Populate Outbound Flight: Rampage [THR Populate of Empty Hex above Commenor & Mokk IX]

[Lyra Zan]

When the turbolift began its ascent, Lyra found herself leaning against its wall, taking a deep breath. The scene they had just left had caused adrenaline to explode within her, and in the sudden quiet she was keenly aware of her physical state. She forced deep breaths in and out of her lungs, gaining some control over her alarm. But she knew it was only temporary. Outside of that turbolift, chaos and danger remained.

Lyra glanced over at the senator. He was looking at his trembling hand. She was not the only one shaken by the alien assault. The former smuggler had surmised that Dominic was not accustomed to fighting. She was, but not like this. Not against this species she had never seen before, that seemed a terrifying combination of savage monsters and intelligent marauders.

Dominic anticipated that they would encounter the aliens on their destination deck. "Fethin' great." She murmured, a new sheen of sweat starting to bead up on her brow, even though it wasn't hot in the lift.

And then the comment about the med bay shuttle. An escape? Or did it have something to do with this 'guest' he was so determined to protect? Open ended, the statement earned a quick glance from the tall crewman. But no clarification was offered, and she didn't ask for one. Lyra was just glad she was a pilot, if it came to some sort of escape. Lyra was mystified why Dominic, clearly shaken, was willing to face such grave danger to reach this 'guest'. And for that matter, why she followed him.

Dominic's comm chattered, an almost unintelligible whirl of commands, reports and random terrified expletives. Lyra had already tuned it out, until the senator responded to one of the messages. His voice sounded much more controlled than the man she saw. That was the sign of a diplomat, able to maintain composure to the public while uncertain in private.

The lift stopped and chimed. They were there. Lyra lifted the blaster pistol, poised for the worst. But the turbolift opened to reveal a line of medical chambers. There was no immediate sign of the aliens, and Lyra lowered her blaster. She followed Dominic as he moved down the line of rooms, stopping at one. He seemed disturbed that the pod within was empty. She saw only a momentary flinch of alarm in him as she saw the figure near the door controls within.

The being was shrouded in some sort of full body suit and helmet. Not armor, but something techy. Again, Lyra was intrigued, but the pending arrival of the reptilian marauders compelled her to move behind the senator and keep her eyes open, expecting to see armed saurian terrors barreling into the area any moment.

But she listened. Again Dominic sounded confident as he spoke to the figure within the small chamber.

Tag: Dominic Praxon Ishtar-Array

 

[Luke Montann]

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Locations⠀ Ship, Space.
Objectives⠀ Repair, repair!
Tags⠀ People l Connel Vanagor


⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀LUKE MONTANN.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Engineer.
"The stars are ours to see, the galaxy is ours to set foot on."
Follow the stars..

═ Man's Gotta Earn a Living⠀═

Connel Vanagor

The entire time he'd been in Outbound Flight, he'd avoided fights, avoided engagements, and been mainly a repair guy- and a few instances, a ground-side support asset. He was shaking, he was scared. But he was brought on to do a job. He was here because he agreed to be here. He had a job to do.

He was an engineer, and right now- he was the engineer. His courage faltered but just for a moment, shakily looking around the engine bay, then back to Connel. He had never met the man, and knew nothing about him.

"Get back to the cockpit- start up the i-intercom. Start relaying the damage report to me here and what's damaged. And keep the ship flying-" He looked at the hyperdrive. His speciality. He'd taken apart many of them, and repaired that much more.

"I can do this. I have to do this." He said aloud, more to himself than to anyone else. Luke breathed shakily, turning his head, dropping the toolbag near the hyperdrive.

"It'll take me a minute, keep the ship in space and not all over it!"

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Not today, Pirates!
Wayfinder Ship
Common Room

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael, Gabriel, Raguel, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel
  [Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
• 
  Rides
  
  • "Enterprise" Station Ship
  • Vigilant Reaper
  • Null Vector
  • Speederbike
  • Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  
  
  • Gear(“Bodycam” Datapad, UAD Drone, link to Seraphim AI included)
  • Lightblaster
  • Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  • 5 Throwing Lightknives
  • 3 Force Blinding Flashbangs
  • RI-17 Rifle-w-MS-0412 Grenade Launcher
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  
  • Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  • Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  • Muscle enhancements.
  • Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  • Hawkeye implants for eyes
  • Advanced Medical Implant
  • Scentzy
  • Injected Nanotech upgrades
  
  
  
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

Okay this guy definitely looks capable. He’s clearly scared, but it’s understandable, no judgment. Right now he seemed to be in a groove and there was no point in getting in his way. So Connel knew he should get back to the cockpit.

The dude confirmed it too.

Keep us running, I’ll keep us in one piece. May the Force be with you. Running up the stairs to the common area, he grabbed a Weequay and pointed at Engineering. Go down to Engineering and do whatever he says. The guy knows his stuff and don’t get in his way but he’ll need an extra hand.

The Weequay just nodded and moved as Connel made way into the Cockpit. The woman in the pilot seat got up and gave him the ship. “What can I do?”

Connel sat and looked at her. Get on the intercom and get a damage report for the Engineer. Everything no matter what it is. Looking at the co-pilot. Who is w

Another blast rocking the ship. Stang it! Get those guns going! Flips a couple of switches and takes the controls… not to dogfight but get away and take a few with him.

TAGS • ARE • OPEN
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​

 

[Shokoh al Khayyat]

​

Starlines like smeared honey blurred across the viewport. Captain Khayyat's clawed fingertips gripped the arms of her command chair, knuckles a pale pink, bracing herself for the inevitable lurch of realspace transition.

It was always something.

The emergency call had sliced through the pre-sleep quiet of the Space General's bridge: The Outbound Flight is compromised, the emergency call had said. They were making an attempt to repel boarders.

They had been patrolling the edge of known Republic space, the closest vessel to the distress call, meaning this exhausted crew, weary after a week of routine patrols, had just become the first responders to an unknown threat. Another late night, another scramble, but her circadian rhythm meant less than nothing in deep space.

She found herself envious of her cloned crewmen - caffeine was non-toxic to humans.

The Space General shuddered, the familiar sensation a herald of their abrupt return to realspace. Khayyat blinked, her vision momentarily swimming, as the distortions of hyperspace faded. The pristine viewport was all at once filled with the Outbound Flight, silhouette speckled by parasitic boarding craft and caught in the crossfire of hostile ships she couldn't identify.

"Damage assessment. Report." she snapped, not taking her eyes off the scene.

A clone analyst, sharp and efficient even through the fatigue, quickly provided a scan. "It's bad."

Boarding craft clung to the Outbound Flight's hull like barnacles. Worse, a second later, her own ship was bracketed by heavy laserfire, blossoming like fiery orchids against the flare of her Dreadnought's forward shields.

Khayyat's eyes narrowed, bridge rumbling from the impacts. "Pirates?"

The clone analyst shook his head. "Unknown."

She turned, her gaze sweeping over the bridge, the mounting uncertainties grating on her. "Run a comprehensive lifeform scan of the Outbound Flight." Her voice was a low and urgent growl.

"Still bad, Captain. Less than half of the expected personnel number are accounted for, and dropping."

"Gods all," she swore. It was a favorite oath of hers. The listener may add or subtract, at their leisure, which gods have recently become controversial.

One of the boarding craft, anomalously, was also showing a cluster of life signs. The angle of the craft's impact seems to have prevented a full seal. They'd punctured the outer hull, but not breached it, drill grinding impotently for a better angle. If she was lucky, this was an opening, not a death knell.

That, she realized with a sinking feeling, was the medical wing, probably containing the ship's precious medical staff and wounded crew.

"Prepare the dual laser cannons," she pulled up a communique with her gunners, her voice cutting through the growing hum of the bridge. "Pulse once, narrow beam, low power. Target that boarding craft. And don't miss."

Five seconds. Then, crimson beams of fire spat out from dorsal emplacements on the Space General and slammed into the boarding pod. The metallic skin of the pod blistered, bubbled under the intense heat. Then, the craft popped in a puff of flame, swiftly swallowed by vacuum. The laser cannons left a black line of scorch along the outer hull of the Outbound Flight, a scar, but no deeper wound.

Khayyat exhaled a long sigh of relief, then flicked her transmission to all local channels for emergency broadcast to reach out towards the Outbound Flight and its lightyears-distant escort ship, Wayfinder. If the Wayfinder wasn't here, then that could only mean the worst.

"Outbound Flight, Wayfinder, we heard your emergency transmission, do you read? If anyone can hear me, come in. This is Republic Dreadnought Space General. We'll be coming aboard the Outbound Flight shortly. Come in, Outbound Flight, Wayfinder."

She expertly maneuvered the Space General, pulling the ship to one side and drawing fire away from the Outbound Flight. She had to give them some breathing room, and ordered all batteries to open fire on the unknowns. Crimson lights streaked back across space towards them, the return fire rattling the Dreadnought.

Khayyat growled, gesturing with a clawed hand, and tapping the indicator light for the ship's intercom. "Get blasters in peoples' hands and clear the path to our medbay. Line us up with the docking tube of the Outbound Flight and get ready to get people on board."

She stood up from her chair, and checked the energy level on her own weapon. Though she would rather do her research and engage in a manner which allows her a chance to observe before having to discover, firsthand, whether or not she's entirely outmatched, she hasn't had a lot of opportunities for that lately. She was running the risk of bringing the boarders onto her own ship, but she tried to swallow that worry. After all, she thought, we have blasters at the ready.

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: P R E Y //:
//: OPEN //:
//: Dominic Praxon //: Bastila Sal-Soren //: Ishtar-Array //:
//: Novac Lyrikal //: Lyra Zan //: Atlas Drake //: Tatiana Sah //:

The Ssi-Ruks looked at each other, not understanding why the woman wasn't comprehending the danger that was going to befall her head. There was something else that struck them odd about the blonde. Typically, in their previous experiences with the woman and her spouse, they were the types to attack and then ask questions. But this one, she waited quietly, even allowed them to tie her up.

What they didn't notice was that Quinn had hit her head during the invasive boarding. She had lost her balance and smacked the back of her head on one of the medical supply tables. She sat there, sitting as still as possible while her mind faded in and out of consciousness. Despite this, she appeared fully alert.

This was probably the only thing keeping them wary of her and unaware that she was the daughter of the woman they were hunting. They stared at each other, neither speaking, and Quinn cleared her throat.

"This has been fun…" she nodded towards the alarm that had begun ringing. "But I think emergency service is…" She paused, blinking. Her vision started to become spotty as she was beginning to struggle with keeping the consciousness she had previously. Even more alarming, she could feel the warmth of blood staining the back of her neck and blonde hair.

She was instantly regretting asking CT-312 not to worry about her this time around.

I got everything under control…

Famous last words.

Though she felt someone. She was close to how it felt; there was determination… a ferocity that Quinn quietly hoped was because she was in danger. A small smile curled on her lips as she felt a brief moment of relief.

"Sssomething is wrong." A door opened as a fourth Ssi-Runk popped its snout into the room. They continued to talk in hushed sibilations. Looking back, it seemed they had been able to obtain information on the occupants, and Quinn's name and title had popped up to them.

"We need to leave, take her with usss — apparently ssshe's worth a good amount of UC." They chortled as they moved quickly, one holding a thin collar.

Quinn opened one eye. The situation was spiraling out of control.

She would have to do the one thing she didn't want to do, and that was to drop the defenses she held onto so tightly. The Phobis Device would remain silent, suppressed, yet a presence swelled into a roaring storm that shook through the space.

But as quickly as it swelled, the power disappeared. Quinn, distracted, didn't see the fourth Ssi-Runk slip behind her with another collar and strap it around her throat.

She gasped as the vacuum of power disputed, and she felt the world around her fall silent. That same sickening feeling churned her stomach as she struggled to breathe. The Force was nearly gone from her, the smallest stream sustained life within her…

But for how long?

"Oh, ssshe's just like the blonde one." One hissed, seeing the visceral reaction of the Queen of Eshan.

"Don't kill her, ssshe's money, let's go." One of them grabbed the Echani, slinging her roughly over his shoulder, the door to the secondary medical bay opened, and they began to leave.

 

[Novac Lyrikal]

picking up his blaster and the ssi-ruuks blaster off the floor novac left to go find others. as novac slithered down the hall, carefully checking each corner for a ssi-ruuk, someone responded to novacs call. "im sorry capture one of them? firstly im not sure i can really, beside i mean its not like they'll just be like "oh yea sure we here because blah blah blah"" novac was stressed, and forced himself to calm a little, saying in a softer tone "lyra? sure i'll keep a eye out, stay safe, dont die." as he continued down the hall he saw a door open and looked in. a passenger was laying dead with blaster marks all over them, a ssi-ruuk standing above them. novac fired a shot from his blaster at the beast leaving a scorch mark on its back. shit these things where tuff, he thought. the ssi-ruuk was staggered and hurt by the shot but was still able the fight, that was obvious as it came runnig at novac one clawed hand raised to novac throat.
novac dodged back a bit and the beast slammed into the wall without waiting novac rushed it and used his own claws on the beasts throat. blasters didnt do much so try cutting or stabbing. both of his right hands claws found their mark in the beasts neck. it tried to grab novac arms but novac pulled them away before it could as it fell to the ground. lovely they arent stab proof. novac tried to not look at his hand, he knew it was bloody now. he'd never used his claws for combat before and didnt really like it. it felt wrong, to violent. but it didnt matter now, what mattered was surviving.
his comlink suddenly produced a voice, it spooked novac a little as he quickly pulled it out almost dropping it. some has come to help them! their going to be coming in via the docking bay soon. "i hear you, you have no idea how happy i am to hear you. thanks for coming. we've been borded by ssi-ruuk, i dont know how many tere are or how many passengers and crew we have left. im close to the docking bay i'll meet you there and make sure its clear of the beasts when you get here. if i find any survivors i'll bring them with me and wait with them there. again thank you for showing."

tags: open
Shokoh al Khayyat Dominic Praxon Bastila Sal-Soren Ishtar-Array Lyra Zan Atlas Drake Tatiana Sah Quinn Varanin

 

[Tatiana Sah]

Tatiana stood over another group of injured crewmembers with her hands extended out to either side. The sharp, acrid ping of blasters filled the air. Her blue eyes swung slowly from left to right at the two groups of Ssi-Ruuk that surrounded them. Their weapons were ineffective at further harming the organics against the energy barriers she had erected; but they were mildly useful in confining their movements.

"I need everyone on their feet. We're going to move down the corridor to the next room." She spoke with the same ease and concern as she commented on a passing comet. It was not necessary to raise her voice even if the crew was a bit sluggish to get to their feet. A few of them had to be helped up.

The weapons fire had slowed if not stopped. One of the Ssi-Ruuk slammed the butt of a weapon against her shield. Their stark eyes fixed on Tatiana as she stood there unaffected by their efforts to break through.

At last, the crew began to move painfully slowly toward an open doorway. Tatiana slowly followed, one foot crossing in front of the other as her attention was on both groups to either side. One was forced back as the shield inched closer. Roars or howls of ire were followed by sharp barks. No doubt all promising death if their defenses slipped.

"Get inside, and seal the door."

One of the ranking officers looked back at Tatiana. "What about you?"

"I will draw them away. Worry about keeping the others safe." Their eyes met for a moment before the door was reluctantly shut, separating her from the wounded. It was the only logical course of action. With the crew present she couldn't drop the shields without most of them being immediately cut down.

With the doors closed, Tatiana stepped back and turned her head toward the group to her left. Their leader -- she believed -- stared back at her. Neither blinked. She could hear the low growl deep within its throat from where she stood. Neither the Order nor Dominic would chastise her for not attempting diplomatic overtures under the circumstances. Unfortunate. Dialogue would help Tatiana learn more of the Ssi-Ruuk.

Options exhausted, the blonde suddenly shot down the hallway with all the abruptness and unerring trajectory of a gunslinger projectile. A forearm slammed into the Ssi-Ruuk's throat as she made contact. The group was swept down the hallway until an adjoining junction where they were smashed against the bulkhead.

Tatiana whirled around, floating in the air, in time to see the projectile lobbed by the other group. It erupted in fire and concussive force. Her body was thrown around the corner and down the other corridor. She struck the deck platting and skidded several feet before coming to a stop motionless and charred.

Dominic Praxon | Bastila Sal-Soren | Ishtar-Array | Lyra Zan | Atlas Drake | Quinn Varanin | Shokoh al Khayyat | Novac Lyrikal

 

[Ishtar-Array]

Movement outside the room arrested Ishtar’s attention. She flexed her fingers, a current of electricity running to the exosuit’s gloves. The algorithms had only returned two confirmed electrical signals out of the necessary sequence. But the motion only belonged to two Unshapen, their manner of dress rather haphazard. Her HUD flagged their vitals as being elevated. A state of distress.

Well yes, they were all in a rather distressing situation.

They should have been under the supervision of an Oracle, and the Forged should have been doing all the work. Where were their Forged?

Or their Warborn, for that matter. She noted the device in the male’s—was it male?—hand, its shape similar to weapons wielded by the Warborn. The male Unshapen put it in a pouch at his hip, again in a manner like the Warborn.

This did not bode well. An Unshapen familiar with weapons enough to use them and put them away like a Warborn meant there were no Warborn. And the possible results of the logical path out of that assumption only made Ishtar’s desired outcome for this encounter plummet into abysmal percentages.

He spoke, out loud, pointing at himself and then at her. Then after a breath, his face and body language changed.

Translating protocols active. Analyzing . . .
Unshapen facial analysis active.
Unshapen body language analysis active.
Analyzing . . .
Confirmed. Result: Frustration, Fatigue, Stress.
Elevated vitals: Adrenal response 90% likely.

A vocal language. How inefficient. Ishtar took in the information even as she observed the male Unshapen that dared talk to her then turned her head toward his silent companion—female, perhaps. It would be some time before the translation protocols would be able to decipher the language. If the Unshapen spoke more, provided more content to analyze, that might help.

Pointing, however, seemed to be understood. Why he pointed at himself and then her, Ishtar would find out later. For now, though.

Ishtar pointed at the door in a smooth motion.

The algorithms were at three confirmed electric signals but it would be more efficient if someone would let her out.

Something thudded loudly against the bulkhead wall behind her. Ishtar snapped her head in its direction then more firmly pointed at the door. She did not want to be trapped. Not again.

Dominic Praxon | Lyra Zan | Quinn Varanin | Bastila Sal-Soren
Novac Lyrikal | Tatiana Sah | Atlas Drake

 

[Dominic Praxon]

"Yeah, I bet you want to get out of there," Dominic said, not concerned for the alien hearing him.

Sithspit. These were not the moments he lived for. Not in the slightest. He had no idea of the value, or importance of this alien. Nor of its own intent. What he did know was that saurian boarders were tearing apart the ship, and it was quite likely that they were the same ones that attacked the alien a couple of weeks earlier. But letting another, potentially more dangerous being out on the ship. That was not a smudge he wanted on his record.

But if the alien understood.

The elevator across from Lyra started to go up again. Dominic's eyes caught the movement of the numbers, and then gave Lyra a concerned look. They were about to have company.

"Look," Dominic said to the alien, "I really do not have time for lengthy explanations...and if you want to survive this...I need to know that we can act in each other's best interest for at least the next hour or so..."

He had turned his back on the alien and walked over to a console in the middle of the room. A few keystrokes brought up the cameras from a few decks up. Dominic backed away, revealing the footage. The tide seemed to be turning in the crews favour, as the Ssi-Ruuk were clearly not advancing down this hallway in the rampage. It was a small blessing, but no guarantee that other parts of the ship had begun to put up such a resistance.

"You might be familiar with these creatures. They attacked your outpost, killing your warriors...and destroying your droids. I don't know what you were doing on that planet. And I do not know what you intentions are...hell...I don't even know what you are. But I hope you can understand this...I mean to save you. If you will cooperate."

The elevator dinged to indicate it was coming back down. The sound made Dominic's heart rate spike.

He glanced again at Lyra. "We are going to make a break for the hangar on this deck. Perhaps we can evacuate on a shuttle...but expect resistance..."

He stepped forward. Holdout Blaster pulled from its holster, and he pressed his palm to the controls outside the alien's cell. He stepped back the moment the door slid open, blaster pointed at the being.

"Follow her...if you want to live."

Force, he hoped this thing at least partially understood what was happening.

Direct: Lyra Zan Ishtar-Array
Heading towards: Quinn Varanin
Indirect: Bastila Sal-Soren Tatiana Sah Atlas Drake Novac Lyrikal​

 

[Lyra Zan]

Lyra's gaze darted back to the being in the med cell, but only for a moment. The anticipatory dread of the turbolift opening and more slavering lizards pouring out had the tall Epicanthix more than antsy. She listened intently, however, to the discourse between the senator and the being, and then shot a glance at the security holos he brought up at the nearby console.

Soon, Lyra gathered that the suited creature was a survivor of the attack discovered recently. An attack that may have been perpetrated by the same creatures attacking the ship.

Finally, Senator Praxon turned to Lyra with instructions. They were indeed going to make a break for the medical shuttle bay. Then, the stranger's med cell door opened and the senator's blaster raised, aimed at the curious being. Lyra nodded in affirmation.

With one more glance at the turbolift, she raised her blaster and shot out the turbolift's controls, hoping it would hold any intruders at bay. Then she made her way to an opposite doorway, with the senator and stranger behind her. Lyra was familiar enough with the layout of the ship to get them to the hanger. It was beyond the next room.

Her palm slammed against the actuator and the door slid open. Behind the medical section continued with a smaller chamber, the secondary medical bay. They just needed to pass through that room and the hanger bay was across the hall beyond.

But the room wasn't empty.

There were more of the reptile marauders slipping out of a doorway across the room. The door they needed to use. Lyra was alarmed to see a shock of blonde hair, a bound woman was slung over the shoulder of one of the lizards.

"Guh!" Lyra grunted with a flash of anger, unwilling to let the invaders make off with their prize. She reacted instantly without a second thought. Her heavy blaster lifted and she fired. Lyra was a good with a blaster, but she dared not try to target the lizard carrying the woman. Instead she aimed for it's companion. Blaster bolts slammed against it's azure scales and the creature faltered, then fell in the doorway.


Tag: Dominic Praxon Ishtar-Array Quinn Varanin

 

[Kaleleon]

TAGS: Luke Montann | Connel Vanagor

My back slammed hard against the open doorway. Metal bit into my shoulders as the impact rolled through the vessel hard enough to rattle my teeth. Another hit. Not turbulence. Not malfunction. Attack.

A groan escaped me as I planted a hand against my knee and forced myself upright. The corridor shook beneath my boots. Emergency lighting bathed everything in dim crimson pulses. Power conservation. Essential systems only.

People were already moving. Crew. Passengers. Panic. Bodies pushed past each other in both directions. Voices overlapping. Questions with no answers. Another violent tremor rolled through the Wayfinder. Somewhere overhead metal screamed.

A woman crashed directly into me. Momentum nearly took both of us down. My hands caught her shoulders instinctively.

"Easy—"

Blood. My focus snapped immediately. Head wound. Not deep. Still bleeding.

"Don't move."

My voice stayed level despite everything around us.

"You're bleeding."

I lowered her carefully against the wall. People kept running. Nobody slowing. Nobody looking. Not because they didn't care. Because everyone was drowning in problems. My eyes snapped upward. A crewman sprinted past.

"Hey."

Nothing.

"HEY."

My hand caught his arm. He nearly ripped free.

"I need help."

His eyes dropped. Blood. Understanding hit instantly.

"Apply pressure."
"What—"
"Pressure. Now."

Controlled. The blanket sitting half spilled from one of the nearby quarters became a bandage. Not clean. Good enough. My hands worked quickly. Tear fabric. Wrap. Tie. Secure. The woman winced. Still conscious. Good. The man beside me steadied her.

"You know where medical is?"
"Y-yeah."
"Take her."
"Thank—"
"Go."

No time. No room. Another impact. Hard enough this time the lights flickered entirely. Darkness. Half a second. Emergency systems kicked back. Red. Always red. Movement caught my eye. Someone forcing through traffic. Fast. Purpose. Not panic. Crew. Engineering uniform. People moved around him. He moved through them. Different. Urgent. I stepped forward. Caught his shoulder.

"Where are you headed?"
"Engineering—they have—"
"Good enough."

He blinked. I was already moving.

"Come on."

People clogged the corridor. Fear slowed movement. Confusion made it worse.

"Clear the path."

Nobody listened. Not immediately.

"Move!"

This time they did. The engineer stayed close. Another turn. Another corridor. The ship shook violently enough that sparks burst from an overhead panel. Someone screamed. Ignored. Not because it didn't matter. Because something else mattered first. Engineering.

I glanced back over my shoulder.

"Where?"
"Left—then keep going!"

We pushed harder. The closer we got the worse it became. Steam vented through damaged piping. Crew rushed equipment through corridors. People shouting numbers. Systems. Failures. Status updates. Trying desperately to keep the vessel alive. Another blast. The deck vanished beneath me. Weightlessness. Half a heartbeat. Boots slammed hard back into plating. Hand against the wall. Stay up. Keep moving. Engineering doors.

Finally.

Crew already flooding inside. Trying. Fixing. Holding. The engineer beside me pulled away immediately.

"They need me."
"Then go."
"Yes sir."

My jaw tightened. Sir. No. Not that. Not here. But I let it go. No time. Never enough time. I turned. Ready to move. Find the next problem. Find the next person.

Then—

Sirens. Different. Wrong. Not system failure. Not damage control. Something colder settled into my stomach. Danger. Close. My feet carried me toward the nearest wall panel. Hand slamming against the intercom.

"Bridge command."

Static.

"Anyone."

Another impact. Closer. Far too close.

"What's attacking us?"

The answer came before words ever did. A violent crash thundered through the corridor. Metal bent inward. The wall buckled. Support framing twisted violently into the hallway. Something hit us. Hard. Heavy. Deliberate. Silence lasted half a second. My stomach dropped. Not weapons. Not another pass. Boarders. Or they were trying to be. And they were close. Too close.

My eyes snapped back toward Engineering. Vital systems. Crew. People keeping this ship alive. I moved back immediately. Palm slamming against the access controls. Doors beginning to seal.

"Lock these down."

Crew turned. Confused. Alarmed.

"Don't open them."

Another impact. Closer.

"Not for anyone."

The doors sealed shut. The corridor suddenly felt much quieter. Too quiet. My hand settled against the hilt hanging at my side. Not drawing it. Not yet. Just waiting. Breathing. Listening. Whatever came through that corridor—

they weren't getting Engineering.

 

[Atlas Drake]

Razor sharp teeth sunk into Drake's flesh and the reptilian invader's eyes rolled over white with pleasure. He screamed in pain before driving an ancient tehk'la blade through scales, puncturing the creature's enviro-suit neck seal. Blood soaked through his field jacket from fresh wounds but the captain picked back up his blaster from where he dropped it on the bridge deck.

Another crewman of the Outbound Flight was cut down behind Drake but he could barely see a thing in all the smoke from so much blaster crossfire. Desperate communications from all over the ship for help or information went unanswered while the bridge fought for their lives. Atlas glimpsed a flash that scorched the panel less than a meter from his head. His return fire was rewarded with an inhuman screech.

Then everything was quiet.

Drake listened to the hammering of his own heartbeat for what felt like an eternity. Survivors slowly emerged from behind cover when it became clear the aliens had fallen back. There weren't very many crew left standing.

"All hands," he picked up the comlink while there was time, "We can't hold the bridge much longer. There's been no contact from engineering. If he's still alive, get the Senator to an escape pod. Wayfinder might be able to extract."

He wrestled with the decision to call for everyone left on board to abandon ship. Their engines were still compromised and unless Outbound Flight could bring her hyperdrive back online the expedition looked doomed. When the hostile intruders regrouped and stormed the bridge again they would force Captain Drake's hand.

Tatiana Sah Dominic Praxon Ishtar-Array Bastila Sal-Soren Quinn Varanin Lyra Zan Kael Varnok Novac Lyrikal​

 

[Pillar of Freedom]

The mainframe chamber was silent now save for the groan of damaged circuitry and the distant echo of blasterfire deeper within Outbound Flight.

Three dead security officers lay scattered across the entranceway, their failed barricade reduced to refuse. Smoke drifted through the darkened vault as streams of stolen data rolled across Ssi-ruuvi wrist displays.

One of the reptilians flicked its tongue sharply. "The download isssss complete."

Another spoke over its shoulder while reading the data. "Colonissssation posibilitiesssss. Firsssst contact preparationssss. They intend to exsssspand."

Before another word could be spoken, a burst of static crackled over their comm unit. "Medbay hangar to retrieval team," came the distorted hiss. "The witch isssss captured. And the one identified assss mission leader hassss entered the hangar."

The lead Ssi-ruuk shut down the data terminal with a heavy claw. "Take both alive." A chorus of acknowledgements answered immediately through the comms.

Far beyond the vaulted walls, the dynamic on board was changing. The panic of the Outbound Flight crew had begun to turn into resistance. Coordinated blasterfire spat across adjoining decks. Orders were louder and more disciplined than before. The Ssi-ruuk understood the shift in the battles tone. But their purpose aboard the vessel was complete.

"Withdraw to exssstraction craft," the leader hissed.

Without another glance toward the dead, the reptilians turned from the ruined database chamber and disappeared into the smoke-filled corridor, retreating toward their escape pods.

For anyone fighting the Ssi-Ruuk, they are now actively retreating.
They are making off with all the data about Outbound Flight.
If you with to stop them, roll a dice in your post to see if you were successful.
If you are the first to match the roll in this post...you save the day!

Otherwise, the enemy will be very prepared for our eventual arrival.

Atlas Drake Bastila Sal-Soren Tatiana Sah Quinn Varanin
Lyra Zan Ishtar-Array Novac Lyrikal
FYI - Kaleleon Connel Vanagor Luke Montann
​

 

[Luke Montann]

⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Locations⠀ Ship, Space.
Objectives⠀ Repair, repair!
Tags⠀ People l Connel Vanagor


⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀LUKE MONTANN.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Engineer.
"The stars are ours to see, the galaxy is ours to set foot on."
Follow the stars..

═ Man's Gotta Earn a Living⠀═

Connel Vanagor

His entire career had culminated in this moment, every bit of training and experience led him furiously fixing the hyperdrive. The issue was a scorch in the main return line, meaning that the power couldn't cycle properly and was stopping the hyperdrive from powering up. Luke opened a commlink, taking a deep breath. He couldn't connect it under power. It'd fry the hyperdrive- and him with it, and the resulting explosion may suck him into space.

And Luke was keen to not die, especially not to some lizards.

"I have to shut off the power! I'll try and be quick. Good luck, everyone.." He said, his voice trailing at the end. But then, he remembered the Jedi, their bravery, and the hero he was supposedly named after. He touched his commlink on his wrist again.

"May the force be with us."

He said, and reached towards the junction box, and depowered the entire ship. No engines, no drive, no life support- no artificial gravity. He held onto the hyperdrive as his tools floated into the air, and he himself did too. He activated his magnetic boots, clamping himself in front of the hyperdrive. Beads of sweat that once hung on his face floated off of him, above him and around him. He reached forward-

And grasped the return line, a clamp wrapping around the damaged component. He soldered it quickly using a quick adhesive and a plasma flash. He put it back in, and looked up at the junction box. Roughly ten feet away and on an un-magnetized part of the hull. He'd have one shot to reach it-

So, Luke took a breath, and deactivated his magnetic boots. He pushed forward, floating. For that brief moment, there was silence, there was peace, and he had purpose in his eyes. Gloved hands reached for the power junction, and grasped it firmly, the handle requiring a tremendous amount of give and pull without the hydraulic power that it was once running on. Luke screamed in the void of space, grunting as he pulled the handle down. Every bit of muscle he had went into it, his shoulders and arms screaming in pain as he lowered it.

And finally, the ship came back to life-

All systems, the important ones- back online. He fell, cascading around, knocking himself out with the tumbling and force impact of falling more than ten feet. He lay there still, head bleeding under his helmet. But the ship was powered and ready to go.

Outbound Flight, was once more able to fly.

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Not today, Pirates!
Wayfinder Ship
Common Room

Omega Squad Every Day Gear Locations

• Michael, Gabriel, Raguel, Sariel, Raphael, Jeremiel, Connel
  [Any text in brackets signifies comm-link usage and not face to face conversation]
• 
  Rides
  
  • "Enterprise" Station Ship
  • Vigilant Reaper
  • Null Vector
  • Speederbike
  • Iron Psalm
  Gear/Armor
  
  
  • Gear(“Bodycam” Datapad, UAD Drone, link to Seraphim AI included)
  • Lightblaster
  • Shortsabers (“Night” and “Day”)
  • 5 Throwing Lightknives
  • 3 Force Blinding Flashbangs
  • RI-17 Rifle-w-MS-0412 Grenade Launcher
  SURGICAL - CRYBERNETIC IMPLANTS
  
  • Repli Implants that would be for the limbs
  • Bonemer enhancements to strengthen structure of the body
  • Muscle enhancements.
  • Hemo enhancements for blood flow
  • Hawkeye implants for eyes
  • Advanced Medical Implant
  • Scentzy
  • Injected Nanotech upgrades
  
  
  
• Shadow Sanctuary - Enterprise

Okay this guy definitely looks capable. He’s clearly scared, but it’s understandable, no judgment. Right now he seemed to be in a groove and there was no point in getting in his way. So Connel knew he should get back to the cockpit.

"I have to shut off the power! I'll try and be quick. Good luck, everyone.."

… "May the force be with us."

Kark a spark… Muttering quietly to himself, this was not the news they needed right now. The worst possible time. He needed to act fast, as the situation was spiraling out of control. The power shutdown was critical to avoid further damage, but the risks were high. Connel hoped the team could hold on long enough for him to complete the task and return safely.

Tapping the comm-link to Engineering. You got this… Just as he finished saying this, the lights went out, the systems went dark and the hum of the engine went silent. They were adrift. Connel didn’t know if his message went through.

Connel got up and looked at the person in the co-pilot’s seat. Take this stick the moment the power comes back on. This is going to take a lot out of me.

As the woman nodded, Connel planted his feet, centered the Force, focusing on the ebbs and flows of it and let it flow in and through his mind. Connel closed his eyes, channeling the Force to stabilize himself and remind everyone they have up to 24 hours of air right now. The energy surged through him, a delicate balance of control and strain. He could feel the Force’s reach extend out of the ship, which is just what he needed. Connel focused on his inner thought and projected the image outward, altering the environment for the attackers.

It was far from fallible, and did not need to last. He just needed to continue until the power returned or the attackers were misled, believing the image of the ship going to critical mass and ready to explode, pushing them to withdraw. He strained to maintain the illusion, weaving the Force into a web of confusion, buying time for the crew to regain control or devise an escape plan. The effort drained him, but survival depended on this critical moment.

TAGS • ARE • OPEN
Personal Effects - Omega Squad Loadouts​

 

[Tatiana Sah]

Tatiana's snapped out to either side, palms planted on the floor; her body rose five inches off the ground on her hands and feet. The featureless faceplate shot upward to look down the empty. Her feet pulled under her, and suddenly her silvery figure stood in one fluid and brief movement.

After she turned around and started to step around the corner, Tatiana caught sight of the Ssi-ruuk as they began to pull away from the door they'd been trying to pry open. The direction of their movement might be considered a retreat. Motives did not matter, however. A second hadn't even passed before she flew down the corridor like a rocket.

A sickening sound accompanied her elbow as it connected with the first Ssi-ruuk. Tatiana whipped around instantly; her hand grasped the second's weapon and jerked it out of their claws. The butt of the weapon was driven back into their face half a second before a spinning roundhouse bashed into the side of a third. A loud crack followed the rifle as it broke in half as it was brought down on the crowd of the second lizard head.

Slowly, Tatiana extended a hand toward the last Ssi-ruuk still standing with a series of low growls or clicks. She drew back her hand holding a small device between her fingers. Her head rolled a bit to the side as a voice came in over the air from the device.

Pillar of Freedom

 

[Ishtar-Array]

Observation beget data and data beget the foundations of understanding. Ishtar watched both Unshapen, the nonverbal language analysis algorithms cataloguing every motion, the translation algorithms recording and compiling every uttered sound. She did note the female stood slightly taller, slightly bulkier than the male speaker, and seemed to defer to him in spite of the appearance of better combat capabilities. The machine from which the Unshapen had emerged drew the male’s attention again briefly. Her HUD categorized the look he gave the female as ‘fear.’

The odds of the creatures using the machine being friendly dropped.

The male began to speak again, adding data for syntax and grammar, as well as tone. He walked to a tower in the center of the space outside Ishtar’s medical cell. A screen snapped to life and showed what appeared to be realtime footage from their security optics. What was displayed sent an irrational chill down Ishtar’s spine. She again pointed at the door, urgently. Not again. She would not be trapped with those monsters coming again.

Her lock-decoding algorithms had four signals now. One way or another.

The male kept talking, seemingly calm, infuriatingly calm but her HUD pointed out markers of anxiety. And his vitals leapt in intensity when the machine they came from chimed.

The male Unshapen—whom she designated Speaker-1, since it seemed he was somehow attached to her—spoke with his female companion? bodyguard? before he unholstered his weapon and stepped forward. The door hissed open and Ishtar slowly stepped into the opening. She stopped when she saw the barrel of his weapon trained on her.

Analyzing . . .
Analysis complete.
Threat level: Gray.
Odds of hositlity: 54.3%.
Nonverbal analysis: Instruction. “Follow.”
Deriving personal status . . .
Derivation complete.
Personal status: Prisoner 63.2%.

Ishtar made no sudden moves and slowly left the room, attention fully trained on the weapon aimed at her. The report of a blaster close by made her flinch but sparks flew instead from a panel beside the machine that held Speaker-1’s fearful attention. The female then took point and led the way to a doorway on the opposite end. Ishtar gave a glance at the weapon then at Speaker-1 before following the female.

However, when the door opened, it revealed the saurian warriors breaching this ship, another Unshapen in their custody. The female with them—Ishtar designated her Bodyguard-1—let out a guttural sound and brought her weapon to bear on the saurians. Red bolts struck the blue-scaled creature and it staggered then fell with a fading roar.

Ishtar stepped to the side, taking cover behind the wall, and flexed her hands, inefficient frustration rising. If she could connect to a defensive system, or any combat system, she could increase their combat efficacy.

Instead she was powerless.

Again.

It was not an optimal state of being.

She cast her attention farther afield, seeking any kind of wireless tether, some way to connect with anything to change the situation. It seemed probable that if she proved helpful to the Unshapen, Speaker-1 might just stop aiming his weapon at her. Granted, the Saurian in front of them was just as likely to do the same.

A faint whisper brushed the edges of her awareness. A connection. But while it was built on binary, it wasn’t the same systems that seemed to govern the Unshapen’s Forged or their ship. The Saurians’ systems then. The probability that it was their ships was high. That would have to do. Ishtar siezed the connection and started injecting commands in the Sovereign machine language into their systems. Navigational systems, internal diagnostics, anything she could throw into disarray. Nothing that would prevent them from leaving the ship—keeping them here seemed inefficient at best. But preventing them from returning to their point of origin seemed optimal.

Dominic Praxon | Lyra Zan | Quinn Varanin | Tatiana Sah
Atlas Drake | Bastila Sal-Soren | Novac Lyrikal