in the shadow of the skyline

[thespaceopera]

[ The Drift Fleet and the Interceptors are an overwhelming force when combined - they may look like a ragtag bunch of ships, but they sure do pack a punch, and the Vieziri are feeling it... Especially the flagship.

It explodes gloriously, nothing but scraps and shambles and metallic debris left in the wake of so much combined fire and heavy artillery. From there, it isn't long until the Vieziri retreat - unorganized. Panicked. Easy to pick off, should anyone choose to not let them get away. Those on the surface find out very quickly what's happened to their warlord, and they flee as well, deep into the jungles and far out of sight. With no leader, they have no plans, and they stand no chance. They won't be a threat anytime soon - or really, for a long while, if ever again.

=========

The Interceptors land on Lato'li, just outside the largest city their scanners can find, and they set themselves up for a short stay. They can help here, and so they will. They also know that those in the Fleet still have so many questions... and after all they've been through, well, maybe they can figure out how to answer some of them - if they even have the answers at all. No reason not to try, right?

And Zhade? Alive, against all odds - and grateful. To all of you. Stop by and see them before they find their way off this rock. Hell, maybe you can help them convince a certain fleet of crazy ships with crazy guns and crazy people to take on another passenger...~ ]


(( ooc: The battle is over, and the plot has come to an end. ♥ There are some more details for the aftermath at the bottom of the previous info post - if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask us!

You may use this post as an aftermath mingle! All ships are back in orbit (unless you really want to still be stuck and require a tractor-beam tow) and the Vieziri have been driven off! They are still out there in the jungles, lurking, but they will be leaving the Fleet alone. It is safe to visit the planet freely.

There will be top-level comments for The Interceptors - Namely, Angel and Monarch - as well as Zhade, if anyone wishes to speak with any of them in a non-rushed setting, face-to-face. Now is your chance to ask questions, get answers, swap information, anything at all! Dig, dig, dig! There is no time limit - we will continue the threads as necessary. ))

Comments

Dr. Mrs. The Monarch

[queenmonarch]

[ She'll be mostly helping with organizing the chaos around here - but she's also very interested in talking with the Fleet about many, many things: Singing planets, what everyone knows about Atroma, any theories - working or otherwise... It's time to collaborate.

She still has her secrets she's obligated to keep, but she's going to be a lot more open now than she ever has been before.

Or, you know, ask her about her shiny, shiny guns. And other awesome weapons. She's so very happy about her creations~ ]

[alwayscomeback]

[Hey there, M'am! Sokka is here, as promised. His arm is still bandaged up and tied in a sling but he's otherwise in good spirits. None of their own died this time, at least. ]

Hey. Thanks again for the assist. I don't think we would have got through that without you guys.

[It's done a lot to ease Sokka's general mistrust towards the Interceptors. Which is why he's here to talk at all. ]

[queenmonarch]

No problem. Glad we could make it in time at all.

[ she nods at that sling. ]

Is that the worst of it? Need any more medical supplies?

[alwayscomeback]

[He waves her concern off with his free hand.]

Nah, it'll be fine. We're pretty good for supplies. I was hoping I could ask you some Atroma-based questions, if that's okay? I mean...I get you got to keep some secrets but it'd be better than working with nothing.

[queenmonarch]

Sure, while we've got the time for it. I'll answer what I can.

[ She's glad he understands that she can't reveal absolutely everything - especially out in the open, where Atroma surely knows they're all here - but she's determined to do what she can for now. ]

[alwayscomeback]

Great, thanks.

I guess my first question is, how did you get free of Atroma in the first place? I mean...my first guess would be something to do with the augments? Reverse engineering them maybe?

[brainiest]

[ Hermione recognises the woman who had been on the other end of the line and she stops in her path to put her things down, stepping around the people milling here and there to go up and greet her. It seems only polite, given how kind and helpful she had been. ]

Excuse me? I just wanted to thank you, for the supplies. They were incredibly helpful.

[queenmonarch]

[ And she recognizes Hermione's voice! She smiles when she sees her. ]

Hey, no need to thank me. Just helped out where I could. Glad you made it out in one piece - is the rest of your crew okay?

[brainiest]

I think we're all very tired and could use a few weeks of rest, but we're fine otherwise. [ It's nice to have someone who understands, at least, and Hermione relaxes a little, some of the tension falling from her shoulders. ] What about your people? Do they need anything?

[queenmonarch]

I think you guys deserve a few weeks of rest. Here's hoping your next drift is a long one.

[ She waves a hand, dismissive. ] Nah, my people are fine. All our crews are intact, and we took pretty negligible damage, all things considered. It helped that the Vieziri had no idea we were there, you know? [ Maybe she's got a bit of a smug, mischievous grin tugging at the corner of her lips. Maybe. ]

[brainiest]

I don't think we're going to be quite that lucky. While the drama must have been thrilling to watch... There's always room for more.

[ She frowns, shaking her head, but at least it allows her to venture into talking a little more about her crew. ]

Have you been anywhere like this before? It seems like you all have a lot more freedom.

Kid

[lovelylady]

[It's been a while since the crazy pilot known as 'Angel' appeared before the Fleet, but she's as perky as always. White warpaint is smeared across her cheeks and arms. There are daggers and laser pistols strapped to her thighs. She's also covered in mud, but that's no surprise; she's been fighting on the ground, too.

She can be found assisting villagers, collecting weapons, and filching stuff that looks useful. And she might talk to you, too, if you look interesting-- or chat her up first.]

[goldenglasses]

Hey there! [Vash has a big cheery smile on his face as he waves and tosses a small half a loaf of bread towards Kid.] Not exactly the best breakfast, I know, but it was the best I could do on short notice. [He keeps the other half for himself.]

[lovelylady]

[Kid catches it easily; she has pretty damn good reflexes! Then she sees who threw it and her face lights up.]

Thanks, mate! I'll take anything so long's it's not squeezed out a tube.

[She shoves a bit of bread in her mouth and sighs. That's good. Good stuff. Bread is kind of a pain in the ass to make, and it spoils quickly, so it's always a nice treat.]

Any masked blokes give you trouble on yer way here?

[goldenglasses]

[It was the only thanks he'd take for his work on the ground for these people. Fresh food and bread was one of his favorites.]

Me? No way! Any trouble was what I caused for them. [Any injury he might have received conveniently hidden under his red duster.]

What about you? Did your fleet have any trouble in the sky? I could see some of the 'fireworks' down here, but kinda hard to tell what was what sometimes.

[lovelylady]

Hah! As I expected.

[She accepts him at face value for this, at least. Kid has her fair share of scrapes and injuries but without a medic or any healing ability, there's no use poking at someone who isn't bleeding out.]

We did all right. There was some return fire, but the heat got taken off us once the warlord went down. Missus has a lot of fancy toys, too, so that helped.

Oh, and thanks for the help wi' the shields-- we couldn't have done that ourselves.

[padadin]

[Angel isn't the only one looking not so clean. Shiro's paladin armor is covered in mud, oil, leaves, and what probably is cannibal blood. But they won, and that's the only thing that matters. He's on his way to the Blameless, provisions under his arm, when he notices the Interceptors, and he just has to say something.]

Hey - Angel, right? Thanks for answering so quickly, and for coming to help. We wouldn't have won without you, guys.

[lovelylady]

[She gives Shiro a big grin and rests her hands on her hips, a smallish box tucked beneath her elbow.]

You can thank the Missus for that-- she's a great captain. The flyin' was all me, though. [She holds up a finger.] An' you can call me by my real name, if ya want; s' just on the network that we're all shady like, just in case.

My name's Kid.

[She certainly doesn't look any older than eighteen, all things considered.]

I think you would've done fine, eventually. But considerin' how they were pickin' you off, we figured you didn't have that luxury.

[padadin]

You were the pilot? You're good... Kid. [He doesn't mind the name. He's heard and seen way weirder things.] You're right, we didn't have that luxury. And I'm sure you guys had it either, which makes your help even more meaningful. How have you been holding up since last time?

[Meaning since Atroma went Death Star on them.]

[lovelylady]

[Her adoptive mother was bad at names despite being a literal genius. It happens.

Her smile dims slightly.]

Holdin'. We're down one ship... my ship... which makes things a li'l harder. But that just means we gotta keep pushin'.

Missus knows what she's doing. I'd be lost without her.

Zhade

[thespaceopera]

[Zhade has traded in their mask for a black hood with holes cut out for pointy ears-- certainly more inconspicuous after the other people with masks were pushed into retreating. It's almost easy to miss them because of all the black. Zhade's shoulder and arm is in a sling, but that doesn't stop the conversation-- in fact, Zhade is quite happy to talk to whoever walks by, inquiring about the ship, the weather, or expressing jubilation at finally being free of the Vieziri.]

[padadin]

Good to see you got your freedom. [Shiro approaches Zhade slowly, and keeps a bit of distance, not sure how they'll react. He did show wariness the first time they talked after all, who knows if that will be held over him.] May I ask you a question?

[thespaceopera]

[Zhade recognizes Shiro, at least. There's a slight change in their manner, nothing negative but like when one approaches a strange animal: a shift in posture, straighter, more attentive. Zhade's ears twitch beneath the hood.]

Ah, yes, of course.

[Zhade wants so very badly to trust people, but Zhade also knows the burden of having this face, this history, this origin. People like Zhade will not be welcome here no matter how useful they are.]

[padadin]

[Shiro doesn't blame them for such reaction to him - he's fought a war at home, he's seen what having the reputation of your race hovering above your head looks like. He keeps his posture and tone of voice neutral, trying to show Zhade he has the power over this conversation.]

How did you manage to hack into our systems? Is it something you can show our engineers?

[thespaceopera]

Ah, that! [Zhade's tone brightens.] Vieziri tech isn't really that far from... whatever technology you use. Quite a bit of it translates. I think anyone with some talent in hacking could learn how to eavesdrop on a signal-- it isn't very difficult for the most public of channels.

The harder stuff is encryption. I could see that you were able to encrypt signals, so perhaps you do not need my help in that regard.