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

[candothat]

Optimism, good.

[Chekov--who has a great deal of experience doing what's asked of him, which makes this a terribly convenient arrangement--nods and begins evaluating the damage to the bridge, its stations, and anyone else who might still be on it.]

This may be premature, but I can guess with some confidence that the Tourist will not be flying anywhere in the very near future.

[wolfehawke]

You've got a super talent for stating the obvious, Pavel.

[He claps the younger man on the back, amused even if he's still disgruntled at the crash.]

So, uh... you any good at fixing ships?

[candothat]

Yes, it's one of my more impressive talents.

[Pavel winces theatrically in an attempt to mask how much that gesture startles him. As understandable as being jumpy after a crash might be, he'd rather not come off as anxious or easily-rattled to one of his newer shipmates. Nerves of steel right here.]

Very good... er, usually. The augment is a small impediment.

[wolfehawke]

An impediment?

[He raises an eyebrow. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, his own augment has been more than helpful in figuring out all this technology that's so different from where he's from. It's hard to imagine the chip being an impediment instead of a help.]

How so?

[candothat]

Usually I am a very good engineer and a decent mechanic. Here, not so much. Encryption, scanning, telemetry, repairs to the communications station, fine, I can do that, but anything else? Remembered half way, as if I spent my life learning only when I was extremely drunk.

[He clearly finds this frustrating. It honestly hasn't occurred to him that some people (who are not all-purpose space geniuses) find the augments almost entirely helpful.]

You have not noticed?

[wolfehawke]

[Wolfe just shakes his head slowly.]

We've barely mastered sailing ships in Thedas, remember. Everything the augment provides is basically news to me.

[candothat]

Ah, right. Then yes, I'm relatively good at fixing ships.

[Relative to present company. Sorry Wolfe.]

I'm at least confident that I can restore communications and ensure that none of the damage to the Tourist will make it explode and kill us before anything else has the opportunity to do so.

[wolfehawke]

Great! Perfect. Or, well, not perfect but it's something. I like not exploding.

[Trying to be supportive here.]

Anything I can do to help with the not exploding?

[candothat]

As do I. I'm very motivated to not do that.

[He feels supported, thank you.]

...Would you help me encourage Kirk to rest once in a while? His augment is helpful and he is very capable, but fatigue can lead to unfortunate mistakes.

[And also Chekov is worried but he's kind of worried about all of the idiots on this ship.]

[wolfehawke]

No kidding. Remind me to tell you later about the time I almost went to see the Viscount without pants.

[He snorts in amusement at himself.]

Deal. But in return, you make sure you see Anders about any injuries. We're in the middle of a hostile area so we've all got to be our best. We've got no idea what's coming.

[candothat]

[He is both intrigued and not certain that this is a story he needs to hear. It's almost definitely going to be a topic of inquiry later.]

Yes, of course.

Since you don't know the captain very well, I should tell you that you have given me the easier end of that deal.

[wolfehawke]

Oh, I, uh. Right.

[Wolfe coughs. He knows the captain maybe a little better than you might think, Pavel.]

Well, I know the type. Workaholic. My closest friend is like that.

[And it takes one to know one, too.]

[candothat]

[...Did they sleep together, because wow it seems like Kirk has slept with at least half the people Chekov has met.]

That type, yes. Then you know that you have agreed to a frustrating and potentially futile task and I won't feel badly for the unfairness.

[A ship full of workaholics? At least Chekov is more-or-less aware of his limits.]

Who else, other than Fenris and Kirk, will need to be monitored? Anders? You?

[wolfehawke]

[A lady doesn't kiss and tell.]

Definitely Anders. He forgets to eat half the time, though if you bring a plate of food and put it nearby, he'll absently pick at it so there's one trick at least. And if he doesn't come to bed I've taken to carrying him there, so don't worry about that.

[At least Wolfe's usually pretty good about taking care of himself? Unless someone needs him for something. Or something needs doing and it's easier for him to take care of it himself. Or one of his friends needs backup. Or...]

[candothat]

[Adalwolfe, you are no lady.]

Anders eats like a cat, noted. I will remember to put food in his bowl occasionally.

[He sounds like he's joking. He isn't.]

And you promise to care for yourself?

[wolfehawke]

[Pavel's assessment of Anders' eating habits pull a very loud bark of a laugh out of Wolfe.]

That's it exactly! He's such a cat.

[Excuse him while he chortles and possible ignores that question.]

He loves them you know, cats. If we ever come across one you be sure to tell him. He'll go to pieces over the damn thing.

[candothat]

I will, and perhaps after this we will go to a cat planet. I would like to see him interact with his own people.

[Gosh, Wolfe isn't even subtle with the avoidance. That's fine, Pavel can come to his own conclusions.]

I will also add ensuring that you rest occasionally to my list of things to do.

[wolfehawke]

It's pretty adorable until he starts bringing them home to piss on your bed. And alright, goodness. You're worse than a mother hen. Of course I'm going to rest. I like to rest.

[Unless something seriously dangerous is going on, of course. Or he's asked to do basically anything. But at least he does need to be asked; when left to his own devices, Wolfe is plenty content to lay back and try to regain his high score on Robot Unicorn Attack.]

[candothat]

As long as it is your bed, I may be inclined to find it adorable regardless.

[He gets an intensely skeptical look.]

Then it will not bother you if I periodically check to see that you are resting since you will be doing that anyway.

[wolfehawke]

[Adalwolfe snorts at that rejoinder. Pavel one, Hawke zero.]

Is this your other job, ship's mother hen?

[candothat]

Now that I live on a ship full of people who conveniently forget how to care for themselves when there is work to be done, yes.

[wolfehawke]

[He's still smiling, but there's a change to it, a cooling of his expression. He's not unfriendly, but Wolfe does feel that as they don't know each other all that well yet, Pavel needs to be informed on how Adalwolfe functions.]

I don't go out of my way to run myself into the ground. I sleep every night, eat full meals, and exercise. I'm not about to let myself go. But what you have to understand is that if there is something that must be done for the safety of others, especially this crew and my family, I will complete it, even if it means I'm sacrificing a little sleep. If I'm depriving myself, it's never going to be for no reason.

[He puts hands on his hips, tone gentle but perhaps just a little bit scolding.]

I appreciate that you care for everyone on board, and that's admirable, but let some time pass before you decide to judge if I can take care of myself or not.

[candothat]

[Whoops. Pavel is so used to nagging his friends (usually somewhat jokingly unless those friends are named Kirk) that he forgets that it's not an appropriate thing to do to people he isn't that familiar with. Overstepping bounds, assuming too much familiarity, leaping to conclusions... Wolfe is being quite nice about it, but he's still rather embarrassed. He looks suitably chagrined.]

I understand that. My apologies for assuming, Adalwolfe.

[He becomes very interested in the badly-damaged communications console. ]

[wolfehawke]

[Ah shit, did he go too far? He was trying to give a gentle rebuff, not a lecture.]

It's not a big deal. I understand where it's coming from and it's a caring place. You're a nice guy, Pavel. It's admirable, especially when so few are.

[He offers a smile.]

Need help with the console? You can tell me what to do, I'm sure my augment'll translate the techspeak.

[candothat]

[Absolutely not! Chekov is sensitive to perceived disappointment and annoyance and, eager as he is to neither disappoint nor annoy, prone to overcorrecting when he thinks that he has misstepped.]

Still... please tell me when I should be nice more quietly.

[He returns the smile. They're cool now?]

Yes, of course. [And he will happily put Adalwolfe to work, trying to explain anything that doesn't make sense without making Wolfe feel like... well, like someone whose only knowledge of this kind of technology comes from a chip in his brain.]