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

[fantachetic]

[ The hug shouldn't throw him off as it does, but Dorian welcomes it all the same, his own arms coming up shortly after to mirror her own. Up close like this, he can inspect her face and see if she's injured. ]

Surviving, as one does in an unfamiliar forest with something lurking nearby. It was dangerous to come, but I've just remembered who I'm talking to.

[veilstrike]

[ It's impossible for her not to hold onto Dorian for perhaps a little too long - she's tired, and her neck is sore from the claws of the hunters, and she's feeling the burn of her Anchor through the gentle block that Justice put on her. She needs to stop using it, she knows, but when it sparks and screams there's nothing she can do. That's why she grips a little harder, breathes him in for a moment, finally feeling safe. ]

It's not the first time, is it? [ She finally leans back, checking him over with careful scrutiny. ] Let me help you with some defences.

[fantachetic]

So far, I've held up rather well. They will let us know, should anyone come our direction. [ He nods to his summoned spirits who are still standing at the ready. ]

Have you gotten any odd feelings from this place? [ Because it's not sitting right with him, but he's yet to pinpoint why things feel wrong. ]

[veilstrike]

I'd forgotten how resourceful you are.

[ The spirits are a comfort, because it means that she doesn't have to worry too much about using her Anchor or her magic. She doesn't want to rely on Dorian too much, because she can defend herself, but she also doesn't want to end up losing her arm sooner than planned. ]

The entire planet is uncomfortable. It's as though there's something hiding under the surface - like Darkspawn, but not. All I know for certain is that those hunters want to eat us.

[fantachetic]

Clearly, I shall have to remind you. [ It's said in jest, because this isn't exactly a scenario he wants to have to show his resourcefulness. If at all possible, he'll dispense his magic so she won't have to. ]

My sentiments exactly. It's quite like being in the Fade, demons lurking on the periphery waiting to possess at a moment's notice.

[ Oh joy. ] Normally, I'd ask for a drink before letting someone take a bite of me. [ Dorian, now is not the time. ]

[veilstrike]

I look forward to being educated all over again. [ Perhaps later, when they've had a few glasses of wine and don't have monsters breathing down their necks.

Stepping away, just a little, she glances out over at the area around them. Her hand sparks but she doesn't react, Justice's touch having numbed the feeling almost completely. ]

Come now, Dorian, we both know you have far higher standards than this. [ She smiles, even if it's thin. ] We should be safe here. The forest is where they're most comfortable and I don't think they want to come out into clearings.

[fantachetic]

[ There definitely needs to be more wine and less cannibals, it's true. Dorian glances at her hand with a concerned frown, but it leaves his face quickly. ]

I'm so glad we both know my standards. [ He's getting that feeling from the forest again, and even the spirits seem restless. ] For how long? We're in the perfect position for them, are we not? A broken ship and small crews.

[veilstrike]

[ At least she was promised wine if she killed some of the hunters - wine she intends to share with her best friend, of course. ]

I'd like to think I picked some things up. [ She moves back to his side, frowning, her eyes stuck on the forest. ] I'd like to see any of them get passed me. I'm not their fan.

[fantachetic]

Well, that certainly makes two of us.

[ He's too pretty to be eaten, Leilani. How do Tevinters even taste? Like red wine and gristle, maybe? ]

[veilstrike]

[ Breathing out, Leilani shifts, focussing on keeping herself calm. Her hand hurts and she's frustrated and bruised, but she's not going to leave Dorian by himself. ]

Are you the only one here?

[fantachetic]

Maker, no. However, a few went to the coordinates for the communications tower. Though I'm not sure where everyone is on the ship at present.

[ He's making sure no one gets in or out without his knowledge, which is why he's put himself outside so he can at least be aware of what's going on. ]

[veilstrike]

Good. I'd have to have a talk with your crew if they'd abandoned you.

[ Reaching out, she touches his arm, gently. ]

We need to watch the forests. The hunters are quick and they know what they're doing. They can sneak up on us - that's what they did to Justice and I.

[fantachetic]

[ Of course it couldn't have been a simple trot through the forest for Leilani, but even then, hearing it is concerning. Not that he doesn't have faith in her abilities- they're remarkable. But she was attacked with Justice.. ]

Were you attacked on your way here? Where is he now?

[veilstrike]

He's seeing if he can find anyone else, just like I am. [ She shrugs, though, rubbing her neck. ] It's just a few scratches and bruises. I'm fine.

[fantachetic]

Have you come across anyone else? I don't know exactly how many others are down here, come to think of it.

[ Which is... not great, honestly. It's hard to keep on top of people when the communications are down. ]

[veilstrike]

The only other person I have seen so far is Justice. [ And he counts as a person, thank you, Thedas. ] I was travelling with him when we were attacked.

[fantachetic]

I wonder how spread out everyone is, and how difficult it will be to get back in the air.

[ Which is a very strange sentence he never thought he'd say. ]

[veilstrike]

Do we have the ability to repair our ships? [ She moves away from Dorian, just for a moment, to inspect the metal around him. ] I only know how to defend them.

[fantachetic]

I don't have those abilities, though I'm flattered that you have that much faith in me. The Captain is our engineer, but he went with Riona to the towers.

[veilstrike]

Then we'll simply wait for them to return. [ She doesn't intend to let Dorian wander off. ] When her ladyship returns we will be ready.

[fantachetic]

Inquisitor, if you need to seek others out, I'll be fine on my own.. Though I'd loathe to let you go back out alone.

[veilstrike]

Me? I'm fine. [ She's fought dragons and Darkspawn and Qunari. No problem. ] I'll be fine.

[fantachetic]

Mmhmm. I am thoroughly convinced. [ He knows that, but he worries! The look on his face at least shows that he's skeptical. ]

[veilstrike]

[ Leilani gives him a look before she flops down to the ground. ]

... I may have allowed Justice to work some spirit magic on me.

[fantachetic]

And what does that entail? [ As long as it's nothing bad, you know. ]