Space Camp Session 6

Princess Guard - The New Era 2017/11/18 	 Titan Wolf Lien Tali Unix Artemis Nohrbor 50

Back to the Cape
After the successful rescue of Patrica Doi and the defeat of Dark Source and his minions everyone eventually returns to the NASA base. The traitorous technician has been exposed and arrested. Patrica and Mark recover from the knockout gas with no evident after-effects. Since the kidnap took place during the extra time allotted following the scheduled training everything is set for blast off tomorrow morning as originally intended.

The attitude of the older kids to your young wards has changed significantly. The older kids have become almost solicitous toward the younger ones. Led by Jackson May they are trying valiantly to comfort and console the younglings, particularly Patrica and Mark. Of course the older kids still have no idea that any of the younger kids except Peter is more than they seem on the surface.

The mysterious Stranger, disguised as a mild-mannered head of Quality Control remains quiet as the children do the right thing. That's something to be encouraged- so he does so, by not interfering. He closes his ever watchful eyes and begins to meditiate- focusing his Doj'on mind on maintaining his current form.

Tali is glad to see this change of heart in Jackson! She joins him and the older kids in the effort. They may have superpowers but it's still pretty traumatic stuff.

It has to be admitted that when Tali joins the effort the aforesaid Jackson May becomes rather distracted from the original purpose and somewhat more focused on Tali.

Lien was quiet briefly, and otherwise non-verbose the remainder of her time on or under NASA grounds. Save for a few moments, most of it was rather uninteresting. Now that they may actually venture into space, though, she's becoming more and more anxious to get there.

Into Space!
The morning finally comes. With many of the kids awake from excitement hours before the official start of the day's events. First comes breakfast, with Captain Hibson strongly recommending eating lightly. Then suiting up and the drive out to the shuttle craft. Launches no longer have all the drama of the first days of man's stepping into space but there's still a countdown and numerous checks and procedures to be followed. The launch control chatter is piped to your suit comms so you can hear what's happening.

Titan is pretty sure he'll be fine even if there's a catstrophic problem. But the same can't be said of everyone else. He tries to stay as alert as possible, to see if he notices anything amiss.

Tali can't wait. She's tempted to slow herself down to make the time pass quicker, but she's sure that would be noticed.

The shuttle ram-jets, the first stage of propulsion, scream into life. It's good the suits do a good job of noise control. There's a jerk and the shuttle starts moving forward, building up speed until the pilot, Commander Iverson, rotates the craft and it loses contact with earth: rising into the blue sky. The angle of ascent increases and outside the viewports the sky grows darker and darker until it is black and the stars are shining clearly. Clearer than anyone will have seen unless they have already traveled into space.

Tali has been to an alternate moon, but not into space as such. She watches the viewports transfixed.

Artemis still ate a decent breakfast. Hearty for most, but light for an Ashildr. As she suits up, she removes her shield bracer and sword harness, strapping them on the exterior of her suit. She shifts and twists to test the fit, then follows the others. She makes sure all the younglings are buckled before taking her own seat for the ascent.

Another jerk and a brief moment of Zero G as the ram-jet modules are jettisoned, falling back to earth to be reused. The shuttle's main engine starts, the long stream of water superheated to plasma shining brightly. The acceleration is less, little more than a half G. But the heavy lifting has already been done and the shuttle's engine is enough to boost the craft higher and higher until, after three increasingly distant orbits the grip of earth is escaped and you are on your way to the moon.

Mark is just a little undiplomatic perhaps as he remarks to Graham Sparks, "When we go up to the station with Dad we go straight there. This is like last century's tech."

Those observent and looking that way might see a grimace pass over Susan Hibson's face before she controls her expression.

Wolf has been uncharacteristically quiet and still. Not even wagging. Introspective, focussed. He leans toward the viewport and presses his own faceplate against the glass during all of the portions of each orbit during which the Moon is visible through the exterior windows. He grins toothily, just a little, at Mark's comment. Nothing that would be discernible by anyone not looking directly into his faceplate. Ah, Mark.

Quiet has her own suit, and trusts it more than anything made for the government by the lowest bidder. Launching off-world isn't a new experience, but she still enjoys it. Watching the kids, for most of whom it's a new thing, makes it a little more interesting.

Tali is tempted to make a comment to Mark about how that compares to 38th century tech. But, well, not in front of the without.

Titan says aloud, "If this were like...'last century's tech', there's a better chance we would have exploded already."

Susan Hibson tells the passengers, repeating what's been said several times during the previous two days, "The journey to Selene City will take a little over four hours."

Tali says, "Yeah. Last century's ros seemed to spend half their time rescuing astronauts and junk!"

The suit comms are still relaying the launch control audio. So you all hear... 'Shuttle Daedalus, stand by for a new course. State the maximum acceleration your cargo can sustain please.'

Commander Iverson replies, and maybe he ought to have switched off the audio relay but he hasn't. Either intentionly or by oversight. 'Control, this is a Space Camp flight. I've got kids onboard.'

Wolf's fuzzy ears perk up and instinctively point forward, until he corrects them and orients one ear toward each of the helmet speakers. New course? Maximum acceleration? They're -not- going to the Moon? What's going on? Wolf listens intently.

Quiet blnks and tilts her head at the comms, only the latter discernible due to her suit. An unexpected course correction and max Gees? Not a good sign. her helm turns further as she looks to others for their reactions to this development. She then looks ahead towards the cockpit, debating between adjusting her harness and unlatching it to head there.

Tali looks out the viewport on the off chance she can see some reason that a course change is needed. Like a giant alien battlefleet or something.

Nohrbor the Stranger also eats a hearty meal by human standards- though one completely meat-free. He boards the ship with a tablet in hand and no other luggage. He puts the tablet into its compartment and sits before taking a good long look out the window.

He seems to enjoy the flight as it starts and settles in deeper into his suit and seat. The Stranger listens to the chatter from control and the flight deck with interest. But he remains silent otherwise because he isn't sure how much of this is 'routine hoo-man stuff' and how much of it is disaster rearing its ugly head.

Launch Control sends, 'Iverson, we know. Cargo Shuttle Liberty has a runaway drive malfunction. They have fifteen minutes before the drive explodes and you're the only craft that has any chance of rendezvousing to get the crew off.'

Titan, an actor himself, can detect the stress and tension hiding under the 'approved' calm of NASA control staff when everything is going wrong.

Commander Iverson sends, "Stand by.' He cuts the audio feed going out to Launch Control and asks over the general channel, "Has everyone heard what is happening?"

Titan takes a deep breath. Of course something else went wrong. Something always goes (repeatedly) wrong on these trips with the kids. He says, "Commander, if there's anything we can do to help, please...just say what we need to do."

Tali says, since people know about her powers anyway. "If I can get to the drive I can probably stop it exploding for a day or so. But you know, that's a big if...."

Quiet double-keys her comms in an affirmative response, though doesn't offer any immediate extrapolation or thoughts over the channel.

"Are drive malfunctions common on human vessels?" Artemis asks curiously as she readies herself for a rescue.

Commander Iverson has been looking over the new course, "To make rendezvous we'll have to accelerate at 3G. That gets us alongside the cargo shuttle with a minute and twenty seconds to spare. I was hoping for suggestions from you. I know some of you are heroes but I don't know what you can do."

Captain Hibson shakes her head. "No. But that's a private enterprise craft. Sometimes they cut corners to increase profits."

Titan nods and says, "I can survive in space for a bit without the suit. Plenty strong and tough. But my technical knowledge is... limited. I'll let hte others speak for themselves."

Tali says, "I can rejuvenate their drive - if I can get on their ship. Which should let them land safely."

Artemis nods thoughtfully. "If young Tali can do as she says, then there is no need to worry," she smiles jovially. "All we need do is get her on board."

"I'll lend a hand as well, Commander." The Stranger says, though he gives no specifics on just how he'll help. "I can help get the crew off the ship while the others deal with the danger onboard." And provide some additional heavy lifting or psychic reinforcement- though he leaves that unsead.

The Phillips twin whisper to Peter, who shakes his head, "You're too slow. You can't get there in time on your own." he says, quietly but knowing that a whisper has never worked with the hot-headed twins.

Tali says, "Um - how big would the drive be?"

Artemis looks to Captain Hibson and says, "I'm sure your teleporter engineer can get her in their ship safely." She assumes they have that sort of tech.

Captain Hibson, "I wish. Sorry, no teleporter." she says.

Captain Hibson then answers Tali, "About four times the size of our drive."

Tali says, "Um, then it might take longer than I hoped. The faster we can get there the better!"

Graham Sparks is the shyest by far of the Markham kids. But this time he raises a hand, "I might be able to repair the drive if it's an electrical problem.

Titan looks over at Graham, "Would you be able to diagnose it as such by looking at it?"

Robert nods, "Me too." he says. You may recall he's a whiz-kid genius studying electronics at MIT.

Tali says, "Ok, good! So we have lots of ideas how to stop it - one of them should work!"

Graham half nods, "If I can touch it. I... kind of can feel what's wrong with electrical stuff if I touch it."

Tali says, "Arid!"

Iverson reminds you all, "To get there in time we'll have to boost at 3Gs. Your safety is primary. Are you all sure you can sustain a 3G burn?"

Titan looks to the others, checking their reactions. Since...well, 3Gs shouldn't be a big deal for him.

Tali nods. At least, she figures that since time is part of the whole acceleration thing there's got to be some way she can figure out how to counteract the effects, right?

The kids all nod. Jackson looks at Tali, "You can play around with time, right? That's so cool. Can you speed up time for the shuttle, so we have longer to get there before the other craft explodes?"

Tali says, "I wish, but it's just too big...."

Artemis shrugs a shoulder while rolling it. "I should be fine at 3Gs."

Commander Iverson reactivates the audio feed to Launch Control, "Executing course change and increasing boost to 3G's." he sends.

Tali says, "But... I guess, no harm in trying....."

Tali closes her eyes, and tries to extend a time warp field over the whole shuttle...

Tali has her face screwed up in great concentration (or maybe constipation). But a ripple passes all over the shuttle as she extends her power across it.... which seems to do nothing, unless one happens to see out the viewports that the ship suddenly seems to be moving faster, but without any increased G force....

One of the effects is weird. The next transmission from Launch Control is almost subsonic in pitch and extended significantly, "Coommmmaannddeerr Innvveerrsonnn... Yoouuurrr.... "

Commander Iverson is saying hurriedly, "Julio, re-compute." And then "What just happened? We're moving faster than a 3G burn should be doing."

Tali is concentrating too hard even to think of answering!

Quiet adjusts in her seat slightly in prep for the gees, then taps out with her left hand on the right forearm of her suit. A narrow-field projection is sent up to the cockpit for the commander: a simple display of text.

I CAN GET ABOARD ONCE WE'RE CLOSE. IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO SHUTDOWN THE DRIVE FOR REPAIR OR JETTISON IT AND TOW THE OTHER SHUTTLE.

The otherwise almost un-noticed flight engineer Julio works the figures, "Commander, at this speed we'll be alongside in seven minute. Six minutes before the earliest their drive will explode."

Captain Hibson says, "Check your suit integrity. I'm going to over-ride the air lock and open both hatches. That will save time for anyone going over to the cargo craft."

Sweat is now visibly - for those looking at her faceplate - pouring down Tali's brow.

Seven minutes later Iverson says, "Cutting thrust." The main drive is silenced, not that it could be heard with the cabin in vacuum. You're suddenly in zero-G.

The mass of the cargo shuttle is visible through the viewports on the port side. It's a lot bigger than your craft, and at almost zero relative velocity about 100m away.

Tali's time ripple contracts back inwards rapidly, as if in sudden collapse.

Commander Iverson sends to all the Space Camp, "We're here. It's up to you now. You have five minutes. We need at least a minute if you cannot stop the explosion to get this craft clear of the danger zone."

Titan unbuckles himself, "I should be able to fly over to the craft. Unless someone has a better option, I can carry a couple people." He heads toward the airlock.

Graham Sparks unbuckles. As does Robert O'Reily. "Can you take us across, Sir?" Robert says to Titan.

Tali remains strapped in her seat, unmoving.

Quiet unfastens her harness and uses a hand to pull herself from her seat towards the ceiling before pushing off of a bulkhead towards an open hatch.

Titan nods to Graham and Robert, "Of course." Once they're through the airlock, he takes off toward the other craft.

Commander Iverson sends over the general channel, "I cannot raise anyone from the Libery's crew. I'm getting telemetry from the craft but no crew response."

The Stranger unfastens his seatbelt and appears to push off. He manuevers to the airlock easily thanks ot his ability to fly though he makes it look like he is maunevring himself and pushing off objects.

He nods to Titan as he follows behind.

Quiet activates her suit's anti-grav propulsion once she's clear of the shuttle and accelerates for the Liberty. Titan, and more his minor passengers, get a questionable look and shake of her helm, even if it's from behind.

The crossing is made easily. The air-lock of the Liberty is the standard design, and thus can be operated and opened from outside.

Since time is at a premium, Quiet seeks to avoid the airlock cycle bypassing the hatch, lock, and hull entirely. Her suit gravitics shift from simple propulsion to a concentrated, intentional warping of spacetime about her person to cause her location and one inside the ship coincide before allowing her personal space to revert to normal and take her with it.

Titan opens up the airlock, letting everyone inside. "The ship might be depressurized. Keep the suits on for the time being, just in case."

The two kids with Titan acknowledge his instruction. Once inside the other craft Quiet will notice a slightly disturbing sight. A man, probably one of the crew, webbed to a bulkhead by a thick sticky mess of slimy webbing.

Sensing motion in front of him the man opens pain filled eyes and pleads to Quiet, "Please... kill me."

The Stranger slides inside and despite being a 'normal' person, he takes a psoition next to Titan and in front of the kids. "There must be a place the morta- that is, people congregate- like a crew cabin or dining hall on board? Perhaps we should start there?" He says to Titan before they continue on. He has no idea what's in store for them aboard the ship- certainly not what could cause a mortal to plead for their life in sucha manner.

Quiet... was not expecting this. Not at all. This is obviously much more than a system malfunction. While not a ship designer, she's fairly sure that engines don't cause crew to be webbed to bulkheads. She curses, in her head, and starts running for the interior side of the airlock the others were entering.

Robert and Graham point sternwards, "The drive will be in this direction." Robert says. Graham seems content to let the older kid take the lead.

Titan heads with the kids toward the engine. After all, if worse comes to worst, he can rip the engine free and toss it away. In theory.

Titan nods to The Stranger, "Try to find the crew. Gotta keep the engine from exploding first."

Jackson turns to share his observation viewport with Tali and notices she isn't moving. Unbuckling he pulls himself over to her and, smart kid, checks her vital readouts on the suit before lifting her head to look through the visor, "Tali? Tali, talk to me." he says worriedly.

The Stranger nods. "Copy. I will follow you guys... for now. But if I find sign of the crew, I'll make for them and start leading them back to the ship."

As he follows the much more knowledgable humans, he begins 'scouting' for the rest of the crew with his mind.

Quiet types as she runs, ready to project holographic text the moment she encounters, preferably, Titan and charges, but will settle for anyone at the moment.

WARNING!! CREW ATTACKED BY UNKNOWN HOSTILE. CRAFT NOT SECURE! GET THE KIDS THE $#@! BACK TO THE SHUTTLE!

Titan keeps moving toward the engine as he sees Quiet's warning. "Fine. Get the kids back. I'll rip the engine off. Unless you have a better idea. I'd like to avoid anyone here dying today, including the crew, assuming they're still alive."

Wolf turns and pushes off with all four paws. He then floats across the depressurized shuttle to land next to Jackson, and then cautiously *noses* Tali, to see if he can ((Heal)) Tali back to consciousness. . . Wolf does his best to still keep watch over the rest of the kids as he works to see what can be done to help the unconscious heroine. ..

The Stranger reads Quiet's message and his eyes go wide. "Well that seems like a real problem. Perhaps it might be better to hold the explosion off... just long enough to save the crew?" His suggestion is not cruel - just practical. If something is attacking the crew, they should save the crew and leave whatever is attacking them to their fates. The Flight Engineer on the Space Camp shuttle, who's listening in like everyone else, warns Titan, "If you rip the drive off unless you have some way to stop or divert a multi-thousand ton craft it will impact the moon at full velocity.

Wolf closes his eyes and reaches out with his mind, forth healing energy, reinvigorating her exhausted cells and calling Tali back to the land of the quick.

Titan says over the radio, "And if we let the drive take out the shuttle, what's the situation then?"

Julio answers Titan, "It won't be good. It will add a lot more space junk. But it's better than having the cargo craft impact the moon with the force of a thousand nuclear bombs."

Quiet quickly answers, via holo, THEN THEY BUILD A NEW SHUTTLE.

They are much more easily replaced than crew or children. Speaking of the latter, she grabs up the pair, via grav tractors if necessary, and heads out the lock for the Daedalus.

Titan glances over at Quiet, "I was asking primarily about the potential of the debris being destructive. Perhaps to the installations on the moon."

Tali stirs, as if in slow motion. "Hungry...." she murmurs.

Julio sends, "Very little will hit the moon if the explosion occurs this distance from it... I hope."