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

[asphodels]

That's because he's Cloud.

[ And as much as she loves him he can be - understandably, given his past - oblivious. ]

I'll give him extra, too, don't worry.

[wingenvy]

...Not too much extra, right?

[he can pout without getting jealous, right? because he said they weren't gonna get jealous, but.]

[asphodels]

He's not going to get more than you. [ Lifting herself up, Aerith touches her hand to his cheek, drawing him into a kiss. ] You both get extra. As much of me as you like.

[wingenvy]

Mmmm, I like that. [Zack closes his eyes, content, his hand sliding up her back.] And we can give you double right back.

[asphodels]

[ The weight of his hand is comfortable, and she smiles as she kisses him again. ]

That's a lot of kisses. Do you think I'll have enough time?

[wingenvy]

Hmm, true... is there something else you'd wanna make time for?

[More than twenty-three things, he figures.]

[asphodels]

I'm not sure. [ She leans up a little, though, smiling. ] But I want to go on a date. Another one.

[wingenvy]

Hey, you know I'm down. Though, uh. Maybe we could find somewhere more fun than this to have it?

[because this planet suuuuuuucks.]

[asphodels]

The next planet, then. [ A nod, then - ] We could ask Cloud, too?

[wingenvy]

Cloud? You mean like a double date?

[not exactly what he'd had in mind... but he doesn't mind Cloud's company, either. huh.]

[asphodels]

Mhm! At least one time. We can do it alone the other times.

[wingenvy]

Hah, okay. But you better ask him! It might be weird if I'm the one who invites him out on a date.

[asphodels]

Why would it be weird? You're both my boyfriends.

[wingenvy]

Yeah, but I'm not his boyfriend.

[asphodels]

All you’d have to do is say ‘Aerith wants us all to go out’. I bet you wouldn’t even need to pick him up.

[wingenvy]

...Soooo the message I'm getting is that you want me to arrange this, then?

[asphodels]

Mum, no. I can do it, don’t worry. [ It’s interesting to test the waters though. ] I’ll figure something out and surprise you both.

[wingenvy]

No, no, Miss Gainsborough, message received! I accept this mission, so don't you worry about a thing.

[asphodels]

When you’re better. [ Sternly. ] Only then. Right?

[wingenvy]

Ugh, yeah. I don't want to try and have a nice date on a crappy planet like this, anyway. It'd be like a combat-date. Hacky-slashy-fighty date.

[............wait shit actually that sounds fun]

[asphodels]

I don't have a staff! I can't slashy anything. I can freeze them, though.

[wingenvy]

...Hacky-slashy-bonky, then?

[his coherency is going down due to bloodloss, probably.]

[asphodels]

... Zack. [ It's hard not to giggle, shaking her head and urging him to settle down. ] Lets rest.

[wingenvy]

Yeah, yeah...

[okay, maybe that was a bit silly even for him. he's only a little reluctant as he lays his head back down, nestled cozily against her, closing his eyes.]

Gonna stay a while?

[he's not trying to be clingy, but... okay, he's a bit clingy. it's been a hell of a day and he doesn't want to lose her again.]

[asphodels]

[ Aww. Aerith smiles, shifting to snuggle closer, letting herself wrap an arm around him. ]

I'll stay as long as you want me to.