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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 7, 2017 11:45:58 GMT
Lexy, the Vigilant's AI, appeared in holographic little girl form with an old fashioned WW II army helmet on and saluting Commander Atticus Batman who was sitting silently in the command chair on the bridge before she said with a smile, "Incoming!"
"Where? From Capital City?", I Growled sitting up from the thinker pose I had been in as I worried about my wife and sister fighting on the ground below.
"Nope, from deep space. Could be an awfully large missile or an awfully small spaceship," Replied Lexy, disappointment clear in her voice that I had not returned her salute.
After a few seconds, I realized Lexy was waiting for a salute, so I finally saluted her back and the smile returned to her cute little face.
 
Suddenly Atika Constantine at the communication station interjected in an excited voice, "Commander Atticus - I'm getting a radio message from that object in space on our old priority one security wavelength."
"What's it say already," I Growled with my tone and glowing eyes changing to fit my growing impatience.
"Just two words over and over - star eyes" The young Irathient girl answered wondering what the message meant.
I snapped, "Star eyes?! Dak how can that be? Only I call her that and as far as I know she is still in the 'Forbidden Zone' back in Paradise! Lexy go to yellow alert!"
Then after a few seconds I said to myself, "Hmmm how should I respond? Perhaps in a way that only Belle would know....perhaps a conversation from when we were alone and the heroic Belle Starr had met the Vigilante and bounty hunter, Atticus Batman...but what....Oh I got it."
Then I said to Miss Constantine, "Atika, using our old priority one security wavelength, respond with the following message...."
"Greetings and Eseneziri. This is the PPS Vigilant, 'a veritable floating island of Misfit toys', led by our own 'misfit toy'; The Doctor-Jekyll-and-Mister-Hyde-like being known as: Atticus Batman. What is it you seek and how can we be of service?"
As Atika sent the message, we got the notification from the Hydra that they were requesting to dock. So I informed Tasha Yar to give them clearance. Then I sent a private EGO message to my wife, who is aboard and in command of the Hydra, saying, "Tianna, welcome back. Have your team help the medics get the wounded to Sick Bay if needed. However I need you to report to the Bridge A.S.A.P. We have received an incoming bogey broadcasting to us, and I think you better hear it's message, if it can be called that, for yourself. As well as any reply the bogey may make in regards to the 'friendly-ish' message I have already had Atika send in response to their somewhat cryptic two-word broadcast that they keep repeating on our old priority one security wavelength."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Oct 8, 2017 4:20:39 GMT
"The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us." - Francois de La Rouchefoucauld.***** Erika Widowmaker watched the shuttle Hydra safely take off from a distance. She had carefully covered Lady's retreat with fire nano laced bullets, and now all her foes were dead. Suddenly tired, she had sat against the wall that she had taken cover behind and as she watched the contrail of the shuttle leaving the atmosphere she noticed that blood was beginning to seep through her fatigue shirt just under her right breast from a lucky shot by the enemy. Erika had been a soldier through the Pale Wars and knew a fatal wound when she saw it so she was calm as she leaned her assault rifle against the wall and unbuttoned her top shirt pocket to take out a picture of her two surviving children looking at it with warm jade eyes and a slight smile. She had meant what she had said to Lady Christianna - that motherhood was the greatest mission she had ever attempted and it had indeed been an honor to mother two such wonderful children. "Mother! Stay awake! I know I can save you but you have to stay awake!" Telepathically yelled Amber, the EGO psyche patterned on what Erika dreamed her dead youngest daughter would grow up to be when she reached teen age. "It's okay Amber," Erika tried to reassure her EGO psyche in a sleepy voice, "My main mission is over. My children are grown and successful. Cael has his problems, but he is the duly elected Chancellor of the Votan Collective and no mother could be prouder of that than I. Kara has children of her own, and the man she loves has a big heart, even if it is a synthetic one. No man could love her or her children more. The Gods know that I can die happy for my children are happy - really! My only regret Amber... is that... I was a poor mother to you... but... right now... I just need a little rest..." ***** Commander Atticus Batman sent a private EGO message to Lady Christianna, who was aboard and in command of the shuttle "Hydra", saying, "Tianna, welcome back. Have your team help the medics get the wounded to Sick Bay if needed. However I need you to report to the Bridge A.S.A.P. We have received an incoming bogey broadcasting to us, and I think you better hear it's message, if it can be called that, for yourself. As well as any reply the bogey may make in regards to the 'friendly-ish' message I have already had Atika send in response to their somewhat cryptic two-word broadcast that they keep repeating on our old priority one security wavelength." Lady blurred to the Vigilant's bridge to her husband's side as he sat in his command chair listening as Atika Constantine, the com-officer, played back the message from the oncoming "bogey" which consisted of only two words: Star eyes. Lady's pink eyes grew big as her mouth grew dry and she wished she had a piece of the bubble gum she used to always carry for this was the perfect time to blow a bubble and pop it to break the tension. Lady couldn't believe that her former mentor and adopted big sister, Belle Starr, was in the object from deep space hurtling towards them. Lady felt it had to be a trap for they had left Belle on Earth in the Forbidden Zone just days ago. Still, Belle had been found in strange circumstances before... "What you used to call her, right?" Asked Lady with an enigmatic smile that hid all true emotions as she watched her husband nod his helmeted head in confirmation. "No answer to your hail Commander but I found something interesting..." Said Atika hesitantly before deciding to just voice her suspicions, "I think it's an automatic message - and I think I found a hidden device in the radio wave that acts as a homing beacon latching on to our vessel's unique electronic signature." Lexy, the ships AI, was still on the bridge in her little girl holographic form and asserted in agreement, "Affirmative." "That's not all," Interjected Tasha Yar , Commander Batman's second on the bridge, "That space vessel or missile or whatever definitely came from outside our solar system. It has a plutonium and iron fuel source, something in my experience neither humans or Votans use. Stranger yet, I traced the trail to just outside Pluto, where it just... ends - or I guess begins - with an anti-matter splash. Its like whatever this is just appeared there and took a bee line towards us." "Also affirmative!" Agreed Lexy again. Lady suddenly grimaced as she rubbed the back of her neck before saying with narrowed pink eyes and in an impassive tone, "Better blow it up - just to be sure." At the same time in the chambers of Dinara, Atticus' EGO psyche, Lady's EGO psyche MOM appeared as a hologram that faded in an out before disappearing completely. Her holographic form was usually like a mother from a 1950's sitcom, but now she looked haggard and her normal tidy appearance was unkempt with her quaint apron in tatters. MOM tried to talk but no words were heard and even the attempt ended when suddenly black ichor began to ooze from MOM's ears, mouth, nose and even her eyes. MOM looked in great pain before screaming silently whereupon she disappeared completely from Dinara' room in Atticus' mind. ***** Fighting back-to-back with her true love, Lena Marr was happier than she had ever been killing Skarr's minions right and left until there were no more left to kill. When the last one died, drowning in his own blood from the throat cutting Lena had just given him with her Bowie knife, "Slice", Lena was disappointed that the battle was over, but since it was she turned and kissed Marcel Lestrange passionately before a familiar voice called out to her. From inside the "safe" room of the bunker, the Synth Sister Whitney called out, "Miss Marr, can you please come here please? I've got through all the security devices including the one needing the tree keys on the Synth control device except this last one. I just can't figure it out! A big grin crossed Lena's pretty chalk white face as she yelled back, "No worries! I'll be right there!" The she gave Marcel a final affectionate peck that promised much more later before somersaulting inside. Lena's sky blue eyes looked intently at the device as she took out a small pair of pliers from her utility belt pouch as the three Synth Sisters stood around her watching intently as she snipped a wire then attaching it to her data pad before tying out some numbers before exclaiming, "Easy-peasey! Don't understand it Whitney, this last one was muuuuch simpler than the one requiring the three electronic keys sooooo you should have been able to do it in your sleep - I mean if you do sleep that is!" Whitney sighed and answered with a shrug, "I guess my mind just doesn't work that way!" Then she smiled demurely saying, "I guess it takes an organic to think outside the box." Lena gave a wicked grin replying with a laugh, "You bet you sweet patootie it does and don't you forget it! Speaking of sweet patooties, I got to get back to Pooh Bear's if you know what I mean," Lena winked dramatically then added, "And don't forget you have a job if you want it with Marcel and me's organization when this is all over. I won't hold this one mistake against you, promise!" Lena bounced out of the room and back to Marcel, but after she left Yvette leaned over and whispered into Whitney's ear, "You could have disarmed that with your eyes closed which is as close to human sleep as we get." Whitney shrugged again, neither confirming or denying Yvette's assertion but merely commenting, "I read that when one is interviewing for a new position, one should never make their future employer look unneeded - and I really, really want this job!"  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 8, 2017 12:10:47 GMT
"That's not all," Interjected Tasha Yar, Commander Batman's second on the bridge, "That space vessel or missile or whatever definitely came from outside our solar system. It has a plutonium and iron fuel source, something in my experience neither humans or Votans use. Stranger yet, I traced the trail to just outside Pluto, where it just... ends - or I guess begins - with an anti-matter splash. Its like whatever this is just appeared there and took a bee line towards us."
"Also affirmative!" Agreed Lexy again.
Lady suddenly grimaced as she rubbed the back of her neck before saying with narrowed pink eyes and in an impassive tone, "Better blow it up - just to be sure."
At the same time in the chambers of Dinara, Atticus' EGO psyche, Lady's EGO psyche MOM appeared as a hologram that faded in an out before disappearing completely. Her holographic form was usually like a mother from a 1950's sitcom, but now she looked haggard and her normal tidy appearance was unkempt with her quaint apron in tatters. MOM tried to talk but no words were heard and even the attempt ended when suddenly black ichor began to ooze from MOM's ears, mouth, nose and even her eyes. MOM looked in great pain before screaming silently, whereupon she disappeared completely from Dinara' room in my mind.
I responded with, "We all know I love blowing up and destroying things, but I prefer to know what I am killing first!.... However if it is a threat, then we can't let it get close enough to do any real damage! .... DAK IT ALL! Atika, notify our away teams down below that we are facing an unknown threat and they are to remain on the surface and are on their own until we can figure out just what the dak this thing is! Navigation, since it is targeting the Vigilant specifically, take us higher into space and out of orbit. That way no matter what happens up here, there is no threat to those on the surface!"
Just then Dinara used the ship's holo-emitters and appeared in front of Lady and myself frantically chattering. I said, "Dinara this must be important if you are out here, so slow the dak down and use your daking words! What the hell has you so upset?!"
Dinara took a huge breathe then spit out, "Atty!-Lady!-It's-MOM!-She came-to-visit-but-was-in-extreme-pain-tried-to-talk-but-no-words-came-out!-Black-ichor-oozed-from-her-ears-mouth-nose-and-eyes!!!-Then-she-screamed-silently-and-disappeared!!!-I-tried-contacting-her-but-no-answer-and-seem-to-be-locked-out-of-her-EGO-home!!!-We-need-to-do-something!-We-need-to-save-OUR-MOM!!!!!"
I said with concern, "DAK! Just once I would love a mission to go according to plan without any deadly surprises! Tianna, get to Medical and have Quinn and Haele look you and MOM over immediately! I will be there as soon as we either destroy this thing or discover it is no threat!"
Then I snapped, "Atika send the bogey a warning message stating that if it does not respond, that we will consider it a threat and have to act accordingly! ....
Yar, notify all non-essentials to prepare for emergency EVAC on our orders! Then lock onto it as soon as it is in our weapon range and get a better scan of it at that time and try to figure out if Belle or anybody else is in that thing, as they could possibly be unconscious and unresponsive! ... We do not want to destroy anybody that needs our help. If it still hasn't responded by that time, and you and Lexy both still consider it an imminent threat after the thorough scans, then blast it out of the daking air! If that doesn't stop or destroy it, then send the confirmation for all non-essentials to EVAC A.S.A.P! Lexy, set all escape pods' auto-pilot for the outskirts of the Votanis Capital City, and make sure all med-EVAC-shuttle pilots have so coordinates as well!
Atika, notify our teams in the Votanis Capital City that the Vigilant is moving deeper into space to deal with the unknown threat, .... and that we may need to make an emergency EVAC! Then if we do finalize the EVAC, then send them the set coordinates for all our pods and emergency shuttles, so they can get to our evacuees before any other threat does!"
On the surface, Attila was helping clean up any threats in the bunker, as Lena and Whitney finished disabling the device. As Lena bounced over to Marcel and Attila determined there was no more imminent threats in the bunker and that the device was indeed de-activated, he got his sister's message warning that all crew on the surface were to stay put and NOT go back up to the Vigilant until further notice due to some unknown threat. Then immediately after, he got his sister's next message informing the surface team of the possible EVAC of all non-essentials aboard the Vigilant, and that if that happens the teams in the Votanis Capital City will be sent the EVAC coordinates and will be in charge of rounding up all evacuees and getting them to relative safety either within the walls of the Capital's Palace or in the forest with Lord Lodja's people, depending on which the away team Commanders determine is the best location until they can get everyone back home to Fortress K'shaa. Attila quickly rounded up his team and stated, in an anxiety-laced tone, "I know most, if not all, of you probably just got the same message as me from the Vigilant! However for those on this team that may not have, 'There is an emergency on the Vigilant! So we need to report to Erika right away so we an discuss everything with her and prepare for the possibility that the Vigilant may have to do an emergency EVAC!" Then before Attila completely lost his composure, he turned his back to the others and walked quickly out of the bunker to go find Erika, as the tears started to drip down his cheeks from the knowledge that his sister was in danger, and as an essential member of Atticus Batman's team (even if she was the lowest rung on the ladder), Atika would not be EVACing with the non-essentials if Atticus does indeed give the Non-essentials-EVAC-Order. So it was VERY possible that he would NEVER see or hold his sister-lover-soul-mate ever again. However shortly after walking out of the bunker he spotted a lone-Skarr-programmed bot that hadn't yet been disabled or terminated. So he pulled out a shrill grenade and throw it at the bot, then immediately after it hit the bot he threw two frag grenades at the bot as well. As the grenades had exploded, he stared at the explosion and that is when he finally lost it and his emotions came pouring out. He started screaming angrily as he pulled out his Shotty and went up to the partially destroyed bot. Then as he continued verbally assaulting the bot with a tirade of nasty words and insults, that could possibly even embarrass Lena Marr, Attila activated his EGO's overcharge and unloaded every round he had for his shotty, releasing all his pent up fear and anxiety, on the poor mechanical thing. Tears were still running down his cheeks and he was still pulling the shotgun's trigger, despite the gun making the angry protesting clicks that it was empty, when the others came out of the bunker and discovered him on their way to meet up with him and Erika.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Oct 8, 2017 15:32:11 GMT
On the bridge of the Vigilant, Commander Atticus Batman said with concern, "DAK! Just once I would love a mission to go according to plan without any deadly surprises! Tianna, get to Medical and have Quinn and Haele look you and MOM over immediately! I will be there as soon as we either destroy this thing or discover it is no threat!" Like a dutiful wife, Lady Christainna immediately went to the door as if to exit but stopped short of causing the automatic door from opening and turned listening intently as Atticus gave his orders to the crew. When he had finished she un-holstered the Quickblaster still strapped to her side for the away mission and calmly shot the com-station in front of Atika Constantine expertly destroying it in a flash of bright light and shrapnel then just as calmly shot the door's controls so no one could leave or enter. Strangely enough the shot made to the com-station was one Lady usually could never make for she was a horrible shot with most guns no matter how much she practiced which was one reason why she preferred the Crimefighter shotgun. Lady was a mathematical whiz making explosive bank-shots with it which she enjoyed and why she preferred it to other shotguns. That and the fact that she loved to watch what she called her "bouncing balls of death." Lady announced with a sneer and narrowed pink eyes, "I don't care if your minions escape or not Commander Batman - or do you prefer Harbinger of Death - as long as you and who I suspect might be on that ship are dead, dead, DEAD! If it is a missile meant to destroy your ship then... well lets just say the death of your pretty little wife will have to be my consolation prize, although I'd hope to possess her body a bit longer even to just have it defiled in the flesh marts of Lima. She and I would have had so much fun together there!" "Who are you?" Asked First Officer Tasha Yar wishing there wasn't a policy against bridge crew members wearing sidearms on the Vigilant's bridge instituted by the Commander's sister so there wouldn't be any inadvertent firearm accidents. "Bwa-ha-HA!" Laughed Lady in a laugh not normal to her and which caused chills to creep up the back of everyone who heard it because it sounded like Evil personified before she proclaimed, "Why I'm Governor Skarr of course and I'm everywhere! You kill one of my bodies and I just transfer my essence to another or maybe several other Synth bodies or even organic ones such as your pretty wife! Lady's body became mine when one of my spider selves transferred my essence to her EGO. I would have possessed the pesky Liberata too if he had an EGO but dealing with you thrice damned Protectors has taught me that one cannot have everything you want! I would have preferred that annoying Volodja Uljanov and your traitorous sister were here to die with you as well but as I said - you can't have everything, at least not at once! Rest assured, once you are gone I WILL go and kill them when they least expect it - in the most painful way you can imagine!"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 8, 2017 18:52:10 GMT
Count Casannuendo observed Marcel Lestrange who begun to show life signs after Lena's kiss broke his hundred year sleep. In this particular Marcel just sat recovering from the blow from behind which knocked him out and ended his heroic spree. Fortunately he had quite a thick skull so there was no permanent damage. At least Moira didn't found any during her examination. Few bruises here and there but the main reminder of the fight was a huge blueish bump on his head where wrench hit him. Count noticed that new accessory and could not keep his mouth shut:
"You don't look like Sleeping Beauty at all," chuckled diminutive Liberata. "At least she hadn't blinker on he head. And those fifty shades of green on your face. Looks like that you are about to vomit."
"If I bother to vomit," replied Marcel Lestrange who indeed was a bit nauseatic but decided to stay above the situation...and the Count, so he rose to his feet and leaned himself against the wall. Then he looked down at Count and repeated...with an add on:
"If I bother to vomit then I will vomit on you, dear Count."
"He is recovering," stated Casannuendo with a grin. "Already back on his feet and tossing lines at me. You don't need my gentle care any more. Especially when I have a feeling that nurse Lena will be back soon and I don't have to do mouth to mouth to you."
Casannuendo's short feet moved him out of room before Marcel could reply (or toss something at him). He wandered around in corridors and halls and climbed stairs. He had a feeling that he might be needed elsewhere. On his trip he met other people and not only people but also objects like serving carts with food and...
"Wine!" muttered Casannuendo, grabbing a bottle to his hand. "You never know when it might become useful." His body was aching from kicks and blows and stumps he received during the fight but the pain faded when he saw tall Irathient woman sitting on the floor back against wall eyes wide shut.
"Madame!" exclaimed Count Casannuendo. "I assume that you are resting after fight. May I sit down by your side and share my trophy with you? I have always supported an idea that when everything that needs to be done is done, one can begin living. At least for awhile because sooner or later another set of problems arrives and one will be busy with finding solutions to them. But those little moments in-between should be valued and spent in good company. I think that I have found that company I was looking for. I wasn't aware that I meet you, so I didn't took any glasses with me, but if you are not mind drinking from the bottle, no matter how sacrilegious it is, then..."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 9, 2017 11:56:25 GMT
"Bwa-ha-HA!" Laughed Lady in a laugh not normal to her and which caused chills to creep up the back of everyone who heard it because it sounded like Evil personified before she proclaimed, "Why I'm Governor Skarr of course and I'm everywhere! You kill one of my bodies and I just transfer my essence to another or maybe several other Synth bodies or even organic ones such as your pretty wife! Lady's body became mine when one of my spider selves transferred my essence to her EGO. I would have possessed the pesky Liberata too if he had an EGO but dealing with you thrice damned Protectors has taught me that one cannot have everything you want! I would have preferred that annoying Volodja Uljanov and your traitorous sister were here to die with you as well but as I said - you can't have everything, at least not at once! Rest assured, once you are gone I WILL go and kill them when they least expect it - in the most painful way you can imagine!"
As my anger started to flare up at Skarr's threats, and more importantly possession and vile threats involving Lady, I angrily snapped, "I am so getting tired of you Skarr! Perhaps you should possess an automated toilet instead! At least it would be able to handle all of that shtako that you are ALWAYS spewing!"
Then I turned to Atika to make sure she wasn't harmed from the blast. Seeing a wound in her arm (that I could tell wasn't as bad as it appeared, but was certain Skarr could not, from where 'he' stood), I got up and grabbed a med-kit as I walked over to her.
Then as I wrapped her wound, I whispered to her in Mongolian (knowing that Skarr, Lady, and MOM did not know any Mongolian but Atika being raised in Mongolia was fluent in it.), "Atika, as Skarr took control of Lady via her EGO, that means he can use it to monitor any EGO broadcasts I make like she does. So I need you to do me a favor. Sandy is in the Med Bay. So I need you to send her a message on a Private EGO channel, that nobody can listen in on without you granting them access, filling her in on what the dak is going on up here, I just hope she is conscious enough and healthy enough to come up with something ..... However if Volodja accompanied her, like I am hoping, then fill him in in the same way. If anybody can figure out a way to save all of you on the Bridge, then it will be him."
Atika whispered back in Mongolian, "Will do Sir ... but it doesn't sound like you are including yourself in the hopeful rescue!"
I whispered back, still in Mongolian, "That is because I'm not. As the Commander, I will either save everyone or go down with the ship. Skarr will not just leave Lady's body, which means I already failed at saving everybody. So I will stay at my post and go down with the ship, if that is what Death has in store for me. Now please send the daking private messages."
She responded still in Mongolian with, "Of course I will, but I know you would never just sit back and give into a terrorist like him. So I assume you have another plan just in case Volo is still on the surface and out of EGO range, and Sandy is still unconscious and unable to get the message and respond to it anytime soon."
In Mongolian I growled, "As always I will do what I must do!"
I then finished treating Atika's shrapnel wounds and stood up. As she tried to send the requested private EGO messages to Sandy and Volodja on a private channel that nobody could listen in on, I said, "Yar by your calculations, when will the bogey be just within weapons range?"
She responded with, "A little over an hour and a half Commander, and at it's current speed, once it is in weapons and complete scan range, we will only have a couple of minutes to scan and destroy it before it collides with the ship."
I responded with, "Good. In that case, activate the ship to self-destruct in two hours, and give the ship-wide notification that the emergency EVAC of all non-essentials WILL be in an hour. That will give the 'bogey' enough time to either destroy us, or dock with us and reveal it's contents a few minutes before we explode. That way we can see if Belle once again slipped through Skarr's 'hands'."
Then I walked slowly towards 'Lady'.
As I got near her, Skarr snapped, "I know you would never harm your 'pretty' but very lowly wife. So just what the hell do you think you are going to do, get a farewell kiss?! I think NOT! Governor Skarr kisses NO man and especially NOT a non-Castithan!"
Then Skarr once again let out his evil laugh. To which I remarked with, "I will do what I must as always, Skarr! Surely you must realize that by now, as well as that I am no ordinary Irathient. So, care to do the Monster Mash?!"
As 'he' looked at me slightly confused and my crew wondered just what the hell I was up to, my aura flashed an extremely bright blue and sent seemingly harmless electrical sparks shooting from my body, with some touching Lady's but not seeming to do any harm of any sort that Skarr is aware of yet; other than the usual static effect of making any hair it touched stand on end. However the sparking flash was because I secretly gave control of my body over to my Grid conscious, Sazri Kakusi. At the same time that I did that, I used that electric cling that touched Lady to mentally enter her EGO unnoticed.
When I appeared in her EGO (in a bubble of electric-blue light), Skarr mentally turned to see what happened in the EGO that he was forcibly inhabiting. As he did so, I said, "Damn you are uglier than I remember! As you can now see, you are not the only one who can possess Synthetic and electronic brains. So you will never be able to escape me!"
As Skarr turned his mental attention to me to deal with the sudden appearance of my consciousness in Lady's EGO, It cause Lady to feint. However Kakusi caught her body before she hit the floor. Then he carried her over to the Command area and placed her gently in her command chair, before sitting in my command chair, as he waited to see the outcome of my impromptu schemes.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Oct 9, 2017 12:24:10 GMT
Erika Widowmaker had watched the shuttle "Hydra" disappear into the blue skies then watched the clouds for a time, her wandering mind attributing facial features to them. She saw her long dead husband holding their infant daughter Amber who had been taken by a plague not long after her birth. She saw her father and mother who had died when their transport had crashed into the ground on Earth when Erika was not much older than her granddaughter now. She saw her comrades-in-arms from the Irathient tribe and Votan Brigade that had adopted her that had died on the battlefield next to her during the Pale Wars. Finally, she saw the Irathient Gods smiling on her from above, and with that sight she smiled and closed her jade eyes feeling content that her time had come. "Mother, you can't give up," Pleaded Amber,her EGO psyche whose image Erika had shaped from how she imagined her infant daughter would look if she had grown up to be a teenager, adding with virtual tears streaming down her face as he spoke to Erika in Erika's mindscape, "What will I do without you?" "You will find a better, more understanding, mistress... It is my time and the Gods await me... All I ask of you is that you give Atticus the recording I made if I died giving him my love and telling him our terrible family secret... I'm too tired to speak to him now, and if I do he will torture himself forever for not saving me even though it is pointless to try... I know him as much as I love you both and we both know that's true... Know also that - " Suddenly a voice was talking to her, a familiar voice speaking of trophies, drinking and bottles. Her jade eyes flickered open as her head turned jerkily towards the source of that voice: a small diminutive Liberata sitting next to her holding a bottle of wine. "Count Casannuendo... What a pleasure... You are a true friend to sit with me now but I'll have to refuse the wine I think, but thank you," Erika said with a slight smile as black blood trailed to her red clay colored chin from the corner of her mouth. Erika took her large hand from where she had been unsuccessfully staunching her wound under her right breast and patted his furred hand with her bloodied one before gazing up at the clouds again, "Have you seen the clouds dear friend... their shapes are so comforting..." Then Erika's head fell backward against the wall she was sitting against, her open jade eyes glazing as they stared up at the sky.  |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Oct 9, 2017 13:03:46 GMT
"When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other opportunity." - John F. Kennedy
*****
Sandy Bell sat up from her bed in sick bay with a start, throwing her tan legs over the side as she exclaimed, "Atticus needs us! Skarr has taken the bridge! Where is my assault rifle?"
Then she stood up and immediately fell to her knees muttering can't be weak now - especially not now!"
Medic Joy Jameson helped Sandy to her feet advising, "You are in no condition to do anything so get back in bed. I'll notify security... "
"No, the Commander ordered me," Sandy muttered, "And I have a duty to go... just... help me..."
*****
Lady Christianna found herself sitting on a comfy white couch in a small white cottage all decorated tastefully in white furnishings and immediately recognized it as the virtual home of her EGO psyche MOM although MOM was nowhere to be seen. Lady got up from her seat and sprinted to the front door. She found it locked as were the backdoor and all the windows as she raced from one to the other.
"MOM," Yelled Lady several ties but got no answer then thought to herself, "How does one escape a prison that is your own mind?"
*****
On the Vigilant's bridge, Commander Atticus Batman finished treating Atika Constantine's shrapnel wounds and stood up. As she tried to send the requested private EGO messages to Sandy and Volodja on a private channel that nobody could listen in on, Atticus said, "Yar by your calculations, when will the bogey be just within weapons range?"
First Officer Yar responded with, "A little over an hour and a half Commander, and at it's current speed, once it is in weapons and complete scan range, we will only have a couple of minutes to scan and destroy it before it collides with the ship."
Atticus responded back with, "Good. In that case, activate the ship to self-destruct in two hours, and give the ship-wide notification that the emergency EVAC of all non-essentials WILL be in an hour. That will give the 'bogey' enough time to either destroy us, or dock with us and reveal it's contents a few minutes before we explode. That way we can see if Belle once again slipped through Skarr's 'hands'."
After saying a vigorous, "Yes sir," First Officer Tash Yar resisted the impulse to look up from her console to see what was going on, staying at her post watching the incoming object that hurtled towards the Vigilant. There was still no answer to the Vigilant's hail then with a sudden thought she magnified the small object no greater than twenty-one feet in length finding that was it like a large yellow bird complete with wings six feet longer than the main body of the object. Near the front of the object was writing, which she magnified even more excited by what she found written in English on it as she announced with excitement, "Starrgazer six! It says Starrgazer six on its hull - spelled with two 'R' s "!"
*****
Her adrenaline high spent now that the battle was won, Lena Marr sat and leaned her chalk white cheek against her lover's broad shoulder, a pretty pout on her alabaster face as she said, "You know Pooh Bear, I'm kind of sorry all the action is over. Sooooo... what do we do now?"
*****
Attila Constantine continued verbally assaulting the bot with a tirade of nasty words and insults, that could possibly even embarrass Lena Marr, Attila activated his EGO's overcharge and unloaded every round he had for his shotty, releasing all his pent up fear and anxiety, on the poor mechanical thing. Tears were still running down his cheeks and he was still pulling the shotgun's trigger, despite the gun making the angry protesting clicks that it was empty.
Suddenly Attila felt a strong hand on his shoulder and he turned to see the warm jade eyes and scarred red clay colored face of Erika Widowmaker staring at him with a bemused smile who calmly commented, "Feel better now? I think that bot will not rise again. Do not worry about your sister Attila for Atticus will protect her and if not, the Gods will."
Erika removed her hand from his shoulder using its forefinger to race the long scar that raced from her left cheekbone to her square chin as she spoke emphatically, "Remember your Irathient warrior's heritage! Your team runs amuck like a headless POW! Your team needs you to lead, so lead!"
"But... but they are such a stubborn lot, doing whatever they want whenever they want no matter what I say," Complained Attilla feeling very defensive.
Erika's smile turned kindly as she answered, "More so the challenge, one I'm sure you will live up to!"
"Yes M'am," Attila answered reluctantly as he glumly looked down at the destroyed bot but when he turned his young face back to Erika she was gone without a trace.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 10, 2017 11:21:50 GMT
Ghostlike shadow separated from the dim lit wall like a steamed stamp from envelope. Shadow obtained sharper contours and when it finally reached into the lit area, everyone who bothered to watch could recognize Volodja Uljanov.
"I am afraid that Joy is right and you are not in condition to allow yourself another fight," he said when reaching to staggering Sandy and her support character - Joy Jameson, the medic and a subject of desire of certain Broderic Smythe. Now Volodja became also a supporting character because he held Sandy from the other side.
"I know that you are fighter but we already have one constantly escaping patient in family and now I see the situation from your position, so I assume the role of worried husband who can't hold you forcefully but begs you to stay in your sick bed and let me keep you company. I believe that Atticus is able to control the situation on bridge without our help."
_________
Still on the ground Marcel Lestrange put his both hands under Lena's buttocks and lifted her into air saying: "With you, Honey Pot, the action never can be completely over." Since Lena was in perfect height, Marcel lowered his head and hid his face between Lena's breasts and his voice sounded a bit muffled from there when he said:
"You know how much time passed from the last time when we enjoyed everything good that life has to offer? Too much by my standards. Let us spend some quality time together." He carried Lena out from the basement and put her gently to the first serving chart he found in palace. Marcel pushed cart with Lena into the palace kitchen and loaded it's lower surface full of goodies. After pillaging the pantry, the Diabolic Duo headed to the palace garden and arranged themselves nice picnic among smoking robot remains.
_________
In the palace courtyard one sad eyed lonely little Liberata sat by Erika's body, holding the wine bottle in his hand. His sad eyes were filled with tears when he sunk into almost mute mourning which was only interrupted by his whisper: "The clouds...Their shapes are so comforting!"
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Post by Attila Constantine on Oct 10, 2017 12:47:31 GMT
Erika removed her hand from his shoulder using its forefinger to race the long scar that raced from her left cheekbone to her square chin as she spoke emphatically, "Remember your Irathient warrior's heritage! Your team runs amuck like a headless POW! Your team needs you to lead, so lead!"
"But... but they are such a stubborn lot, doing whatever they want whenever they want no matter what I say," Complained Attilla feeling very defensive.
Erika's smile turned kindly as she answered, "More so the challenge, one I'm sure you will live up to!"
"Yes M'am," Attila answered reluctantly as he glumly looked down at the destroyed bot but when he turned his young face back to Erika she was gone without a trace.
Attila thought to himself, "What the hell?! Ganbaatar, where did she go?!"
His EGO replied with, "Who? Nobody was here so I have no idea who you think you were talking to."
Attila mentally said, "Well then just where the hell is Erika Widowmaker if she was NEVER here talking to me?!"
His EGO, Ganbaatar replied with, "Her last EGO signal is not far from here."
Attila responded with, "Fine lead me to her now!"
It didn't take him long to follow the path his EGO made for him leading away from the bunker and not far around the corner. However as he rounded the corner he spotted the short form of Count Casannuendo sitting on the ground holding Erika to him. So Attila said to his EGO, "Gan, is she..."
Ganbaatar responded with, "Her EGO still seems to be active and when I try to contact the young girl, I am certain I can hear feint crying. I am afraid the cause of her virtual tears is because I can not detect ANY life signs coming from Commander Widowmaker."
Attila grumbled to Ganbaatar, "Damn Gan! That means that if Atticus survives whatever their unknown space threat is, then as I was thrust into command of the team down here, that I will have to be the one to tell him that we failed his sister and she is now with the gods!"
Ganbaatar replied with, "Yes, as her death now makes you the ranking Protector of the team, it does. However you will first need to gather your team and prepare in case the Vigilant does indeed evacuate it's crew."
Attila muttered to Ganbaatar, "That's what Erika said as well, but how can I do that? I lack his Command experience or Commander Atticus' fear factor....Oh wait that's it! What would they do?! ... I got it!"
Then he broadcast over the team's EGO and comm channels, "Team, I am afraid Commander Widowmaker has died in the line of duty, and the Vigilant is under attack from an unknown threat! So we need to get Commander Widowmaker into the palace, and then I need to meet with Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja to fill them in! As soon as that is done, we need to prepare to go to the aid of any Vigilant crew, should Commander Batman give them the order to EVAC to the surface!
So get your asses in gear and get to my position NOW! If anybody fails to do so in the next two minutes, then I will personally hunt you down and shoot you in your most favorite and prized body parts. Then I will recommend that Commander Batman cancel any battle pay that any of you may have coming!"
Then Attila knelt beside Count Casannuendo and Erika Widowmaker. Next he whispered to Erika, certain her spirit would hear, "Thank you for having faith in me Erika. I will make you proud and we will make sure you get the most honorable funeral that Irathients may bestow upon our most honored and cherished dead."
Then he said quietly to the Count, "I know nothing I say can help, but I am sure she was happy to die in the arms of a friend."
Then Attila spotted the count's bottle of wine and stood up as he held out his hand and said, "May I have the bottle?"
When the Count handed it to him, Attila responded with, "I don't really know much about my Irathient heritage as we spent our whole lives raised by a Mongolian tribe. However with this wine I can at leas Honor Erika's passing the way my Mongol tribe does."
Attila then removed the cork and proceeded to slowly pour the wine onto the ground by Erika's body in a specific pattern as he performed a funeral Libation. He was still performing the libation and chanting a funeral prayer in Mongolian as Yvette got to his position followed closely by her sisters.
As Attila was doing his Mongolian ritual honoring Erika's passing, his EGO Ganbaatar contacted Erika's EGO Amber now that he was right next to her and said, "Young one, I know it is hard but we must honor the dead and celebrate them as they deserve, rather than mourn them. Besides it falls on our loved ones to pass on the stories of our lives. So you must be strong for her. Besides from what little I know of her, I am certain she was the type to make arrangements in advance in case of her death, which I am sure includes your preservation. So do not worry. We will get you back to the Vigilant and into the arms of you girlfriend just as soon as we can. In the meantime this older Mongol warrior will look after and comfort you, as best as I can." |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 10, 2017 12:48:54 GMT
Back on the Vigilant, First Officer Tash Yar resisted the impulse to look up from her console to see what was going on, staying at her post watching the incoming object that hurtled towards the Vigilant. There was still no answer to the Vigilant's hail then with a sudden thought she magnified the small object no greater than twenty-one feet in length finding that was it like a large yellow bird complete with wings six feet longer than the main body of the object. Near the front of the object was writing, which she magnified even more excited by what she found written in English on it as she announced with excitement, "Starrgazer six! It says Starrgazer six on its hull - spelled with two 'R' s "!"
Hearing that Commander 'Batman' responded in an electric monotone with, "That is good to hear. Keep an eye on this Starrgazer to see what it does as it gets closer."
The reply was, "Relax young fleshling, It is I! Sazri Kakusi! Or is it now Commander Sazri Kakusi? No matter, you will figure it out."
Tasha Yar interjected with, "Thank god. No offense but the last thing we need right now would be that bastard, Kabule, in command!"
Kakusi let out an electrical laugh, then responded with, "Yes your Commander and his compu-girl would agree with that. That is why it is I and not he that is here while Atticus is busy elsewhere. Alright blonde one with the pirate word for a name, YAR! If it is indeed the Belle with blue eyes, then we need to try to send her another message, but I do not know what or how."
Atika responded with, "This Starrgazer appears to be using an old form of radio-wave transmissions, so perhaps she couldn't get our messages because radio-wave transmissions are so antiquated! Skarr may have destroyed my main communications console. However we do have an old comm-console here on the bridge that was once used to send emergency messages via radio-wave transmission. If we can get it online and working, then I think I can re-broadcast Commander Batman's message to the Starrgazer, on the correct radio-wave frequency."
Kakusi glanced at the still unconscious Lady Christianna, then reached over and adjusted her position to make sure his Fleshling's 'wifeling' (as Kakusi sometimes referred to Lady when talking privately to Atticus) was in a relatively comfortable position. Next he said to both Atika and Yar, "Then do so for we must do something while we await whatever results Atticus and his schemes may achieve." |
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Post by Lena Marr on Oct 10, 2017 21:52:31 GMT
Marcel Lestrange said,"You know how much time passed from the last time when we enjoyed everything good that life has to offer? Too much by my standards. Let us spend some quality time together." He carried Lena Marr out from the basement and put her gently to the first serving chart he found in palace. Marcel pushed cart with Lena into the palace kitchen and loaded it's lower surface full of goodies. After pillaging the pantry, the Diabolic Duo headed to the palace garden and arranged themselves nice picnic among smoking robot remains. Lena took a swig of wine and with a wicked grim unzipped her coveralls from her chalk white cleavage to her navel while seductively cooing to her lover, "Why don't we start with desert?" Attila broadcast over the team's EGO and comm channels, "Team, I am afraid Commander Widowmaker has died in the line of duty, and the Vigilant is under attack from an unknown threat! So we need to get Commander Widowmaker into the palace, and then I need to meet with Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja to fill them in! As soon as that is done, we need to prepare to go to the aid of any Vigilant crew, should Commander Batman give them the order to EVAC to the surface!" Lena shrugged the coveralls off one shoulder, "Don't need us for that! So we should have plenty of time to - " "So get your asses in gear and get to my position NOW! If anybody fails to do so in the next two minutes, then I will personally hunt you down and shoot you in your most favorite and prized body parts. Then I will recommend that Commander Batman cancel any battle pay that any of you may have coming!" Finished Attila over their comms. A pretty pout crossed Lena's alabaster face as her unblinking eyes flashed daggers while she zipped back up her coveralls, exclaiming angrily, "Fine time for the Irathiant brat's balls to drop! Shatko, I already have that battle pay spent so we better go!" Lena grabbed Marcel's hand and ambled over to where Attila told them to meet but when she got there she dropped his hand so she could lean over and get a closer look at Erika's dead body. Lena stared impassively with unblinking sky blue eyes into Erika's glazed jade eyes for some time. Finally, she kicked one of Erika's army boots seemingly satisfied when she got no reaction from Erika. "Yep, she's dead alright, " Commented Lena with a wicked grin as she stood up with her hands on her hips. The strongest Synth Sister Yvette frowned as she shook her blonde head in disbelief exclaiming, "That's awfully rude!" "Disrespectful too," Growled Brooke the feline Synth Sister flexing her claws to show her disfavor. "How so?" Asked Lena in genuine surprise, "It's just meat. Erika ain't there anymore and we're all gonna die sometime and when we do that's all we're going leave - meat! Doesn't matter if you're good or evil, young or old, brave or cowardly; when you die, you're just meat. Erika was a tough old warhorse and if I had been a betting woman I would have bet she would have outlived all of us but she didn't and now... she's just meat. That's all we leave when we die." "I hate to disagree with you Miss Marr, but that's not all we leave," Disagreed Whitney, the most innocent of the Synth Sisters but also sometimes the most insightful, a sad look on her beautiful pale face. "We also leave memories - hopefully good ones - among our family, friends, and even acquaintances." Lena fell silent as did all those around Erika's dead body before one of them inevitably broke the silence.  |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Oct 11, 2017 10:29:22 GMT
"You interrupted our celebration which was dedicated to life just to ask to come and see a dead body," said Marcel. "You, good doers, should have at least some decency left to pay Erika respects and carry her into more suitable place."
Marcel Lestrange had his share of experience with dead bodies. But when to think about it, his experienced tended to be sort of one sided ones. Most of the bodies he had to deal with, were his own creation but to tell the truth, he did not had much practical experience with taking care of earthly remains. Offering undertaker services was not part of his contracts. He took care of killing but funeral rites were something that inheritors or relatives or minions had to do themselves, because his job was done and the rest - including further fate of his targets - was not his concern. Even if his contract included a clause about bodies, his usual task was to dispose them in most discreet manner, not arranging funeral services to them. Only once he participated in funeral arrangements but his target was not the star of the sad event. They just used a chance to bury two bodies at cost in one, hiding his target under the false bottom of the coffin which was meant for some rich son of a bitch.
After making couple of suitable suggestions he felt that he already did more than his contract demanded from Lena and him. That is why he closed his mouth, went closer to Lena and put his arm around her. Then he lit a cigarette and looked at grim faces of Votans and Synths who stood there in silence...
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Post by Sandy Bell on Oct 11, 2017 23:49:10 GMT
Volodja Uljanov said to his new wife, "I know that you are fighter but we already have one constantly escaping patient in family and now I see the situation from your position, so I assume the role of worried husband who can't hold you forcefully but begs you to stay in your sick bed and let me keep you company. I believe that Atticus is able to control the situation on bridge without our help."!" Sandy Bell smiled lovingly at her new husband replying, "Aw Volodja, you know duty is not just another four letter word to me. Now be a dear and grab my assault rifle and let me grab your other arm and lets get to the bridge!" Eyeing her hospital gown with raised eyebrows, Volodja questioned, "Don't you think you should - " Still smiling, Sandy interrupted, "Not a moment to waste Honey, let's go save the day!" With Medic Joy Jameson and Volodja each taking one of Sandy's arms helping her to the automatic door into the bridge, she was disappointed to find it jammed shut so with a frown on her pretty tan face she batted her blue eyes at Volodja and ask, "Surely you can do something to open this damn door!" Handing Sandy's assault rifle to her, Volodja silently turned his attention to the door's control panel prying cover off with a pen knife and splicing a few wires together whereupon it opened. Sandy charged in with her rifle at the ready but the sudden movement caused the back clasps of her hospital gown to loosen and then open as the following Medic Jameson gasped. Unperturbed, Sandy entered with her rifle held up surprising the bridge crew and exclaiming, "Okay where are... the... bad guys?" Just then First officer Tasha Yar who didn't even look up at the sudden noisy intrusion onto the Bridge said excitedly, "Atika, I think changing the radio wave worked. The ship is slowing down, dropped its shields, and is circling around to the Vigilant's shuttle bay. Now that it's defector shields are down I can successfully scan it! Jesus for a small vessel it's got a ton of firepower but none of it is powered up! Now scanning for lifeforms and... there is one! It's human, but the heartbeat is so slow and the breathing is almost non-existent but whoever it is, they're alive!"  |
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Post by Attila Constantine on Oct 12, 2017 10:19:03 GMT
"You interrupted our celebration which was dedicated to life just to ask to come and see a dead body," said Marcel. "You, good doers, should have at least some decency left to pay Erika respects and carry her into more suitable place."
After making couple of suitable suggestions he felt that he already did more than his contract demanded from Lena and him. That is why he closed his mouth, went closer to Lena and put his arm around her. Then he lit a cigarette and looked at grim faces of Votans and Synths who stood there in silence...
Attila remarked, "Glad you could make it. Marcel since you seem so concerned with Erika's safety, you can help. Don't worry, Yvette and I can carry her. However first we need some kind of stretcher. So that is your job. Brooke go find a blanket or something to cover her with. Whitney go inform Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja that, as I am now the Protector Ground-team Leader, I will need to speak to the both of them right away in the Chancellor's throne room. We will be there shortly. Oh and Whitney, once that is done, I need you to go to the communications room. Their main comms have gone completely dead and my EGO can't get a signal through to them as they left orbit and are out of his range. See if you can contact somebody on the Vigilant. Anybody, whether it is a shuttle pilot, a cook, or even a janitor."
As soon as Attila told Marcel what was needed of him, Marcel of course gave his opinion on the matter. However he did go towards a wrecked ambulance nearby to look for a stretcher or gurney. Brooke also headed that direction, which caused Lena to shoot a dirty look that direction.
However Attila ignored it as he continued with, "Lena, go round up some vehicles for us. If the Vigilant does EVAC, then we will need to have as many vehicles as our current team has members, so we can split up and go round up all the evacuees faster. Once Marcel has brought us a stretcher, I will send him to help you get enough transport vehicles. Then once you are both done with that, come see me. I should know more by then."
Once given her assignment, Whitney went to inform Cael and Lodja that Attila needed to meet them in in throne room. Then she went to the communications room. Shortly after entering the ambulance, Marcel and Brooke both found what they were sent to locate. So they brought them back to the group. Attila then said, "Alright Marcel go help Lena round up enough transport vehicles, so every member of the team that can drive, has one to drive. After you are both done with that, meet me back at the throne room. I should have more information by then, and hopefully we will all have time to rest for at least a little while before the Vigilant EVACS, if they do indeed do so."
After that, Attila and Yvette gently moved Erika onto the stretcher that Marcel had located. Once that was done Brooke covered her with the blanket. Then Attila and Yvette lifted the stretcher as Attila said to Brooke and Count Casannuendo, "Alright you two come with us. Count you will get the most important task once we get into the palace. You will accompany Erika's body to the Morgue, which I assume a place like this has given all Skarr did here. That way you can make sure nothing happens to her, before Atticus ... Commander Batman, can say his farewells and begin whatever funeral proceedings and EGO preservations that he needs to do. Given how close you seemed to be to her, I am sure both Commanders would prefer you be the one assigned such an important honor."
Next Attila and Yvette carried the stretcher to the palace, with the other two accompanying them. Once in the throne room, Attila filled the Chancellor in on Erika's honorable death in combat and asked where to take her so Commander Batman could say his farewells and proceed with any final requests she had left for him, as her EGO had informed his EGO that there were some for Commander Batman. Chancellor Cael ordered two of his men to take his mother to the morgue, stating he would be down shortly. Attila pointed out that Count Casannuendo would be accompanying Erika everywhere she went until Commander Batman told him otherwise. So Cael nodded in agreement, and the Count went with Erika to 'keep her company' until her brother could see her.
Once that was done, Attila informed Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja of the Vigilant's possible EVAC due to an unknown threat, and any assistance they could offer if the inevitable does indeed happen would be appreciated.
In the Palace's communication room, after Whitney had gotten there, she got on comms and started broadcasting on all know Vigilant signals in hopes somebody would answer. Not long after she heard, "Votanis Capital, this is Poe Dameron of the shuttle 'The P.P.S. EAGLE.' I read you loud and clear." Whitney responded with, "This is Whitney, contacting you on Attila Constantine's orders. What's the situation up there?" Poe remarked, "Just the usual. There is an unknown Bogey coming at us. The Commander started the self-destruct count down. EVAC crews are on standby awaiting final orders and all communications to the Bridge are dark. However the ship's intercom works. So I have my comms and engineering officers working on tapping into that intercom to see if we can contact somebody on the Bridge that way..... Sorry Whitney, my people are informing me that they think they have it working. So I must put you on standby to see if I can reach the Bridge. However if I do make contact, I will patch you into the line as well." Whitney responded with, "Alright P.P.S. Eagle. I will hold." Once getting her response, Poe put her on hold and proceeded to contact the Vigilant's bridge using the tap that his team managed to create in the Vigilant's ship-wide intercom system. |
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