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

[itstheirworld]

[That's a step in the right direction. Enid smiles faintly as it's a step for both of them almost.]

Then tell me something you want. I have been experimenting, and I think I learned how to make bread and grilled cheeses.

[outstandingbalance]

Grilled cheese, huh? I haven't had one of those in a long time. They come with soup?

[itstheirworld]

Mmhm.

What kind of soup? I can try a tomato or cream potato.

[outstandingbalance]

How about tomato? Classic. And I could use it.

I could use some company while I eat it too? If you're not busy.

[itstheirworld]

I can do tomato. [She gives another faint smile and turns to go, but holds a second at the next request. Faint smile caught where it is because she hadn't expected a request like that.]

No. I'm not. I can stay and give you company when I come back with the food.

[She would gladly. She didn't know how to say it but she could use it too.

If there was nothing Natasha wanted to say, she went and came back within twenty five minutes. Grilled cheese on a large plate with the soup bowl awkwardly placed on top. She walked over carefully with it and held it out for the Communications Officer to take.]

It's still hot.

[outstandingbalance]

[The situation hasn't changed much when Enid makes it back. Natasha has played with the panel some, checking on the connections and the hardware on their side, in case there's any shorts or damage keeping them from catching it when there is a signal.

She smiles with the girl comes back.]

Thanks. That smells better than anything I've had in a week. Maybe longer.

[The gratitude is very real. She's been mostly on her own since the incident sent so many ships crashing to the party.]

You having some too?

[itstheirworld]

[She takes that as a compliment, nodding at it.]

It's a bit better than anything I've made this week too. We need something to keep our strength and spirits up, right.

[What Natasha says also tells her that maybe the woman hasn't been eating regularly. Enid makes a note to herself to bring down food more often if she doesn't spy any change.

She shakes her head at the same time answering:] Everything I brought is for you. I'll be find until later.

[outstandingbalance]

[Natasha takes the tomato soup, cupping it in her hands and enjoying the warmth.]

Well, I appreciate it anyway. It and the conversation. I can use some real conversation. Something other than listening to static.