Log:Journey to Ajurpan Si

2019/12/09 	 Spirit Quiet Sinmore Griffin Starlight Artemis

1

After the astronomers has plotted a course and directions, and Starguard was able to procure a transport unit that could survive the speeds and the journey, a small side mission has been arranged by Starguard's Commander on behalf of the Godflora, Artemis. The mission? Just a trip four galaxies away to a moon of planet Ajurpan.

Just in case, volunteers have been recruited by Starguard. Artemis arrives on the landing field by air at the appointed time, not realizing others were intending to come along yet.

Dorian is already on the landging field, talking to some of the techs. He nods to the sergeant in charge and waves to Artemis.

Artemis waves to Dorian and smiles brightly. "Greetings, Lord Commander! I thank you again for taking the time to aid me in my duty. I owe much to the Urth."

A chance to venture out of system? Quiet jumps at the opportunity, given that she already has her sights set ;out there.' The fact that it's voluntary and might ingratiate her some with StarGuard is a close second. Maybe it will help lubricate the bureaucratic cogs some and aid her in acquiring the materials she needs to make that dream a more nearer reality.

The fact that at least one familiar ginger is going is a tertiary pro. Someone has to help keep her out of the bad kind of trouble, and into the good sort.

Griffin Freeman volunteered for the trip once he heard about it- a strange prospect for the Super Soldier who prefers to protect his own backyard (the Solar System) as opposed to taking his leave of Earth and exploring the stars. The change of course was spurned by something a friend had said- and since Kat was off gallivanting about as Doc Aevus Griffin has decided to step out amongst the stars once more.

A crack of thunder announces his arrival just as the local wire receives reports about the Sentinel being spotted at an Epidemic Hazard in Mwenga, Province of SOuth Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo delivering a truck load of medical supplies that had nearly been lost in transit. A simultanous report comes in across the wire of Griffin arriving & saving a number of citizens in New Delhi after a fire began burning whole city blocks.

He cuts off his thrust and freefalls towards the landing field - hoping he hasn't missed his flight off-world. Now it will be his turn to Kat about some wild extraterrestrial nonsense.

Dorian smiles. "I'm afraid I'll need to be back in three days at the latest, Artemis. But if you need to stay out there for a longer time, I can make the round trip again."

Artemis smiles warmly at Dorian's comments. "I would not wish to hold you up while I carry out my promise. That you would be willing to make another trip if required is most gracious."

"My hope is I will not detain you Earthians long in this endeavor, though I did give my solemn oath to return to Urth afterwards," Artemis explains. She notices the crafty Quiet from their duels and drinking adventures, surprised to see her. She lifts a hand in greeting. "What brings you here?" She looks over to the golden glowing-eyed one as well. "Is there danger that brings others here?" she asks.

"Hey! Hey! Wait!"

Talia Sintergaard comes charging out onto the tarmac sometime around the time that Griffin THUNDERS down upon it. She's wearing an Omega Guard uniform and has half a dozen Starguard visitor badges hanging off of her from various points. Most of them are probably rush jobs thanks to NashCo to ensure that at least one Omega Guard person is keeping an eye on the Omega Guard's heaviest hitter!

"Don't leave without me!"

Meanwhile, across town, Cryostatic (a.k.a. Ivan Maddox) waits on a rooftop for Artemis to swing by and pick him up. She wouldn't leave Urth on a quest without her squire, right?

Falls the final few hundred yards just for the fun of it but kicks on a pulse of gravity effecting energy before gently coming to ground in a three-point stance. He rises with a smile as he looks around- he spots some familiar energy patterns and flash steps over to them.

A gust of wind rolls over the others in his wake.

"Glad to see I didn't the boarding call." The Sentinel says with a grin.

"No danger- just thought it might be a long while before I get to see anything this far out again. So I made sure my usual routes were covered- so hopefully no one even notices I'm gone." He says, thinking that with any luck Kat might be the only one and he told her about the trip too so he really is Golden.

Quiet rolls her shoulders in a shrug, keying up her suits holos. Sentinel's comment gets him a thumb jabbed his way as she displays a message for Artemis.

WHAT HE SAID. ALSO, SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP YOU INTO TROUBLE.

Artemis maaaay have forgotten to tell her squire about being distracted by Talia's sudden arrival. "Talia..? You're...coming?" she asks in surprise.

Starlight comes flying in at just below the speed of sound, and comes to a dead stop above the landing field. "Hi. Your message was relayed to me. By someone who got so flustered by speaking to a 'real live hero' they forgot to write anything down. What's up?"

Dorian waves to Starlight.

"Well, yeah. I can't believe I had to hear about you going on a mission to another galaxy from Starguard," replies Talia with a huff. She plants her hands on her hips and takes a moment to stare Artemis down. It passes quickly and Talia shakes her head, stepping in to slug Artemis on the shoulder.

Well. Talia's not quite that tall at the moment. She slugs Artemis in the forearm before turning around to look around for their transport craft.

Dorian waves to Starlight, "Artemis needed to return to a distant galaxy. I've agreed to transport her there to fulfill her oath. I wnated to see if you were interested in coming along. It'll be about...let's call it a 7 hour trip there. At full speed."

Artemis squints at the typed message. Then she laughs heartily. "Yes, indeed someone has to," she grins at Lien. She looks to Talia and suddenly understands. "Starguard told you...? This was meant to be a personal trip. I see no harm in it, though."

A pouch on Artemis' belt buzzes. She pulls out the cracked phone she received from Ivan ages back. It's screen looks almost unusuable as she reads a message and smiles to herself. There's a message from Wade: Sorry I can't be there to see you off. Have a good trip. She types out a reply: <>. Then she remembers something and texts Ivan as well. <>

Starlight nods, "Seven hours? I'd take... anyone got a calculator? Well, I can do it in not too unreasonable time if needed."

"And Starguard believes in sending teams to alien worlds," replies Talia, "Isn't that right, Commander?"

Dorian chuckles. "Starlight, you and I are about the same speed, once out of the atmosphere. So...pretty similar. The difference would be getting to orbit and back down when we arrive."

Quiet isn't concerned about too much threat, but she did come prepared, with a large reinforced duffle of supplimentary supplies slung over her shoulder. She didn't know how long the trip would be, or how long they'll be loitering. Some people still have to eat.

Starlight poses to Dorian, "I guess so. It takes me at least a couple of seconds to get out of Earth's atmosphere."

Despite not expecting any danger, Artemis IS in full armor, with her shield bracer and sword sheathed. To Dorian, she says, "You mentioned a method for some of us to survive the trip. What has Starguard devised?"

Griffin listens to the others and just smiles pleasantly as everyone converses & plans. "I'm not anywhere near as fast as you guys- but if you need some heavy lifting, you guys just let me know." He says before glancing over to Lien.

He uses military sign language to ask Lien if she packed a bottle in that duffle of hers.

<< But... But space! SPACE!! >>

Cryostatic responds to Artemis' text with superhuman speed. He's apparently going to have to start up a mad science streak now.

Talia is also carrying a proper hiking rucksack on her back and a folded up leather jacket under one arm. She's one of those people that still have to eat. How much of what she packed is food is up for debate, but there is at least one can of SPAM peeking of of a container holder on the side of the bag.

"So when's liftoff? Shouldn't we get packed in and seated?"

Dorian nods to Starlight, "That's the difference. I'll be slower getting up there by a few minutes." He then turns to Artemis, "We have this capsule here, which should hold everyone going, aside from starlight or myself. Though she could ride inside as well, if she wanted. We have some MREs available in there, as well as space suits for you as needed. The plan is for me to pull it along as we fly. I might have to take a short break once we hit orbit. And once we arrive."

Dorian says, "The trip is estimated to take 6 hours if I'm not pulling anything. So, that's why I'm estimating 7 hours outbound."

Starlight chuckles, "We do want the passengers to survive I assume? I hit a couple of hundred Gee when accelerating that fast, Dorian."

Artemis's phone vibrates almost just after she sent her last text. She replies to Cryostatic <> She looks up to Dorian and smiles, then starts to walk into the capsule. "Excellent! You are most prepared." She looks aside to Talia and asks, "What type of hooman weapon do these MREs be?" She steps aboard and looks over for a spacesuit that looks like it would fit her height.

Quiet gestures back to Sentinel, indicating the team, and that she's got everyone covered. Though he does remind her of something and she taps out a quick message to one Katrina Prince. It's not like the frequency was hard to figure out: she's an ECM specialist... and it's not like Griffin isn't providing a data stream every twenty seconds...

DON'T WORRY, I'LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HIM FOR YOU. ALSO, HEARD HIS HANDS GET COLD. I'LL... SIT ON THEM OR SOMETHING.

There, now no reason for anyone back home to fret.

"If it says "vegan" or "vegetarian", then they're sophisticated biological weapons," whispers Talia to Artemis. She shrugs a little bit, adjusting her rucksack's straps as she adds, "Everything else is just food."

Dorian nods to Starlight, "There are compensators built in. It should lesson the G-force on those inside significantly. Though...I'd still advise remaining in your seats. If yo uneed to get up...contact me over comms. I can slow down and make that more possible to get up and walk around."

Dorian chuckles. "Artemis, MREs are 'Meals Ready to Eat'. One could arguably call them 'food'." He puts air quotes around the word 'food' to emphasize that.

Griffin looks over the capsule as he walks over to it, wondering if he'd rather ride outside or within. A 7 hour flight is a long time to hold his breath- though certainly not impossible. Still- with Lien saying she has everyone covered he's pretty sure he'll be riding in the capsule.

He gives Lien a thumbs up, having no idea who the datastream he's feeling is being sent to- nor would he snoop. He may wish he had if the conversation between Lien & Kat are anything to go by.

"Oh MREs aren't half as bad as everyone makes them out to be. I remember living off cold MREs for weeks in the field." He says with a chuckle. "A fighting force lives and dies by their food rations. I'm sure its the same for an exploratory group too."

"I've had the vegetarian options, Commander," comments Talia, "They're clearly Meals Ready to Exterminate."

Somewhere in the far flung future and a galaxy away, Dr. Arthur Aevus--aka Copycat's fusion alter ego--is sipping a space cocktail from a mechanical straw that adds fizz to everything as he consoles his transhuman companion, Jamie. "Homesick? Homesick!? All of time and space to explore, secrets untold and sights yet unseen, and you want to go home?" His Torus-powered smartwatch receives a text from the ancient past and he looks it over. The outraged face he pulls proves Copycat still has some say in this fusion form.

"What's the matter, Doctor?" Jamie asks.

Arthur regains his composure and forces a smile. "Nothing. Come on. Finish your drink and I'll take you home, eh?"

Dorian shrugs and smiles. He says to Talia, "I...only eat when I want to. I don't need to. I haven't really tried them, so I can't say for sure."

Starlight suggests to Dorian, "I'll travel outside with you. I can take over if your TK muscle gets a cramp or something." Her smile shows she knows that's nonsense.

Artemis nods slowly at Talia's wisdom of these biological weapons. "This is meant to be a peaceful mission, though..." she starts, then Dorian illuminates her further. "Are they...'poison'?" she puts in airquotes back.

Dorian chuckles. "Artemis, they're food. Not poison. Just...not very good food."

Quiet just pats her duffle and heads for the capsule to stow her gear.

"I was told you were made of energy, Lord Commander. Are you able to event taste if it is good, bad, or poisoned?" Artemis asks with interest from within the capsule as she starts stripping off bits of armor so she can get a spacesuit on.

"They're food. Some options are just horrible," explains Talia. She sighs and shakes her head a little bit. Moving quickly, Talia goes to board the space capsule. Hopefully it doesn't say CapsuleCorp on the side.

Dorian nods in response to Artemis, "I can taste food if I like. I can even digest it. But I don't have to. I get the best of both worlds, in a way."

Starlight mentions to Dorian before they leave atmosphere, "This will be a new distance record for me. Never been outside the galaxy before. How about you?"

Spirit changes form in a flash of light, "The furthest I've been is the Guild. But that's within the galaxy."

Griffin likes the sound of this. He could deal with some far-flung rangering and this is as close as he's gotten in almost half a century. He grins and boards the capsule before finding a seat next to where Lien is likely to stow her gear.

He whistles a little diddy as he gets comfortable- seemingly not concerned with suiting up for space.

Artemis smiles in interest at the curious food answer for energy beings, and finishes suiting up before sitting down and getting strapped in.

Talia boards the capsule and stows her gear. She somehow seems to have gotten one of those Starguard space suits on while out of everyone else's view.

Spirit waits until everyone is situated and the capsule is secured before he reaches out with a band of light, grabbing the capsule itself. "Again, you can use comms to talk to me as needed in space." He then lifts off, pulling the capsule along behind him. Starlight will have no difficulty keeping up while in the atmosphere.

Quiet's duffle is stowed in a spare seat, harnessed in and all. It's best to be accessible in case of emergency, and the delicate equipment can't be flopping around. Once the hatch closes and they start to move, she unzips the duffle to reveal the three key pieces of survival gear inside.

One large warehouse store box of individual-sized chips

One box of large red cups.

One cask of mead.

They have a good seven hours to kill, and she isn't exactly the best at smalltalk. Besides, none of them are driving.

Starlight is doubly impressed. Not only by Dorian's ability but also by the courage of those going on a incredinle extra-galaxy trip to support Althea.

Talia straps into a seat and waits patiently, glancing around the interior of the capsule before looking out the windows.

Spirit finds getting into orbit with the capsule requires him to take a short break of a few seconds...but then the interstellar travel starts, and in comparison, that's super easy for him. The group picks up speed gradually, and the capsule does compensate for at least some of it. Enough to make it pretty tolerable. It's not long before they're up to full speed, moving multiple light years per second.

It's an over 7 hour trip for our heroes once Spirit and Starlight arrange getting out of the atmosphere. getting up to speed and slowing them down to safe speeds upon reaching the coordinates. For most of the flight, Artemis is drinking and learning about the crew more. But as they reach the final leg of the trip, she is surprisingly quiet and introspective. And still drinking.

Ajurpan Si is a lush and vibrant moon of Ajurpan. Ajurpan itself is a massive planet that is covered in swirling greenish gasses that make it impossible to see the landmasses within. Flashes of light sometimes illuminate the clouds. There are many moons in orbit around it, each significant distances apart.

There are two suns in the Ajurpan Si sky, far enough apart that night must be brief on the planet. There are vast deserts and to pass over, with Artemis helping to guide across to a continent that looks familiar. That in itself takes some time. In Artemis' defense, it's been an estimated 35 Urth years since she'd been there. They're still in orbit around Ajurpan Si as she tries to find the right area.

Starlight finds she can stay the pace with ease. Clearly Spirit is being slowed by towing as he was as fast as she was last time they flew together.

Spirit transmits back to everyone, << I'm picking up a large spaceship on the dark side of the planet. Looks like some transports going back and forth? I can also see a few settlements on the planet. They stick out pretty well. >>

"Considering how little traffic I'm sensing... I can't imagine that spaceship is a typical sight in this solar system, but this is my first time out of the Milky Way. Maybe someone else might want to chime in on this." Griffin says aloud, repeating his words over comms for those outside.

Finally, Artemis recognizes a peninsula, still hit by daylight as the shadow of night approaches it. "Ah, that looks familiar!" She's focused on the planet itself with where she's looking. She looks about and out the windows for what Spirit has mentioned. "Spaceships? So soon? how far they have progressed since last I was here!" she says with a tone of pride.

"Well. That's terrifying," comments Talia as she spies the inky silhouette of a giant spaceship at the fringe of the shadow of the planet.

Spirit shakes his head, << I think it's likely a visitor to the planet. The tech on the planet doesn't imply the ability to build a ship that large. >>

<<"I'm with Spirit on this one. That seems quite out of place." Griffin says, concurring with the COmmander.

Artemis presses her face up against the window. "Hmm? Well, Ajurpan Si is a resource rich planet. Perhaps they have finally opened trade with a neighboring system?" she comments hopefully.

Spirit nods slowly. << Maybe. Perhaps we can get details when you talk to the person you want to visit. Where are we headed? >>

"Maybe... ?" offers Talia. She leans over and squeezes Artemis' shoulder with one hand, peering out the windows as well.

Artemis points back down to a peninsula. "Bring us closer to the end of that land mass. As we get closer, I can give better directions." She looks over to Talia and raises a brow at the squeezing. "You sound not as certain on that," she comments.

Starlight has no communications. She's completely out of the lop on this.

Spirit pulls the capsule toward the location Artemis pointed out, leaving a trail of light behind them as they fly along. Again, it's easy enough for Starlight to keep up.

"I don't have enough information to say one way or another," offers Talia. She tries to offer Artemis another, more reassuring squeeze to the shoulder, but she keeps her gaze focused on what's beyond the window.

As they draw closer, they approach a town. The buildings are oval-shaped, no taller than three stories, made of strange materials. The planet is more primitive than Urth, more industrial and agricultural. Flat farmlands surround the town, and a mining operation is in the distance. Artemis points to outside the city. There's a gathering of small homes. "Ah, I see it still stands as before. Hah, they've constructed a few more houses. There is where we want to go. We can land by the Myarnward side. Ah, I mean... South Urn Side."

Quiet spin up her holo for a nice large text frame inside the capsule. MINING OP? DON'T NEED TO COLONIZE IT TO DIG BIG HOLES IN THE GROUND.

Spirit nods and heads where directed. He lets the capsule down onto the planet's surface relatively gently

Starlight actually lands, instead of hovering as she normally does. "I should have nrought a flag." she quips. You realise this is the furthest and human has been from Earth."

Quiet then looks out a diferent porthole as they swing around to a good LZ. The rural agricultural homesteading outside the town brings a bit of familiar pang. Travel umpteen bazillion light years to suddenly be reminded of home. That's ironic.

Artemis unstraps eagerly when the capsule is set down. Already the trail of light gathered some intention. Some figures run inside the homes, and soon others are coming out. Artemis heads for the capsule doors, still enthusiastic and hopeful now that her oath is so close to being fulfilled. "I'm sure the planet is well and good, Friend Talia. You needn't worry." Artemis is great at denial.

Griffin doesn't like the look of this- but doesn't want to jump the gun. As the capsule lands, Griffin unlatches his safety harness and stands up. He cracks his neck and stretches as much as the capsule's confined space will allow for but is clearly happy to almost be free of it.

"I hope you're right Artemis. Trade has a great way of lifting people out of poverty & advancing them- so it could all be a good thing." He says, trying to hang on to the silver lining while he can.

Spirit acts as the test subject, changing form to a human one to test the air. "Feels okay. Might want to test it with the sensors in the capsule, just in case.

Once the capsule has stopped rattling around, Talia unstraps herself from her seat. She climbs to her feet and unstows her rucksack just long enough to pull a whip from within one of its compartments. Talia rests it on her hip and returns her rucksack to its storage space.

Trade may have advanced them some. The four-armed alien response that comes out of the homes are armored with laser rifles that look too advanced for the dwellings they've seen so far. They start taking cover near houses, fencing, and transport carts that are still of the old fashioned wheeled variety. They're skin is in various hues of dusty purple, and while humanoid, their faces are longer and more primitive looking. The noses are high and blunted, close to the eyes, while their mouths are stretched lower. Some have bearded whiskers and tendrils on their chins. They eye the capsule and start taking aim.

Starlight shifts to energy form as she sees the native reaction to their arrival. "Spirit, maybe you tell the people inside the reception looks rather hostile."

Dorian nods, "Yeah." Over the radio, he says, << We have some locals with...what looks like energy weapons. Artemis, you shoudl get out here to talk. >>

"I believe you have the floor," comments Talia, gesturing for Artemis to take the lead.

Artemis starts removing her space suit's helm and sets it on the seat. After the sensors on the capsule give the green light, the hatch opens. <> she sounds surprised. She climbs out of the capsule, the hatch facing away from the town and the lasers, and steps around. She grins and walks towards the entrenched Ajurs. "Greetings! As promised, the Godflora of the Tau Spring have returned!" she calls out openly.

The Ajurs shuffle and take aim with their weapons. One of them is giving orders to the others and is the most exposed. The leader. Artemis gasps in excitement and suddenly flies in a charge towards him with arms spread. A few Ajurs panic and fire wildly, missing for the most part. They don't seem too familiar with the weapons. One does glance off Artemis with a bit of a scorch mark, but the Godflora is too excited to care. She's upon the leader and gives him a big hug. "Bethran! It has been too long!" she says cheerfully.

Now that Artemis is close to them for scale, these beings are no taller than four feet.

Dorian remains where he is for the time being. No reason to spook the locals further than they already have. He watches them curious, but finds his attention turns to the skies every so often, just to see if someone from the ship is coming to check out their landing point.

Quiet doesn't like this at all. Inn hindight, it's a good think the cask seemed to be saved for later, by unspoken communal decision. She moves to the exit hatch for a better view, but doesn't yet exit. She really doesn't want a firefight in the midst of a settlement.

The leader is surprised by the way its four eyes widen. It holds up its hand and shouts something to make the others stop shooting. They lower their weapons, and it seems safe to approach.

Starlight watches Artemis charge into laser fire. She muses quietly, "I've often thought bravery and foolishness are two faces of the same coin."

Dorian chuckles. "I do think they're related, yeah." Once it seems safer to approach, he does so, walking slow enough to make sure the locals don't think he's a threat.

Starlight follows behind, changing back to physical form. Unlike some she can only stay in energy form for a limited period.

Well, that's one way to say Hi... Quiet finally steps out of the capsule to take a better look around, which is easier done when not under incoming fire.

Talia emerges from the capsule and pokes her head around the side until Dorian takes the lead in approaching. She steps out of cover and follows after everyone toward the sociology/anthropology study. It's likely that Talia is taking notes as she scurries along after everyone else.

The locals talk among themselves. Artemis finally sets the leader down and smiles at him as she takes a knee to be closer to eye-level. "I've missed you," she says tenderly, affection in her voice that makes it sound more than just friendly. "I'm sorry I was not able to return sooner. You look almost the same as when I left."

The leader takes a few steps back after Artemis releases him. When he speaks, it's heard allowed as one language, and in everyone's minds in their native tongue. "Bethran was my father. Who are you? You're not with the Vykar?"

That answer leaves Artemis shocked a moment. "Was...?"

The Sentinel, Griffin Freeman steps out of the capsule too- scanning the field with his energy senses instinctively before moving along with the others.

"Well- this wasn't at all what I was expecting." He muses as he watches Artemis charge in. "Do you think she's going to need backup or is this some Warrior Civilization thing?" He inquires, sounding like he usually has someone to tell him that kind of thing.

"Or should we engage- or at least take up positions so we can control the field?" He adds as he reviews the terrain. He likely already sees a couple of poisitons that would be easier to maintain.

He falls quiet as he sees Artemis talking and releasing as opposed to smashing and boasting about the Godflora's greatness. He shrugs at Lien.

Dorian gently places a hand on Artemis's shoulder, "I'm sorry we couldn't get you back here sooner, Artemis." He says to the son of Bethran, "Are the Vykar the folks in the ship we saw above the planet on the way in?"

Starlight flies up and lands on Artemis' other shoulder, hoping her presence will be some slight comfort from the distressed heroine.

Artemis is still in shock. She sniffs once, trying to maintain her composure as befitting a Goddess, but she looks too devastated to speak. Dorian's hand on her shoulder and Starlight's landing helps.

Bethran's son says, "I am Ganivere. Father passed two years ago fighting the Vykar when they came. We stole their weapons and learned. We fight." Ganivere looks to Dorian. "More Godflora? Where were you when the Vykar began raiding our lands from the sky?"

There's a rumbling sound as a ship approaches, following the last seen trail Spirit left behind to the heroes' location.

Griffin leaves the peacekeeping to the peacekeepers. He turns and keeps an eye on the oncoming ship. <<"We've got another contact coming up on our LZ." Griffin reports over comms.

He steps away from the main party- at least so he can take up a position guarding their rear.

Dorian shakes his head, "We're not...Godflora." He still finds saying the word awkward. He's not a plant, after all. "We are...more the most part, humans." He hears the incoming ship...and that coupled with Griffin's message get him to change back to his energy form in a flash of light. "Looks like we have another welcoming party. I suspect this one might involve more shooting. If you'll excuse me, Ganivere..." He flies over to try to act as a first point of contact for the incoming ship as need be.

Talia frowns at Ganivere's tale. She looks at Artemis, but leaves the Godflora be - Artemis already has two people comforting her - to instead follow Griffin away from the main gathering. Her eyes look toward the sky, tracking the ship chasing the trail that they left behind.

"How much can you lift and fly at the same time?" inquires Talia of Griffin.

"Don't you worry about that ma'am." Griffin says. "I'll jsut say enough." He says with a smile as he offers his outstretched hand to her before taking flight after Dorian.

Quiet sighs. Well, on the bright side, maybe this can make her feel a little better about humanity. Why? Because this is proof that they have not yet monopolized the universe's supply of assholicity. It's only a small comfort, but one does what they can do. At the warning of incoming, she turns her attention that way, though waves back the locals before drawing her weapon. Ok, she misses her usual /0 team comms right about now.

"Put me," rumbles Talia as her body abruptly surges upward and outward, "On that thing. I can put a hurting on it."

By the time that Talia's hand wraps around Griffin's, she is more Sinmore than Talia. He can feel the moment in time where her flesh abruptly turns stony and radiates even more heat than her organic form had been. Fire replaces her hair, spilling down her back and over her shoulders as she grits her teeth. When Griffin lifts off of the ground, her Omega Guard costume is replaced by layers of chainmail and scalemail.

"The Vykar! They've found us!" Ganivere calls to the locals and they get ready to aim on the ship. "Do not let them take our people or our land!" Artemis finally hears the calls to battle and rises up. Her left arm snaps out to her left and her shield suddenly appears. She remains to defend and block for the Ajurs as the ship approaches and is 40m out.

Starlight suggests to Artemis, feeling in her emotional state she should not be involved in combat, "Artemis, you would be the best person to stay here and protect these friends of your if the other aliens get past us." With that said she takes off, accelerating fast ready to engage as soon as any targets present themselves.

Quiet spins up her gravitics before taking a leap away from the town and their capsule and towards the incoming ship. She really, really does not like the idea of collateral damage in this situation, much less any intentional retaliatory razings. Even as she lands, she's already drawing a bead on one of the ship's visible weapons. The best defense is a good offense? Her weapon's barrel elongates as she goes straight for the 'I want a hole in this thing now' option.

The shot hits the turrent. It gets through some of the armor plating, but it's still functional.

Sinmore maintains her grip on Griffin's hand. The fire giantess grits her teeth as she waits for Griffin to deposit her on the apparent Vykar craft.

Spirit flies out a good ten meters, closing the distance a bit, but just intending to be defensive for the moment. His form glows more brightly as energy is drawn to his hands in preparation for creating point defense shields as needed.

Griffin doesn't look too surprised by Talia's transformation thanks to his insane visual reaction time. "Alright- hang on tight, I'll get you there. Hopefully we find a sweet spot on the way." He says to her en route to their new target.

Griffin charges up and streaks straight for a position beneath Sinmore's landing zone- at as high a speed as he dares.

He thinks Sinmore looks pretty tough- he just hopes the high speeds don't put out her flames.

Strategically he keeps low- in fact he flies right above the ground to position himself (and Sinmore) to a position on the ship to cause the most damage before they start pressing the Vykar from an entrenched position within the ship.

Griffin fills in the team over comms. <<"We're heading to the ship- keep their eyes front and we'll see if we can sneak in back and find something valuable to crack."

Sinmore waits until Griffin has her over the top of the ship. Letting go of Griffin's hand, Sinmore drops onto the top of the spacecraft. Promptly, Sinmore lights up her hands with fire as she drives her fingers into the seams of the hull plating as she starts pumping fire directly into the hull.

Fire and heat roll off of Sinmore's large form and into the space under the ship's hull plating. Despite the ship clearly having some degree of heat shielding to survive operations in atmosphere, Sinmore seems to be pumping enough heat into the craft to start melting the hull plates around her in a rolling wave of increasingly whitehot metal and ceramics.

The Vykar ship pilot gets an alert of a hull breach. The gunners in the two turrets take aim at the target-rich environment, aiming at Spirit and Quiet.

Spirit raises his hands and two wide energy barriers appear at angles, deflecting the blasts back up into the atmosphere behind them.

Starlight swoops down and grabs a tiny handful of dirt from a close by field without slowing her speed.

Starlight calls out to Spirit, "If you can contact the alien mother ship, tell them if they take offensive action the next time it will be a rock." It's a bluff. But with the violence happening to their landing party a very believable bluff. Starlight then takes off straight up. There's a prolonged slowly fading snapping roar of thunder as air falls back into the tunnel of vacuum she drills in the sky as she accelerates to first to hyper-sonic velocity and then once out of most of the atmosphere to high fractional-C velocity in a split second. She leaves an incandescent trail as the air being displaced is heated to near solar temperatures. Veering off a collision course to Pass by the mother ship she releases the handful of dirt. Just small dry crumbling sand grain sized specks spreading out from her hand. But traveling at 80% C. Each tiny grain that hits does so with the force of a heavy caliber bullet. Not likely to penetrate a warcraft's hull. But they'll certainly know they've been hit.

The sand pings and impacts off of the Mothership's energy shields, imperceptible to the naked eye save the tiniest of ripples in the shields from the small grains.

Spirit doesn't know if he can reach the mother ship with a communication, but he might, based on being able to 'see' the incoming scout ship's comms. He tries sending, << I suggest the Vykar back off. That's a nice ship you have there. It would be a shame to damage it. >> It's sent in a sarcastic tone, but the sarcasm is probably lost by whatever translation program will work on it.