driftfleet | [video] It's a trap

Who: Princess Looma Red Wind and YOU
Broadcast: Video, sent to all her fellow flooters
Action: Planetside (closed to Sayid)
When: Varies (first broadcast in the afternoon, second and third at night)

[A: Fair Warning]

[This is definitely an unusual broadcast from Looma, given she's currently looking a bit uncomfortable inside a darkened...container of some sort. She's seated on the floor, as comfortably as she can be, even if she can't quite stretch her legs without immediately hitting the wall opposite her. Also, it's dark, and the only lighting is from a small light stick rolling around on the floor of wherever the hell she is.]

Consider this broadcast a warning. I do not know if anyone in the Fleet is involved, but I thought only fair to warn any who were. If you happen to be employed anywhere on this planet, and your given task is to steal a shipment of contraband- don't.

[The glare she's giving the camera right now should provide aaaaaall the information anyone could possibly want about just why it's unwise. She also has the big metal spear she picked up back on the water planet with her, which can't possibly bode well. Looma with weaponry rarely does.]

This will be your only warning.

[That seems to be the only thing her conscience requires, so she'll reach over and shut off her comm device. Though as she has no idea how long it'll take for this trap to be sprung, she'll at least be good about answering.]

[B: Way Worse Than A Mimic]
[When she's broadcasting again, it's hard to tell how much time has passed just by looking at the video, but it looks like wherever she is she's been jostled around quite a bit. There's annoyed growling on her end as she readjusts her helm and clears her head a bit, before reaching over to set her comms unit back upright so she's no longer upside down. She doesn't seem too keen on talking just yet, instead quietly climbing up to her feet to turn and face the opposite end of the container with spear in hand. There's certainly a commotion out there, and plenty of muffled shouting and hustling about.

She'll wait until she hears a clanging noise before readying her spear, pausing a moment, then thrusting it through the area in front of her. There's the sound of metal having a hole punched through it to be sure, but also a discomfiting sound on top of that- something alive being skewered as well, and several different shouts of alarm from whoever's out there. And the container she's been hiding in is flooded with more light than the light stick can provide once she kicks open the doors in front of her. She's on the planet's surface alright, and the small assortment of armed, orange-skinned aliens clearly did not expect to see her.

She doesn't bother to bring her comm with her outside, but the view out the back of the container certainly shows enough. The trap had been sprung, and all that remained was the massacre. She wouldn't be going out of her way to kill anyone, but part of her instructions for this particular job had been to send as loud and clear a message as possible. Which was fine for her- she'd been spending so much time restraining her temper aboard the fleet that a chance to unleash it on anyone was a welcome pleasure, even if it did present her in a certain barbaric light.

She left her spear embedded there in the container door, both out of a desire to keep whoever she had pinned to the other side immobile and also because she certainly didn't need it. Not for scarcely more than a half dozen individuals. She leapt out of frame before the surprise could wear off, allowing her to escape the first volley of gunfire, and also carrying her several meters down the street to land in front of what was likely an escape vehicle for the unfortunate hijackers. It looked to be a large hovering transport of sorts, which she promptly grabbed by the front end and swung overhead to pancake it upside down on the road before the driver could make a clean escape- from either the scene or the vehicle's cabin.

Once both were out of the picture, she was free to deal with the rest of the crew present at her leisure. Some of it out of view certainly- barring the occasional clang as part of the container wall was caved inward as a foe either found themselves suddenly going airborne or being physically slammed into the side- and some of it unfortunately not. To their credit, these guys were not completely incompetent, and they had decent aim! The problem was, most all of the fire being directed at Looma seemed to do little more than aggravate her as it ricocheted off both her armor and her hide. A particularly observant hijacker evidently realized a different approach might work better and even began lighting her up with stun rounds which, while effective at slowing her down, only seemed to enrage her more than anything. It wasn't long at all before she'd managed to advance enough to grab hold of his weapon and crush it as he fired one last time- destroying the weapon and the hand holding it in her fist before raising him up off his feet and smashing him down to the ground like a hammer.

For a time being, the continued gunfire at least covered up the sounds that caused, but as she eliminated the remainder of the man's cohorts one by one, anyone watching no longer had the luxury of not hearing the aftermath. Fortunately by the time the gunfire stopped completely, he'd at least downgraded from anguished screaming to loud whimpering.

A noticeably calmer, less feral-looking Looma eventually stomped back into view to finally yank her spear free from the container door moments later. What exactly it was that caused the thud outside the container once she did wasn't going to be left to anyone's imagination for long, either. Both the man who'd be pulling shards of metal out of his shattered hand for days to come and the pincushioned hijacker were both summarily thrown into the container by Looma shortly thereafter, followed by her bloodied spear. She joined them only to retrieve her comms device, and to end the broadcast with a brief message.]

To anyone who heeded my warning, you have my thanks.

[Click!]

[C: Some time later, locked to Sayid]

[Have an annoyed looking Looma on your screen, Sayid. Sure it's late, but she's your captain darn it and it's not like she hands out work often.]

I require your assistance. I do not expect it to take long.

[There's no "please" there, which shouldn't surprise him. Or anyone, for that matter. But at least she's not actually shouting orders at him, right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While he had taken her appearance and demeanor to mean that she was one of a militant mind, Mantis is still quite surprised (and impressed) with the sheer amount of violence that just unfolded across the comms link she had set up. It was, dare he say, poetic. The use of classical arms, the way she shrugged off attempts to subdue her, and the ultimate demise of those who tried to oppose her.

Violence is always an answer in his mind, and while he is certain that this is the very limit of what he should acknowledge of her activities on the planet, he still feels that certain rules of politeness must be adhered to. She is his captain, after all.

His voice is tinged with a mix of awe and respect:]

Captain, your form and fury are commendable. Is there anything you need prepared on the ship? I am still planning a trip down to the planet.

[It's a while before she can respond, but once she does, she's not looking much worse for wear. The remaining hijackers on the scene, much less so, but at least they were still breathing. For now. They've been wrapped together with metal she'd ripped free of their former vehicle and left aside, though their weapons were left wherever they fell. She also wasn't sure just how easily the flying transports here caught fire, but she'd moved their vehicle farther out of the way just in case.]

Nothing is necessary. I am uninjured, and will likely not return for some time.

[Mostly because she's going to be absolutely certain this particular message gets sent on the behalf of her employer. She fully intended to be picked up along with the hijackers- something that probably wouldn't take too much longer, given the sirens in the distance slowly getting closer- but she was confident she'd be able to avoid any real consequences. She'd already disposed of her spear after all, along with the man she'd impaled with it, and the container she'd arrived in- along with the vehicle hauling it- had long since left the area. She'd tag along to provide a statement, grudgingly omitting a few details in the process, and generally just be present as added encouragement for silence on the part of the hijackers. They'd be less likely to try and get her employer arrested for arms trafficking if they knew she was just a few rooms down, after all.]

But your praise is appreciated. Your business on the planet is your own, but I do advise you to choose any profession carefully.

[Or in other words: Those guys? Don't be those guys.]

[He laughs, joyously and deeply. The shock of it gets to him quickly, stopping the laugh almost as fast as it started, but a smile is in his voice. Looma might be the best thing about being stuck in this mess. At least until something else comes along to usurp her boisterous manner of living.]

I think it will be simple to avoid working for people who's incompetence loses them manpower. This planet reminds me of cities back on Earth, but pushed to the very limits of functionality.

I meant only that I would appreciate it if your choice does not mean forcing me to choosw between my employer and crew.

[Crew would win, but she did like having a job. Okay, not really, but the pay was nice. The fact it let her intimidate and occasionally pummel people was also a nice perk.]

I suspect it is more than simple thievery that could cause such a conflict on this world.

Should it be possible to find out if we wind up on opposite sides of a professional divide, I will back out of whatever venture led to it. Professionalism is key to good interpersonal relations.

[He can only imagine the kinds of things that Looma gets up to that this kind of work suits her so well.]

Undoubtedly so. Big cities end up with big conflicts mostly when things like territory are not respected.

[Look, he likes her plenty and she is a glorious badass and he sure does love a woman who can beat the shit out of anything and everyone. He loves that a lot. But sweet lord, girl. ]

I'm, like, 99.9% sure that they got that message loud and clear.

...Geez, Looma, don't you think that was a little excessive?

[Well she's certainly not about to ignore Sokka. So as soon as she's got a moment, she'll pick up her comm again. Most of the remaining hijackers have been wrapped up in some metal she'd ripped from their flattened transport, though it seemed more efficient to leave the driver inside. She did shove the whole thing further away though, just in case these things had a bad habit of exploding if left upside down for too long. It was something she'd keep an eye on.]

That was restrained. I lack the weaponry and resources to commit to a more forceful response.

[She could probably manage with her hammer, but really she kind of missed the magic that came with the last round of multiverse kidnapping. Also her ship. And fleet. And a lot of things. Still, punching people into submission felt good!]

But if that is your honest opinion, I am satisfied. My employer should be beside himself with joy, and I will be paid accordingly.

Oh yeah, he'll be satisfied. And hey, I'm all for beating up the bad guys when they need it.

[A long pause. ]

I mean- no one's dead, right? Right? Because I'm pretty sure that should be reserved for actual monster-people who absolutely deserve it. So that's-good?

[He takes a moment then feels the need to add: ]

You are really, really strong. Like, wow. I'm impressed. You go, girl.

I do not believe so. But one or two may succumb to their injuries.

[Like, say, the one she ran through with a spear. Not that she seems overly concerned about it- she did throw in a live one just in case, after all.

She is going to damn near glow at that praise, though. The fact it's coming from one of the few people she considered something akin to a friend was only making it all the more appreciated!]

Of course I am! I am father's greatest warrior- and the first Tetramandian princess to reach her age of ascension un-betrothed!

[Back when it was a sore spot she'd, that fact had caused her to kind of go a little out of control. Now though? Bragging rights.]

Looooomaaaaa that kills people.

[That seems less judgey and more amused than anything else. He hasn't got a great moral standpoint on these guys, so-

Oh. Oh but that last part strikes a nerve, one he covers up with a wide grin and a lot of praise, true,
but he has issues with this kind of thing.]

Damn right! And heck, who says you have to be betrothed to anyone? You can kick butt all by yourself, you definitely don't need a husband-slash-wife for that. You got this!

[All she can do is offer a quick shrug here, Sokka. She's never been overly fond of thieves- and really, stealing weapons from a weapons merchant seemed to be asking for trouble anyway. The only reason they aren't all dead is that she's usually got no strong desire for it unless it's deeply personal.]

He was alive when I was finished. Whether he survives his injury is his concern.

[There's a moment after his unexpected pep talk where it looks like she's smiling- an actual, warm smile rather than the sort that sends up red flags for anyone in her vicinity- but she gets it under control.]

It is something I have accepted for the time being. I still wish to one day be betrothed again, and share the joy of raising my own successors as my mother and father surely did. But I have decided it will happen in due time.

[The thought of it not happening is kind of what drove her to show up on Earth with an armada at her back (again). So. Probably for the best that she keeps being at peace with that fact.]

I'm pretty sure he'll be super concerned over if he lives or not.

[That tends to be A Thing. He doesn't catch on to how dangerous that smile can be, because of course he doesn't.]

Well, sure! I mean, it has to be your choice right? Find the right person you want to marry and have a family with. Someone you love, and not someone you have to marry because they think you should. That's important.

[video] It's a trap

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