Log:All Aboard

2019/11/02 	 Cerulean Crimson Artemis Sid Voyager Paragon Porter Sentinel

1

Tranquility is now regained and secured, though anything BUT tranquil. The countdown of the ultimatum continues to tick by, though official word of time remaining is absent. Rumors range from 90 minutes to an hour, either of which has led to the immediate (re) mobilization of all available resources.

On the Earth, the rag-tag group of spaceworthy (some barely) shuttles and other transports (some little more than boxes with docking rings towed by spaceworthy metas) have already lifted off to join those already on the moon. With communications restored, coordination is now much more possible. The craft of visiting alines who have not departed to a safe distance or fled the system entirely also join the fleet. Nearly all of the ships in question were never originally designed for offensive combat and as many as possible have been retrofitted; even if this means nothing more than SG or volunteer power armor or capable metas standing on their outer hulls.

The end result is a fleet of dozens of ships, accompanied by as many or more metas travelling under their own power. It may represent one of, if not the largest Earth-centric "fleet" ever to fill the system. The entirety of which now head for the ship that dwarfs them.

The plan is simple:

1: Stop the ship from crashing the moon into the Earth. Preferably without utterly destroying the technology that could be used to put that thing back were it came from, or so help us...

2: Stop the man (and forces) vile enough to have tried.

Quinn industries have already assigned every functional Quinn shuttle to the effort. Now it's the turn of the adopted children of Anthony Quinn to put themselves in the firing line as young heroes. They suit up and head to Starguard, coincidently boarding the same makeshift shuttle as several far more senior heroes. "Hi." Crimson says as they head to vacant seats.

Paragon is space worthy in that she can't expire in space, even if the cold expanse may slow her down some with freezing muscle fibers that break and repair as she goes. After helping secure Tranquility, she boarded one of the pickup vessels and is on the deck of one of the faster lead ships heading for the massive enemy ship, arms folded over her chest. Her sensors aren't very long range, but she tries to scan the ship with her x-ray vision once it's on screen, checking thermal readings. She radios across the Starguard and hero bands. <>

The VoyagerSIM is linked via a homebrewed docking station to a shuttle that is flying with the fleet, exiting Earth Orbit. The Model 9 Prototype's ocular sensor is locked forward through the main windshield of the shuttle. The device was repaired by Voyager but needs constant monitoring and tweaking in flight to keep it going & on a true flight path- something better suited for a computer-based lifeform. The Android volunteered knowing it could handle the job safely.

It speaks over the shuttle intercom:

"This Shuttle is currently matching speed and trajectory with 98% of the fleet for final incursion. Please secure yourselves in case of evasive maneuvers as we approach the our target." It says, its cheery voice sounding almost tinny through the ships audio system.

If it weren't for the robot's iris shifting occasionally you'd think it was powered down for a recharge.

The Voyager Shuttle's trajectory twists slightly off course for 0.25 seconds as the right vacuum impeller's third ion drive suddenly surges by 36.

The VoyagerSIM adjusts by increasing all ion drives similarly, causing the shuttle to begin to pass the other craft as it uses maneuvering thrusters to get back on a viable trajectory to join the other boarding parties.

Griffin, the Colonial Bay Sentinel is pulling a string of sealed reentry pods, glowing brightly as he goes. The pods look almost like 5 silver ornaments being strung along towards the great vessel ahead of them. Light blink on the vehicles so there are no accidental impacts with other vehicles.

Cerulean says, "How long before we get to where we're going?"

At the Starguard landing field, Artemis steps out along the tarmac. She was finally cleared to leave her cell after all teleportation beacons had been sweeped. Since her armor was still not repaired, she's had to switch to her never used Omega Guard uniform, which looks more traditionally superheroic with Earth-made protective composite armor. Dark red plating with a black undersuit, no cape. She's heading for whatever shuttle will take the traitor Demigoddess, which brings her near Crimson and Cerulean. "Be this a craft headed for the Would-Be Tyrant's ship?" she asks.

Crimson nods, the almost featureless visor bobbing up and down. "Yes. Hi... Uh. Weren't you on the other side? You were fighting up at that warehouse." Meanwhile Cerulean is hurriedly radioing a warning the Starguard.

Artemis takes a moment to study the pair, then smiles as she remembers them. "Aye, t'was me under a damnable geas. You did well to disarm me so I could not hurt my friends. You have my thanks eternal for that," she says with warm gratitude. "Fear not. I bear no ill will. And through crafty scheming, Earth's Guardians did free me from James Porter's hold."

"She was cleared by StarGuard," notes the shuttle pilot, "and I'm still not full up. You want on, get on. We've gotta go!"

The twins relax as Starguard radioes back confirming Artemis is now on the good guys side. "Oh, right. Glad you're back."

Artemis steps onboard, still smiling. "As am I. I have a teammate held captive by the Would-Be Tyrant that requires my aid."

Perhaps prompted by Paragon's query, there is an open broadcast to the entire fleet:

To all ships: We are a go. Scans suggest the enemy weapon control system is located admidships, just below the primary power generator. Alpha and Gamma wings, you are the tip of the spear: breach the docking ports amidships and deliver boarding parties to disable the weapon. Bravo and Charlie wings: close escort. All other wings: intercept and screen.

The massive cyclindrical ship looms ahead, silent save for the pulsing of the invisible gravitational weapon that continues to push the moon. As the moon's shadow drifts off of it, the behemoth's full might and splendor comes into view.

The bow of the craft bears the focal point for the weapon, and is reminiscent of a flower in half-bloom, while the hull behind it bears graceful, organic lines in in a helix along its length. What resemble gargantuan thorns are dotted along its length and circumferance.

It is perhaps more beuatiful than foreboding, sitting alone in the serenity of the black. What it may have in size, the Earth forces it outnumber it a hundred to one. Until the lead formation crosses an invisible line, and the floral craft... blooms?

Pinpoints of light appear at the tips of the "thorns" before loosing volleys of energy beams out at the approaching earth forces. Behind this opening volley, a cloud of tiny new contacts are belched from the massive ship. Rather than pollen, they are small, agile fighter craft. In the hundreds, if not more. The comm network immediately explodes with activity.

So much for numerical advantage.

Crimson nods, "I'll.. we'll help if you like. We're nowhere as skilled or capable as our siblings but we'll do what we can. But honestly we'd probably just be a liability in a fight with the big bads."

Artemis studies the twins. "You are Younglings, are you not?" she asks after some consideration, just based on their size and build and how they sound.

Cerulean nods, "Yes. We're sixteen."

Porter, aka Minigon in his suit, just does his best to sit quietly next to Paragon and not break his knuckles by clutching his harnes for dear life. When the radio traffic spikes with reports, yells, the occasional pained scream... he tries not to yelp. And fails. He's not going to sit by and do nothing, so he's ...sitting here unable to do anything until they get where they can do something.

Artemis looks uncertain at the pair of them. "That does seem young even by Earthian cycles. But you were able to disarm me, so perhaps you can be of help. This is a war of great magnitude, and I fear your safeties cannot be guaranteed." She sighs. "I have been asked by a dear friend not to engage the Tyrant directly if I can avoid it, for I may still be vulnerable to his influence." She smiles roguishly. "He did not say I could not help in other ways. So I seek out my lost teammate. You help would not be unwelcomed if you care to risk it."

Crimson nods, "Of course we'll help. We're heroes. Well, we're trying to become heroes."

Jackie sighs as she finishes healing the emergency patient brought into the hospital just before she was scheduled to go to Starguard Landing Field. So she'll just have to travel under her own power. Which she prefers anyway. Stepping outside she changes into her Starlight form are takes off stright up accelerating rapidly.

Paragon puts a hand on Porter's knee after he helps. She's not very worried for her own safety, but she is for his. The radioed screams in her comm systems are very concerning though. "Hang on, Sweetie. Our ship may be in danger from the assault. I..." she stops, uncertain how to help. "I'll see if there's something I can do. Or perhaps, your luck will see our ship and others through safely?" she adds encouragingly. A thought of going out on the hull to intercept laser fire crosses her mind. But so does the image of a stray blast knocking her off the hull to disappear into space, lost. Gravity boots. She should have asked Allison for that.

The back hatch slides open with a hiss, revealing Artemis' fellow Omega-Guard member, Sid Viscous.

The heating lines of his suit are turned up all the way, causing the ribs of the material to glow lightly where the heating elements are within. He's carrying a tablet and speaking into a communication device. "That's right. We're moving in for the final assault now- but I'm making it a priority to find Sinm---" He stops in his tracks, surprised to see Artemis.

His goopey face immediately slides into a smile. "ARTIE!" He shouts, forgetting hwoever he's on the line with and his arms stretch out to wrap around his friend.

Meanwhile, aboard the shuttle piloted by the direct decendant of the Voyager spacecraft:

The android begins to run diagnostics on itself and the ship. The airlock fails for the third time in a row. If the VoyagerSIM could sigh it would right now. Instead it begins to run the reboot sequence on the door-locking mechanism in preparation for boarding onto the ship.

Artemis looks encouraged. Then worried at the correction. Then encouraging again. "You were brave enough to face us on the Island. And Starguard must have thought you worthy to put you in harm's way. How strong be you in a fight? Can you weather a laser blast, or massive beings as tall as one of your buildings?" she tries to gauge how much they can handle.

Paragon hears Porter's voice inside her head: << "I'm holding on. And maybe it will... and don't you even think about it." He catches some of that stray thought, and it terrifies him. He knows she'd try, anyhow, though. So he... cheats? "You need to stay in here. For me." >>

Artemis is suddenly enveloped by the goo arms of her teammmate, laughing warmly and clearly overjoyed to see him. "Friend Sid! You...you are not upset to see me?" she asks in surprise.

Cerulean says, "Depends on the strength of the laser blast. Our Quinn battlesuits can withstand heavy caliber ballistic weapons and light to medium energy weaponry. Our main lack in in the offensive area. These suits don't have any weapon pods."

Telepathic message from Paragon to Porter: << Para feels a tinge of guilt that he caught that stray thought of hers. She was just running through possible scenarios while deciding courses of actions, forgetting for a moment that he would catch it. "I'm sorry, Sweetie. You're right, it's too dangerous to try." She shares some mental warmth. "I'll stay in here. For you." >>

"Of course not!" Sid says as if the whole idea were beneath him. "I've know at least one God before you and the first thing I learned when I got out on my own was forgiveness. Otherwise how can we expect to be forgiven?" He explains, hinting not so subtly to his religious upbringing.

"You're here now when it counts." He says smiling before suddenly remembering why he's here. "I volunteered because I'm going to find Sinmore- she's missing and we think this Porter-Alternate has her!"

The Voyager's shuttle klaxxon starts to chime loudly as the airlock is triggered.

The VoyagerSIM rushes to reverse the last commands sent by the automated system.

Artemis nods and is relieved that Sid's nature is forgiving. "'Tis true, he has her chained and imprisoned. In part due to her involvement with a Starguard mission, and another due to...me," she sighs shamefully. "The Tyrant tried to secure my loyalty with ...a reward. I could choose to spare only two from such a fate. I knew Sinmore was strong and durable, so I chose the weaker to be spared, thinking she would be able to fight her attacker. I...I was wrong. Terribly wrong. And I seek to undo what has been done."

Artemis looks back to Cerulean and Crimson, nodding at their answer. "Well and tough. Where else would you say your strength's lie." She introduces Sid. "This is my teammate, Sid. Sid, these are the two Younglings that helped prevent me from doing too much harm while I was forced to serve the Would-Be Tyrant, James Porter."

Paragon studies Porter wordlessly as he makes a mental plea to her. She nods once. "Well, Partner. Perhaps we should head for the bridge and see if there -is- something we can do to ensure we and others make it to the end?" she suggests.

Crimson answers Artemis' question confidently, "Support and distraction. Grabbing the sword from you wasn't a whim. We believed we would have no real chance to defeat you in direct combat. So we acted to restrict your threat to the others with us."

While there is no turbulence in space, no shockwaves from energy bolts nor even the destruction of those hit by them, those in craft at the front now have anything but a smooth ride. Pilots bank and dive hard in evasive maneuvers, intertia pressing passengers this way and that.

The screening forces now engage the incoming fighters, flashing darts of light appearing, occasionally accompanied by blossoms of various colors when darts strike their targets. For the boarding parties, there is little they can do directly at the moment, other than trust their pilots, themselves, and their allies that they will reach their target.

It doesn't help morale for those aboard Team Porter's craft when the cockpit of the shuttle just ahead of them is ripped open by a blast; worse that the forms of those ejected by it can be seen. One lightly-armored backside even thumps in a sprawl against their shuttles cockpit. Then raises as the pilot gets to her fleet and clomps up to the top of the hull. Their shuttle then momentarily slows some, the reason unknown until the other, cockpit-less shuttle can be seen now keeping apace above, towed by tractoring beams coming from its former pilot, in turn riding Paragon's shuttle's hull. Apparently it takes more than having her shuttle and co-pilot shot out from under her.

Once Alpha and Gamma, or what's left of them, make it alongside the behemoth on opposing sides, their close escorts focus fire on the exterior hatches of the docking bays. Two LZs, coming right up!

They aren't smooth landings, but urgency and survival outweigh dents and scratches. They get down, ramps drop, and the landing parties get disgorged, all while the lightfight rages outside.

Paragon looks ahead in despair at the fate of the shuttle ahead of them. Calculations quickly run through her on what they could do to help the disabled shuttle. Then sees their pilot is more than meets the eye. A spark of hope returns, though she mourns the sacrifice of those they just lost. "I hope they can make it. I don't think there's anything we can do to help those who were just lost..." she comments, trying to track where they went and if they still have heat signatures due to being protected by their suits.

The VoyagerSIM cuts the power to most of the shuttle's engins and diverts the power ot the reverse thusters in order to come to a halt fast enough not to impact the ship in front it. It drops the skid plates and slides to a halt- coming inches from hitting the one in front of it.

Sid unwraps Artemis and waves to the twins. "Nice to meet you guys." He says, a bit nervous about having two youths with them for this considering what Artemis just told him.

"We'll find her, regardless of why she was taken. We're not leaving one of our own with this would-be dictator." Sid says to Artemis as a bit of an aside.

Artemis nods in determination. "Agreed, Friend Sid. We'll do whatever it takes to grant her freedom and take her back," she grins.

Porter finally releases his hold on his harness to pat Paragon's knee with a clink-clink. "I'm sure they'll be ok." He realizes some may not be, but it sounds a lot better than admitting they can't do anything. Then he flops some in his seat as their shuttle touches (more like punches) down in the docking bay.

Their pilot barks "Go! Go! Go!" as the ramp drops. Well, their shuttle made it, and rather intact. Maybe Paragon was right. Now it's time to go and see how long Porter's luck can hold out...

There's no time to rest. Paragon quickly unfastens her harness and rises up after Porter consoles her. "No time for rest, Sweetie. It's time to go." She extends her hand for him to take once he's unfastened, so they can disembark together quickly.