into getting off their butts to actually do anything.

this is just a small event, or clue, and can be played with or ignored as you all wish! enjoy!
hearsthesea: (forgot about them)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-02 04:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, that's not what you want to hear from someone hanging around anything vital to a ship's function. It definitely gets Shirley's attention, drawing her out towards the equipment.]

Varric, what's wrong?
Edited 2015-02-02 04:56 (UTC)
merchantprince: (♪ crawling in the coliseum dust)

[personal profile] merchantprince 2015-02-02 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
There's something stuck on the screen.

[... so, of course, he uses his gun to hit it. IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, he's already tried wrecking the shit out of the ship before. But it might freak Shirley out.]
hearsthesea: (did Grune just say she likes Senel)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-02 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
Ahhh!

[It does indeed freak her out, and Shirley starts scrambling forward in case he starts to do it again.]

Won't that damage it?
merchantprince: (♪ some things you do for money)

[personal profile] merchantprince 2015-02-02 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
Nope. Had to calibrate the aim a while back, so I tried shooting out one of those speakers. Didn't work.

[The blip is still there. He puts his gun down.]

Well, shit. It's still there.
hearsthesea: (can't get depressed and run away)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-02 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[So what was that about then, Varric? Picking on your shipmates?

Once Shirley's started to calm down from that little panic, she takes a look at the display.]


Is that...another ship?
merchantprince: (♪ in completely garish hues)

[personal profile] merchantprince 2015-02-03 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
[A little bit. He stares at the screen intently.]

That's what it looks like. No idea if we can talk to them, though.
hearsthesea: (Norma does look like a monkey)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-03 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
You don't know how to send a message, do you?

[Seems more like a communications kind of thing, unfortunately.]
merchantprince: (♪ when he saw his face reflected)

[personal profile] merchantprince 2015-02-04 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
Not a clue. We could try holding signs up in the window, but I don't think they can see that well.

[Yep.]
hearsthesea: (just waiting won't change anything)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-04 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Nope.]

No, I don't think so. I wonder who it could be...another ship?

[It is around the regular shuffle time, after all.]
merchantprince: (♪ ecstatic when he stands defiant)

[personal profile] merchantprince 2015-02-05 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
I doubt it's one of ours. Our ships never get too far away from the big one.

[Which begs the question: what the fuck.]
hearsthesea: (can't forget being kidnapped)

[personal profile] hearsthesea 2015-02-05 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
What if they're bringing in a new one?

[Maybe. If she doesn't sound sure, it's because she isn't.]