it's gonna rain - and it never ends

[thespaceopera]

[ It's midday, or close enough to it that the sun is blazing red hot above the planet. Everything seems ordinary - for disturbing, red-tinted values of ordinary, anyway. But the normalcy doesn't last for long.

Without warning, an explosive sound shocks through the jungle. It doesn't come from any one central point, but rather several points, scattered throughout, strategically placed to the advantage of someone. And from those massive shocks rises a wave of missiles - large, fast, and apparently, freely flying. They're guided, and they've locked onto their target: any foreign ship that is currently within Lato'li's atmosphere.

There's no way to mistake it. They're headed right for the Fleet.

The first wave feels a bit sporadic - timings might be off, but the missiles are still deadly, and if they hit, they hit hard. Shields might withstand this wave, but ships without shields will take direct hits. The ability to stay airborn is very, very quickly lost.

The second wave is much more precise, expertly timed and executed by whomever is firing from below. Even smaller shuttles get caught in the crosshairs, and those ships that lasted through the first volley will take a few more shots. If shields saved you before, they will fail here, giving out under the strain.

And the third wave comes, a little bit longer after, to finish the job. There are more of them, and they are far more advanced - they make the previous two volleys look like warning shots. This time, it's all missiles launched, all targets acquired.

Seven Fleet ships - and many, many shuttles - fall out of the sky, headed straight for the surface at alarming speed. Only four ships manage to escape the assault and exit the planet's atmosphere, retreating to orbit as fast as possible. Those lucky enough to have been in orbit can only watch as all of this happens.

But the missiles aren't the only thing up their sleeve. Just when the dust settles, while the network is surely lighting up with activity, attempts to contact one another and check on the status of fellow ships and crew, A loud, quick, terrible screeching noise shocks the network. It drowns out all communications on any connected devices - ship or personal. Ships in orbit will see all on-board systems flicker, then fizzle out, all non-emergency systems have gone completely down.

And with that.. there's silence. Perhaps too much silence. No matter what you do, no matter which buttons you press, which channels you try, there is no connection. Those who have dropped to the surface are entirely radio silent, and those in orbit have been reduced to the barest of abilities and life-support, with the bare minimum of contact.

So... What can you do now? ]


(( ooc: Feel free to use this post as a mingle for all your crashy or missile-dodgy needs!

• The following ships have been shot down: Bishop, Bloodsport, Blue Fish, Goldstone, Heron, Tourist, Twin Roses.
• The following ships are now in orbit: Blameless, Caprine, First Breath, Huntress, Iskaulit, Red Fish, Starstruck, Vanquish, Wonderduck

Good luck, Dear Fleet...~ ♪ ))

Comments

[noprophecies]

[when she's certain everything has calmed - or at the very least, she isn't going to get bounced around again - Tempest drags herself to her feet with a groan. She had been in the kitchen during the attack, and before she could realize what was happening had made friends with the wall, quickly and painfully.

She staggers out of the kitchen and to the bridge with a curse, tugging at the straps holding her artificial hand on and in place. If the fingers being bent at odd angles from taking her weight wasn't enough of a clue, the glass and metal rattling around inside the damn thing was definitely a huge hint that the whole thing was busted. Wonderful. And after she'd gone this long with only have to give it maintenance every so often.

She tucks the prosthetic under her arm as she arrives on the bridge, her now free hand fumbling for her communicator in her pocket as she surveys who's there and what damage there is. She finds something to lean against, for the moment not bothering to put up the usual "I'm fine" act]

What the hell was that? Is everyone all right?

[ahappylie]

[Okita follows after her a few moments later. He's left his communicator behind, but since his focus is on checking his crew right now, it isn't like he needs it right away. He's got a cut on his forehead and is carrying his sword without its sheath, dazed and shaking his head to keep alert.]

Tempest-san? What just happened?

[noprophecies]

I think we were attacked. [that was the only explanation for the explosions that rocked the ship, after all. Her free hand rubs at her face with a wince] And - crashed? It certainly felt that way.

[ahappylie]

[Crashed? He's never been in a crash before, but if that was what that was he certainly doesn't ever want to go through another one. He thought they were going to die.]

Attacked...? By whom? Weren't we in space?

[noprophecies]

We were, we are not anymore. [as for the rest, though . . . she shakes her head. Taking guesses at what happened will only confuse them both, so she focuses on his injury instead] You're bleeding.

[ahappylie]

So it would seem...

[The not in space part. He can see out the bridge windows now and is stunned at the thick foliage before them, cracked trees and burning debris everywhere.

At the mention of blood, his hand immediately goes to his mouth, then travels further to his forehead until he feels the familiar warmth there instead.]

Ah...yes, I am. But your hand? [He nods toward the broken prosthetic.] What happened?

[noprophecies]

[she looks down at his nod and freezes; for a moment she forgot all about it. Just goes to show that she isn't used to the damn thing yet, if it's weight isn't familiar by now.

She almost doesn't say anything, but then she sighs, shoulders slumping. She can worry about her issues with it later] It broke when I was tossed around. Damned thing wasn't made to take weight that way.

[ahappylie]

[Interesting... So it isn't a recent addition.

Still, she forgave a lot about his transgressions not but a week or so ago. He can leave this alone for now. They have more pressing matters at hand.]

Better that than your other hand, yes?

[But now that she has only one good arm, that will make things more complicated. He moves forward, wiping the blood from his head to peer out at the jungle. He can feel something out there, waiting. The air is full of tension, a line ready to snap, and he narrows his eyes, his voice dropping low.]

...We need to secure the ship. Something is out there.

[noprophecies]

[it's only a few months, so not, not that recent. Though she's very, very glad he decides not to press it; she doesn't even know where to begin explaining it]

Given that this one - [she briefly wiggles the remaining hand] - is the dominant one, yes.

[she turns to follow him to glance out the window as well. There was something unsettling about the planet already - she didn't have visions, but being part elf did "afford" her certain connections . . . it's why she didn't go down at all, the first two days they were here.

She glances at him sharply at the change in tone] Something? Like that?

We need to find everyone first.

[ahappylie]

[He'll ask her about it later when they aren't crash-landed and in very imminent peril. He has a keen sense for danger and right now, even with his head wound, all of his senses are standing on edge. Something is coming, something terrible, and they'll need everyone to survive it.]

...I don't know what, but something is definitely coming for us. Either the ones who shot us down or something else. There's bloodlust in the air.

[He blinks as blood drips into his eye, reaching up to wipe it away and smudge his fingers against the wound. A head wound will make him groggy and make his reaction time slower. He needs to get this healed quickly, or at least bandage it up. Then the armory and his second sword. His mind runs through all the possible scenarios of what is to come and he grimaces.]

If you find Takeshi, tell him to put Hoi Hoi in my room with Saizou. It wasn't heavily damaged and the animals can protect each other.

Find sheets if you can and block the windows so whatever is out there can't see in.

[noprophecies]

[ah. Of course. The response is muttered, but loud enough for him to hear] Isn't there always?

[she watches the windows for a moment or two longer, her own senses stretched as far as they'll go without her going out there to physically touch the ground. It's limiting and it irks her, spiking her already foul mood]

Blocking the windows will only do so much. [it's a familiar tactic she'd seen villages use during the war; block the windows so the enemy can't see inside - that didn't account for the other senses, though] But I will do so.

[she has to grab her weapons, too. And perhaps find a way to repurpose her prosthetic as a secondary weapon once headcounts and defenses are done]

[stormfist]

[ Jayden hadn't been piloting the moment they were hit, but when she'd felt it, she'd sprinted to the chair and immediately tried to regain control, pull up, escape the atmosphere and get the hell out of dodge... Too bad there was no escaping those missiles.

After the crash, she's still on the bridge - no severe injuries, by some miracle, but definitely covered in more than enough scrapes and gashes. Tempest shows up just in time to see her moving a very large piece of debris from the walkway. ]

We took fire. Anti-aircraft artillery. Ship's crashed.

[ She looks around at the massive amounts of damage, the sparking control panels and completely dead comms station. She sighs heavily. ]

Don't think we're getting back on our feet anytime soon, either. [ She turns to the other woman. ] You okay?

[noprophecies]

From whom? Another ship?

[they had been attacked before, but that had been raiding parties - something more familiar than aerial battles. She pushes off the wall to stand under her own power, rolling her shoulders in a quick check for injuries - sore, and she can feel blood trickling down her right arm, but nothing serious]

I am fine. Are you?

[stormfist]

From the planet. Multiple volleys of missiles, launched from what I assume are bases all over.

[ Not good. Not good at all. This is some organized shit going on, and as a soldier who has dealt with plenty of enemy forces with fronts like this, she is not happy. She is, however, ready. She'll go at this in full Guardian mode (so to speak) if it comes to it. ]

I'm okay. Uninjured. [ She takes a deep breath. ] After we get a headcount, we should come up with some kind of plan. Fast.

[noprophecies]

Bloody hell.

[while familiar with wartime tactics and the like, as always what happens in this world is far beyond her experience. But if there are forces on the ground to contend with, well - that, at least, she knows what to do about.

She glances towards the windows, eyes narrowing]

Mmm. One that likely puts us on the defensive, as we are not familiar with them yet.

[stormfist]

Defensive is best, at least for now. Once we know exactly who we're dealing with, we can adjust if we have to.

[ She takes a deep breath, looks out the window as well. ]

Just glad everyone on board is alive. Hope Crowley's safe, wherever he is. [ Beat. ] It is Crowley. I'm sure he's fine. But still.

[noprophecies]

Mmm. Perhaps, once we have settled, a few of us can find that out before we are forced to again.

[scouting party? Scouting party]

I imagine Crowley is perfectly fine. He is . . . him, after all.

[stormfist]

[ Scouting party! Perfection. ]

Sounds good to me. Let's see if we can't get ourselves armed first.

[ She's picked up a weapon or two... or three... or six... from systems previous, at least. Better to be prepared. And at Tempet's echoed sentiment about Crowley, Jayden actually makes an amused sort of "Hmph," sound, shaking her head. ]

He's definitely him, yeah.

[noprophecies]

[since almost - almost wants to make a joke about being disarmed, since her prosthetic is broken and all but - now is not the time.

Even so, she glances down at it with a bit of a wry twist of her lips] I am already armed, but I could go grab my sword as well.

[who needs modern weapons, not this girl. She echoes the noise Jayden makes]

An understatement, I know.

[stormfist]

[ It's too bad now isn't the time - they'll just have to laugh about it later. You know, once the dust settles and hopefully they get the fuck off this rock.

Besides, Jayden's still a little unclear about the prosthetic in general - but she's not about to pry when it's probably none of her business. Time for that later, too, probably. ]

Might be better to be over-prepared, yeah. [ She should do the same, and takes a second to think about exactly what to bring... ] Glaive and a couple of guns should be fine, right? [ Hey, overkill can be fun too. ]

[noprophecies]

[don't worry, Jayden isn't the only one - only three people on the fleet knew about it before the crash. She's been keeping it secret on purpose.

Laughing about it later does sound like a plan]

I think that may be a bit more than enough. [that isn't a complaint, Tempest is a fan of overkill]