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

[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.

[queenmonarch]

Ain't that always the way.

[ She sighs, sympathetic. ]

Nowhere like this, specifically. We've been to our share of dangerous places, all in the name of ratings, I'm sure. But cannibals? That's new.

After we got away, we were too busy running to stop many places, then when we found out you guys had launched, we started following after.

[brainiest]

You'd think we'd be used to it by now.

[ But that's not really how it works, is it? ]

Is it safe for you to come and help us like this? If you managed to get away from the Atroma isn't there a chance you could get caught again?

[queenmonarch]

I'm sure Atroma knows all about us being here. We haven't exactly been subtle this time around. [ Haaaahaha. Ha. Whoops. ] We're not too worried about getting caught again. Atroma appears to have much higher priorities than recapturing us. That, or they must have a seriously good thing going with you guys. Maybe a little bit of both.

[brainiest]

We must be entertaining. [ Frustrated, Hermione crosses her arms, getting irritated now. ] We need to figure out a way to get away from them. Whatever entertainment we're bringing them is going to run out eventually and I don't want to know what they plan to do to us when they're done.

[queenmonarch]

Neither do I. I'd rather us all find a way back to our homes sooner rather than later. If we could just manage some kind of breakthrough, we'd be golden. Too bad our last breakthrough with the AI didn't exactly pan out...

[brainiest]

What was your last breakthrough? [ It comes out quickly, mostly because Hermione is desperately curious. ] Maybe there's something we can do to help try again.

[queenmonarch]

[ Ahh, she didn't mean to get the girl's hopes up, but... ]

Sorry, I meant... back at Dreadhorse's ball. That AI. We got you guys some vague answers, but it doesn't help that Atroma snatched the AI before we could study it at all.

[brainiest]

I've only read about those answers. [ She frowns, crossing her arms. ] I just wish I knew the right questions to ask or the right things to research.