Log:The Dead Star Passes Part 2

The Dead Star Passes 2010/03/19 	 Jade Katana Lightray Lily 1

'''--- the story so far... '''

The group of heroes, and collected geniuses, are in a makeshift carrying hull high above the English countryside. Ahead, fortunately some tens of miles away, is London. A large part of the city, centered around the old Millennium Dome, is a glowing pit of bubbling lava after an attack by party unknown using a uncontrolled solar fusion device.

Looking down at the sheer carnage of the situation, Katana's heart begins to pound violently. He can feel the heat from the lava on his face as he looks towards all the destruction, clenching his fist and gritting his teeth, an evil glare in his eyes. "No... this cannot continue! We have to stop them! They're ruining so much!"

A brilliant but distant flash of light illuminates the horizon to the east as a small nuclear weapon detonates. The flash is eerily silent as sound of the blast will take a couple of minutes to reach the heroes.

Lightray looks down at the glowing mass that was once our destination. He asks, "Do we have any way to dig down through that radioactive mess? Or to avoid it altogether? the ability to teleport past it? Although I suppose that would be problematic as well." He turns back to the tohers present as he speaks.

"I can teleport," says Godling, "But not without knowing where I'm going."

Katana thinks for a moment, and says "What about alchemy?" He looks to the others for agreement.

Lily looks down in awe, "Wow. Um, what are we trying to get to down there, again?"

There's an encroachment on the lava, a thread of darkening starting to appear beneath a cloud of steam as the Thames, released by the destruction of the tidal barrier, is flowing back into the course of the river bed.

Jade says, "The-power-plant-there-under-the-bend-in-the-Thames."

Lightray nods to Godling, then turns his attention to Lily's question. "The power plants are needed as part of the process to repel the Dead Star." He looks over at Katana. "Alchemy?"

Katana begins to examine the materials that make up the transport, and starts picking out various pieces. He turns his head to Lightray. "I know a bit about it, seeing as I'm metal myself. I could do something with the lava. Any requests? Gold? Platinum?" He grins a little, trying to brighten up the dreary undertone around them.

Jade says, "We-have-to-contact-people-here anyone-have-a-radio? if-not-we'll-just-have-to-make-one."

Katana walks to the middle of the container, and begins to crush the pieces into powder. "Last chance for other ideas!"

Lightray smiles slightly. "Time for you to make one then, Ms Ashcroft." He reaches into the pouch at his side and hands over his PDA. He looks over at Katana. "Perhaps we chould wait to see if Ms Ashcroft can contact the others alpready in the base."

Katana grabs a good handful of the powder, but does not do anything yet, nodding to Lightray. "I'll prepare it, just in case."

Jade and the other 'geniuses' get to making a radio out of several PDAs.

It's done in seconds. Jade puts out a call, trying to reach the people at the base.

When complete and tuned in the heroes receive a radio transmission supposedly coming from the base, asking for them to respond.

Jade identifies us to the alleged base. "What's-your-situation?"

There's suddenly a loud POP, like a small explosion. Katana's metal face is covered in soot, and he looks rather frusterated. "Ok... I don't suppose this batch would work, then..."

Another signal comes onto that frequency, "REPENT SINNERS! THE END IS AT HAND. FLEE BACK TO THE HELL WORLD YOU CAME FROM OR BE DESTROYED."

Jade says, "Keep-changing-course-IG they-may-fire-on-us...."

Jade asks the first group, "What's-your-situation? how-can-we-reach-you?"

The original transmission struggles to break through the jamming, "The base is functionally undamaged. We await your arrival."

Katana wipes his face, and looks over to Godling. "Godling, could you throw me at the wall of the plant? I have an idea!" He gives a confidant grin.

Jade says, "Where-is-there-a-usable-entrance?"

Lightray looks over at Katana. "What wall Katana? Its a molten mass down there."

The transmission continues, "We have an underwater entrance on the east side of the base. Sensors indicate the temperature there is high but survivable. We'll open it now."

Jade says, "We'll get there. Godling, enclose-this-vessel-so-we-can-go-underwater...."

Godling sets about sealing us inside the craft.

When Godling has make the required alterations, Imaginary Girl flies down to where a section of the riverbed has opened up. It's a large enough opening to admit submersibles, so the hull the heroes are in will fit. There's no water in the river bed, just hot rock and steam.

Lightray looks around at the various people inside the now enclosed craft. "I suggest each hero keep close to our civilian experts to insure their safety until we get inside and settled. Just in case."

Jade says, "I-suggest-we-all-stand-ready the-opposition-know-what-way-we're-coming-in."

The hatch closes behind you sealing out the gases and most of the heat. A smaller door opens into the chamber containing the submarine pen. Appearing in the doorway a person in a heat resistant suit waves you over.

Katana jumps out into the chamber with a flip, holding his two Steel Blades.

Lily hops out, oblivious to the heat, "Ok! Where're the bad guys!"

Jade scans to check the heat is in tolerable levels before getting out!

The heat in the submarine pen is intense. It's not a place to stay unless you have great resistance.

The person in the heat suit waves again.

Jade says, "Let's-get-somewhere-cooler-and-fast and-bring-that-equipment!"

Lightray guides the non-powered experts over towards the exit.

Lily helps carry the equipment in.

The 'experts' move as fast as they can, being unshielded against heat.

Katana sticks close towards the front, acting as a bodyguard to the civilians.

The doorway is sized for cargo and large enough to allow the equipment to pass through it. Once you're all in the person in the heat suit closes that door, and opens another, the arrangement clearly a airlock, or more accurately a waterlock, between the submarine pen and the base itself. Once past the second door the person removes the heat suit hood, revealing a female face that would be pretty if it wasn't for the harshness setting each feature into hard lines.

Jade doesn't waste time. "Hello where's-the-power-plant? Let's-get-right-to-this!"

"I'm Force Commander Hailey Smithson." She says. "I'll take you to where Princess Elizabeth is waiting with the Prime Minster and our PolSec Commander."

Lightray nods to the Force Commander but lets Jade take the lead.

Jade nods, and introduces the group as we go, multitasking as ever.

The woman nods to Jade. "I'll inform them you'll be delayed. The power plant is this way. Dr Christine Green, the chief engineer, is there."

The woman leads you down a corridor and through heavy doors into a power plant control room. There's some technicians working in there and a nervous looking woman who is introduced as the chief engineer.

Jade says, "Hello I'm Jade-Ashcroft pleased-to-meet-you It's-been-explained-what-we're-going-to-do-here? The-sooner-we-can-get-started-the-sooner-we-can-begin-diverting-the-dead-star."

Jade casts an eye about for any sign of someone unfriendly as she introduces herself.

The woman shakes her head, "I'm sure this is not a good idea. I'll want to understand your plan before I let you connect anything to the reactor."

The Force Leader frowns, "You were instructed to give full support to these aliens, Doctor Green."

Lightray watches the chief engineer as Jade speaks, a pleasant smile on his lips. His eyes drift to the other native engineers in the room but his attention always returns to Dr Green.

Jade says, "We-have-here-a-young-woman-capable-of-altering-the-direction-in-which-something-falls the-plan-is-to-boost-her-powers-to-the-point-that-the-star-can-be-redirected the-details-would-take-too-long-to-explain."

Dr Green exclaims, "Utter nonsense. Such supposed abilities are strictly in the realm of fantasy. If you have some realistic device let me see it."

Jade looks over the power plant as she speaks the better to understand how to perform the task. "Geoforce-would-you-mind-giving-Dr-Green a demonstration of your powers?"

Force Leader Smithson draws a sidearm, "You will co-operate, Doctor, or be shot for Obstructionism."

Geoforce nods, a bit shyly, and gestutes toward the doctor.

Lily steps towards Smithson, "Please, please. Let's not shoot anyone!"

Lightray looks over at the Force Commander. "We may need the good doctor's co-operation, Force Commander. I am assuming her mind can be changed mind you."

Dr Green suddenly finds herself falling sideways into the nearest wall. Dr Green shrieks in panicked fear, her face going white, "Blasphemy! The devil's work!" The works come from foam speckled lips as she scream hysterically.

Jade frowns. "You're-sounding-like-one-of-those-religious-fanatics-who-shot-at-us...."

Lightray sighs at the chief engineer's reaction and looks over at the other native engineers. He then look at the Force Commander. "Your opinion, Force Commander?"

Force Leader Smithson's face goes cold and hostile. "Fister!" she states, and the pistol lifts into line with the doctor.

"Don't-kill-her! She-may-have-useful-information-about-their-activities," says Jade, as the most likely argument to avoid killing.

Lily moves into the line of fire.

Lightray steps between the Force Leader and the engineer. "No Force Leader. We came here to help save your people. All of them. Even the Fisters."

Jade says, "Meantime we-should-get-to-work..."

Doctor Smith laughs hysterically, "I work in God's name. This world shall be destroyed by his descending Fist! Whatever you planned will not avail. I have seen to that. You'll not undo the godly change I've made to the reactor software in time to alter anything."

Jade says, "I-was-afraid-of-that come-on-everyone-let's-see-what-she's-done unless-anyone-here-can-extract-the-information-from-her."

Jade goes over, with the other geniuses, to examine the reactor and its software.

The doctor gets to her feet. For an instant she fails, in her frenzy, to notice she's standing on the wall, at right angles to the rest of the room. Then a look of sheer terror comes to her face as she sees what her situation is.

Lily turns to Dr. Green, "Hey! No giving up and accepting your doom! You have to at least try to live!"

Lightray looks over at Dr Green. He says in a moderate tone, "Dr Green, there are far more things in the Heavens and Earths than is dreamt of in your philosophy. What other obstacles have you put in the machinery here?"

Jade looks at what's been done to the code, glances at Genie, and actually giggles. "Ok-we'll-have-this-right-in-no-time."

Dr Green is too terrified of her sidewards situation to answer Lightray.

The team set to undoing the sabotage.

Lightray shakes his head and just waits for the team to do their technical thing.

It's a matter of minutes only to correct the intentional errors introduced into the reactor code, which would have shut it down when any increased load was applied to it.

A scream comes from Doctor Green as the gravity effect terminates and she is suddenly standing on a wall in a normal gravity field. *splat*

Force Leader Smithson follows the movement of Dr Green with her pistol. She nearly fired when the doctor moved suddenly. "How on Earth did you do that?" she asks in amazement.

Jade says, "Right-then let's-get-this-all-going..."

Lightray walks over to Dr Green and offers her a hand. "Would you care for some help, Dr Green?" His tone is calm and gentle. He remarks over his shoulder. "Geoforce is a metahuman with a wide variety of abilities related to gravity, Force Leader. It is a natural ability for her that she has grown into over time."

He adds. "Of course, what I just said is avast over simplication. But I am not a scientist."

Jade begins directing the team to set up the adjustment - some modifying the reactor, some setting up the equipment for each stage in the link.

The doctor curls up whimpering as Lightray approaches her, fearing him as one of the Devil's helpers.

Geoforce whispers to Jade.

Jade herself sees to the power conduits leading into and out of Katana, and she trusts her double Jasmine to do the same with Godling.

Geoforce whispers to Jade after starting the attempt that there is already a altered gravity field acting on the dead star, originating from close to Mars, and pulling the dead star towards the solar system.

Jade listens to what Geoforce, already in location, has to say, and frowns.

Lightray kneels down next to the doctor. "I wish I could help you, Dr Green. But I cannot cure fear. That is not one of my gifts. But I doubt God wants fear and hatred to rule any of his children. But I leave that decision to you. Just do not interfere with us saving this world, Dr Green." He then stands and moves back to where Jade and the others are working.

Jade says, "Someone-is-pulling-the-dead-star-*towards*-us! They're-based-near-Mars!"

Lightray looks over at Jade. "Guild? Or whatever they would be in this universe?"

Jade says, "I-don't-know-but-it's-certainly-plausible."

Force Leader Smithson says, "We had a Mars colony, well the Americans to be precise. But it was one of the first areas to be hit by meteorite impacts. There's no space capability left as far as I'm aware."

Lightray nods to the Force Leader. "I see. Your world has had no contact with aliens from outer space have they?"

Jade says, "Whoever's-there-they'll-have-to-be-stopped-or-we-have-at-best-a-stalemate."

Lightray looks over at Lily. "Can you surivve in space, ma'am?"

The Force Leader is shaking her head when she blinks, and listens to a message from her communicator. "I... Yes, I understand. At once, Commander." She looks at Lightray. "Until this instant there's been no contact. But I've been told we're receiving a signal from space. Princess Elizabeth wishes you to go to the command center and see if you can add anything to the discussion."

Lily shakes her head, "No, I still have to breath."

Lightray looks at Jade. "Can they do without you for a few minutes, Ms Ashcroft? Your technical knowledge would be useful I am certain."

Malcolm nods, "Yes, we'll be fine here. Might get the job done faster if I don't have to keep stopping to explain things to you, Jade."

Jade says to Malcolm,"Enjoy-being-thick-in-my-absence."

Jasmine says audibly to Malcom-2, "What a jerk! If you ever said anything like that you'll be sleeping on the couch for a month."

Jade goes with the others, knowing that Jasmine's presence, at least, will stop him from being *too* thick.

Lightray follows the Force Leader up to meet with the Princess.

Lily trails along

In the command center the heroes are introduced to Princess Elizabeth, Prime Minster Ian Willberforce, and PolSec Commander David Martins. There's a large viewscreen. On the screen is a image of a spacecraft control room. In the command chair is a short alien, red skin, devil's horns, baby-face. Stood behind the chair are four other aliens, a different race, rather elf like, also about four feet tall.

Jade says, "There's-your-answer. Guild."

Jade says, "Their-commmander-is-a-Kulgran one-of-the-Guild-founding-races."

Princess Elizabeth comes over to you, the Prime Minster and PolSec commander trailing along. It's very clear who's in charge. "Welcome. On behalf of Britain, and indeed the entire Earth, I want to thank all of you for your efforts."

Jade gives a sort of uncertain curtsey, as someone who hasn't really done it before but feels it appropriate. "Thank-you-Your-Royal-Highness those-aliens-are-contacting-you-from-near-Mars?"

Lily waves cheerfully, "You're welcome!"

An operator at a control desk reports, "The message is being repeated."

Jade listens.

Lightray bows to Princess Elizabeth, but remains silent.

The frozen image changes to a live transmission, The voice is inflection-less and emotionally dead, a high pitched piping tone like a drugged child might sound, "Inhabitants of the third planet. My ship has detected the destruction facing your world. As a gesture of good will the Empire is prepared to save as many of your population as we can. We can take twenty thousand of your children aboard our ship. Due to your excessive size we cannot take adults. Our stasis racks are not sized for your race. Have the children ready to embark and contact us on this frequency. Payment will be required. Native art is suitable. Barbarian artefacts are sellable in the Empire."

Lightray shakes his head. "The force moving the Dead Star towards the Earth is coming from near Mars you said, Ms Ashcroft?" He looks over at Godling. "Can you reach that far, sir?"

Another operator has been checking. "The signal is coming from between Earth and Mars. Radar has detected a craft heading towards Earth.

Lily hmphs, "So blow up the Earth, take a sample of breeding stock to sell as curiosities or pets, and grab whatever artifacts they can!? I think these guys need a punching."

Jade says, "On-at-least-one-world-these-aliens-took-humans-from-Earth-in-the-Dark-Ages they-appear-to-be-the-source-of-that-image-of-a-devil-in-fact."

[To Lily] Jade says, "You-may-have-it if-the-Earth-is-destroyed-then-anything-surviving-it-is-more-valuable."

Jade says, "But-more-than-a-punching we-need-to-stop-them-dragging-the-dead-star-toward-Earth."

Jade says, "Have-we-any-way-to-reach-their-Mars-base?"

Lily nods, "I thinking punching them will help stop that. We just have to reach them!"

The red skinned baby0faced alien concludes, "Contact me on this frequency when you have children ready to embark and suitable art works for bidding for space. My servants do not understand your language but they will call me when you are ready."

Lightray murmurs, "Well, we could take the tack of waiting until they land, taking control of their ship, then flying it out where the force moving the star originates and ending it."

Lily hmms, "Do we have anyone that can fly a spaceship?"

Jade says, "That's-what-I-was-thinking if-their-ship-is-fast-enough."

Jade shrugs. "No-but-how-hard-can-it-be?"

Lightray smiles slightly.

Princess Elizabeth asks, "You seem to know of these aliens?"

Jade says, "I-study-aliens of-course-it-may-be-thing-are-quite-different-in-your-world but-I-wouldn't-trust-them-even-without-the-evidence-they-are-at-least-in-part-behind-this-disaster."

The operator talking to the radar station reports, "It's big. First estimate is at least eleven miles across."

Jade says, "Genie-is-a-pilot and-might-be-useful-in-figuring-out-the-spaceship."

Jade says, "How-fast-is-it-travelling?"

Lily blinks, "Wow. Even I might get tired of punching all of them."

Lightray blinks slowly then shakes his head. "Alternately, we could call them back and let them know that the 'gig' is up. Of course, that could provoke them to rash action."

Jade says, "Excuse-me-Your-Royal-Highness I-need-to-check-something."

The operator asks the radar station, asks again, then tells Jade, "Unknown, Ma'am. We measure velocity by doppler shift, but there's a massive red-shift. The experts think it's possibly caused by some kind of gravity drive."

Jade goes to check with Geoforce that the source of the othr gravitational disturbance is still near Mars and not on this ship.

Jade says, "Gravity-drive-I-had-wondered."

Geoforce checks again and reports to Jade the source is moving towards Earth.

Jade thinks. o O (Especially since this is a technology they've tried to keep from Earth.)

Jade returns promptly. "We-don't-need-to-reach-Mars the-ship-itself-is-what-is-pulling-the-dead-star-this-way."

Jade says, "Your-Royal-Highness we-should-appear-to-be-doing-as-they-ask the-better-to-take-them-by-surprise."

One of the operators reports, "Nigeria is replying to the aliens, your Highness."

Princess Elizabeth nods, "David," she says to the PolSec Commander, "Do as our visitors suggest. For our bid you may use the Crown Jewels."

The princess looks at the heroes with a half smile, "Try not to lose them. They've been in our family for a long time."

Jade tries to recall anything she can about the Kulgrans that might make the deal more attractive to them.

Jade nods approvingly. "Jewellery-should-appeal-to-their-tastes."

Lightray looks at Jade. "Mannequins in a covered building to simulate the children? Or do we even bother with that part?"

Jade says, "I'm-not-certain-mannequins-would-fool-them that-part-is-awkward."

The screen continues to show a live view of the alien control room. The baby-faced alien is back talking to various Earth groups. The other four aliens, the rather elf like ones, seem to be personal servants rather than technical staff. They serve the chief alien drinks and snacks but don't do any other function.

Jade thinks. o O (Ghost's Eldaar?)

Princess Elizabeth nods, "We will gather children. I assume from your comments that you think the children are likely to end as effectively slaves? But slaves are alive. Even if you fail some of the children may live. They won't if the crisis is not averted."

Jade watches closely anything that can be observed. In particular, the attitude of the elves to the Kulgran.

Lily says, "Don't worry Princess! We'll stop them!"

Jade says, "The-elves-are-just-servants they-likely-don't-even-know-what's-going-on they-aren't-the-enemy."

The Princess eventually talks to the alien, and after some bargaining agrees to have a hundred and twenty children 'saved' in return for the Crown Jewels.

Jade says, "Now-the-trick-is-getting-on-board with-the-childen-or-ideally-before wish-we-knew-somethng-of-their-ship-design."

After making sure the transmission to the alien is cut, the Princess turns to the heroes. "You'll want to be there with the children I assume. The alien insisted on having no weapons nearby, and I assume his ship can detect them. Am I right in thinking your superhuman abilities probably won't register?"

Jade says, "They-shouldn't-though-that-excludes-Genie-from-taking-part."

The Princess nods, "He is the person with the armoured suit?"

Jade nods. "Never-mind the-rest-of-us-should-suffice-to-surprise-them."

The Princess nods, "The children are being gathered in the NEC in Birmingham. That's a large exhibition building in one of our other cities. I queried the alien about landing area. They are going to use a shuttle that only needs six hundred feet of room to land."

Jade says, "Then-either-we-need-to-be-smuggled-on-with-the-children-or-we'll-have-to-seize-control-of-the-shuttle-and-reach-the-mothership-before-they-notice which-might-be-problematic."

--- to be continued...