Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 54 Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 18:09:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 17:34:20 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005299 >On Sat, 1 Aug 1998 20:03:52 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005275 > >> On Sat, 01 Aug 1998 14:34:18 >> Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005270 >> >> /Done,/ Roland agrees. /Let's haul./ > >The shuttle appears and drops a boarding ramp. After a brief mental conference, Roland and Morgan send to over the link, /We'll worldwalk to the station. I/Roland will meet you in space./ >*Here's the layout {}, and the access codes you'll need for acces to > weapons, auxillary craft, and teleporters {}. I'll be fighting the > Velvet Glove, anyone who wish to help is welcome, or feel free to > leave the ship and fight on your own. Just grab a transponder so > I'll know where you are.* Roland and Morgan note the information, should they need it later. >(The authentication code will either be one gotten from one of the > CAoL or swiped from the stations databanks by Nemo, as needed) > > {Acknowledged, Velvet Glove. Legion Commander Roland has told us a lot about you people. Hope you live up to your rep. Good hunting. C-&-C out,} Ivanova replies. At which point Roland and Morgan decant into C-&-C. Ivanova starts for a moment, then sighs. "Damn it, Blaze! If I weren't so glad to see you...and who's she?" Roland smiles. "You mean my wife? Morgan, this is Captain Susan Ivanova. Captain, my wife, Morgan Greywolf." Morgan nods. "Hello, Captain." "Ms. Greywolf," Ivanova replies evenly. "Blaze..." "There's not a lot of time," Roland says, dropping right into business. "There's a nasty furball out there, and the Legion of Doom picked a really nasty time to come out of hiding. Where's the rest of the Legion?" "Out of touch," Ivanova replies. "Superman's busy with Luthor, and we haven't been able to reach anyone else." "Nass." Roland frowns. Morgan listens quietly, keeping track of communications without intruding. {Chief Allen to C-&-C,} comes over the link. {"Zack? Are you all right?"} Ivanova says instantly. {Just fine, Captain. We've got the Starros holed up in Red Sector for now. It's gonna get ugly soon-that damn starfish is gonna have all of Downbelow in about an hour, according to the computer-but they're not getting out for now.} ^Starros?^ Morgan sends, knowing that Roland would have information on it. ^Starro the Conqueror. Alien 'starfish' with a megalomaniacal bent. {Powers and history of Starro} Its splits are vulnerable to garden lime, of all things.^ Morgan looks at the Captain. "With your permission, I'll go help Zack. I dinna think I'll be much help out there-" she waves at the raging star battle outside-"but those things, I think I c'n handle." Roland nods. "Be careful, love." Morgan smiles a 'you need to ask?' smile at him. Roland blushes (tm). She vanishes. (OOC: The rest of Roland and Ivanova can be found in the next post.) >On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 00:05:25 > Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005279 > Zack turned and grabbed the guard by the collar. "If you were >going to say 'only lurkers,' I'll throw you to those things myself, >got it?! Now keep FIRING!" Zack turned and began shooting. "Fall back >to Red Nine-and seal the hatchways-gmmph!" > Three Starros fell on Zack... Morgan appears at the hatch to Red Nine, the security teams firing desperately at the unfazable Starros. "Greywolf?" officer Welch says. "Thank God! They've got the Chief!" "Thirty seconds ago, Zack said it was under control," Morgan said, blinking. "You mean _him?_" he replied, pointing at Zack. The security chief's smile broadened under the star clasped across his face. "He blasted two of them, but there were three of the ugly mugs. Only now-" "Now," the Zack-thing says, "I know _exactly_ what security's going to do. Come on, Lou, you know you can't take _me_ on and expect to come out with that shiny scalp of yours intact." Morgan, realizing that if Zack recognizes her he may be able to counter, quickly expands Aramegil to full length and lunges toward the Chief. "God! Lady-" Lou starts, but before he can do anything else, Aramegil lashes out, slashing neatly through the starfish, cutting it in two. Zack isn't even scratched. The Chief gasps and stumbles forward. "Retreat to Red Nine!" He turns to Morgan. "Damn, you're good with that thing. Next time, though, give my ticker a break and just punch it or something?" Morgan just chuckles and shrugs as they fall back. "D'ye have any fire extinguishers around here?" Zack blinks. "Not for this kinda fire, but yeah, we keep 'em on all the bulkheads. Why?" Morgan grabs the nearest extinguisher and concentrates a moment, her ring glowing briefly. Then she turns and starts spraying, a thick white powder shooting out and coating the lurkers. They start yelling, and the starfish start falling off Starro's victims, dead. The lurkers themselves are unharmed. "Bring me as many o' these things as ye can find! I'll transform as many as I can-then start spraying!" (OOC: BTW, it took us over an hour to find Lou Welch's name-are we dedicated, or what? :-) =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 18:09:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Supporting Repairs On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 17:46:49 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005300 (OOC: Oy! I hate continuity errors. Okay, this one's gonna be ugly, but here goes.) >On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 00:00:13 -0700 >Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005295 > >Morgan wrote: > >They turned and ran for the hatchway, Stranger dropping a small >device behind him. Seconds later the electroflare triggered, >temporarily blinding anything with human sight looking that way. > >Zack and Stranger piled through the door, which another oparative >slammed shut. (OOC: Okay, Remove the part Lou said about Zack blasting two of the stars. Zack gets nailed while bolting for the door, but Stranger gets the other security types out and is the primary reason they hold out until Morgan arrives. After that, take it from 'crunch all you want' and go from there. ) Zack looks at Morgan and Stranger. "Man, Barry has some weird friends. I take it you know this guy, Morgan?" "Aye, he's an old friend, and we've fought together before," Morgan smiles. "Zack, this fellow goes by 'Stranger.' Stranger, this is Zack Allen, chief of security and Barry's cousin." =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 18:09:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:02:48 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005301 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005270 > > Three Base Stars come around the planet. > Roland chuckles. "That's it? Three Base Stars...against _that?_ >Not to mention the Justice Legion-" > "Wait." > Nine _more_ Base Stars emerge from hyperspace, and all twelve >disgorge Cylon Raiders. As the line of sight between Dragon's Bane and the first three Cylon Base Stars clear the planets atmosphere. Dragon's Bane open's fire. Detectors on the Galactica and Babylon 5 slam against their stops. The beam from the spinal mount gun in Dragon's Bane strikes the middle Base Star precisely in the middle (between the two conic sections). The material in that section of the ship acheives such a temperature, that it ceases to be either matter, or energy. As it expands (at the speed of light) it offers a perfect conducting medium for the energy still being beamed in. As the explosion wave passes the outer rim of where the Base Star WAS the expanding "stuff" of the Base Star "cools" enough for it to become matter again. Matter traveling outwards at the speed of light. The (normally impossible, but with matter traveling at or near C it doesn't take much to pack an unholy whallop) concussion wave hits the other two Base Stars, and nearly tears them into dust. =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:00:26 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAEIV: Salvage and Construction Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005302 > Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005297 > > Nemisis splits are appearing all over the battlefield > consuming up wreckage and releasing Drones and other Tools, > Including a Ship which seems to be maneuvering to target the throat > of the ThirdSpace corridor... As the Long slim ship achieve alignment, It begins fireing, Each canister, if sensors are not lieing contains a set of Charged Jump Engines... Deep in the Throat of the ThirdSpace corridor they activate, The characteristic swirl of a Jump Point opening last for only a moment, before imploding... Each leaves the ThirdSpace vortex noticeably weakened. The Implosion Leaves a Glowing point which tumbles back out of the corridor, only to be captured by a Nemisis Drone, A close look shows each to be of these items to be a large lens shaped object, matching the first appearance of the Power Battery, save the Each is of a distinctly different color, no two alike... The Drones teleport out with their catch... The Console in C & C Reports, " Fuel Supplies coming aboard Now." =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:07:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 18:35:07 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005303 >On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 03:51:54 EDT >Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005281 > >> (OOC: For those of you who know the DCU-yep, that is in fact >>Felix Faust, and that's honest-to-Darkness magic he's using. ) > >"Get-outta-my-way,-ya-dirty-such'nd'such!" A voice says, in a (bad) >imitation of a New York cab driver. An X-window to Hades-667 forms >behind Faust, and a force powerful enough to outsuck a black hole at >close range pulls him into it. "Wh-?!" Faust is quickly sucked in. There's a crunching sound, like gears breaking on something harder. The X-Window closes. A few moments later, Faust reappears, considerably the worse for wear. "Accursed exorcist! Rath! Ghast! Abnegazar! I summon you, by your ancient hunger! I call you by the eternal rite! I command you, by our bargain sealed with souls! COME!" Three hairless, ugly humanoids appear. They look like nine-foot tall goblins with bad complexions. (Yes, even for goblins.) "Free again. What would you have of us, Faust?" "Find the light that burns and stop it!" "Ick. Lasers," the tallest one says. "You-you know?" Faust stutters. "Of course," the shortest one replies. "We have Hypernet access." Faust looks rather confused as the demons scour local space... Then Nemo said: >> Hal took the opportunity, blinded Sinestro with an emerald burst >> of light, and flew away from the station. >> "You can't escape me, Jordan!" >> [No, but I can lead you away from Babylon-5, and the 250,000 >> people you'd kill without a second thought.] Jordan watched below >> him as Vipers danced around the Cylon Raiders. [Ah, to just be a >> pilot again...] > > Eddorian presence....> (OOC: Actually, I was kinda hoping someone would help Hal out. But this is really cool.) >^Hal Jordan. May I/We assist you?^ > >The voice in Hal's mind reminded him of a Guardian. But it clearly >*wasn't*. At least it seemed to be "good". Hal blinked, startled. *Yes. Yes! Thank you!* >NEMO proceeds to lend Hal just enough willpower to counter the >Eddorian backing Sinestro./ And Sinestro's suddenly looking rather concerned, as GL begins to push him back... "What?! Inconceivable!" Hal smiles wickedly, and adopts a bad Spanish accent. "Hyu keep usin' that hword. I do no' think it means hwhat you think it means." > massively. That would only retard your development.> (OOC: The feeling is mutual. Too bad the Eddorans aren't in much of a position to do anything about it.) And Zia/James said: >"I make it a point, Zod." As his energy containment captures the heat >beams as kinetic energy, James grins his cold smile, "I never kneel >to folks who lose to _rocks_." "You-!" Zod begins. His eyes glow a deep red, but no lances of heat vision fly out. >James form flickers as he has to flicker-teleport fast enough a being >with superspeed can't catch him. If the chase goes on long enough, he >"hides" behind a few Cylon craft, letting Zod blow 'em to smithereens >chasing him. He waits a pre-set short length of time, say about 10 >seconds. Eons in superspeed, as his psi strength is used to stay out >of Zod's murderously strong clutches. Then... seeing some affirmative >signal on a tricorder like box attached to his belt, James nods to >himself. [They're in and working - thought that the add ins wouldn't >be fully immune given these conditions. This sun.] "You cannot escape me forever!" Zod snarls, surging through a dozen Cylon craft. >*But don't be offended.* In the pure 007 snotty tone that drives the >bad guys nuts. *I didn't think that would kill you; after all, even >Superman could wrench something like that off before it killed him - >Kryptonite is a slow-acting poison to you people. It was merely a fun >way to deliver the Scavenger nanos - which Zia couldn't, having >cybers herself. I had to delay long enough to make sure the >Underground complex here was immunized." He teleports out again, >*Since I'm all organic, they don't eat me - but I'm SURE they'll LOVE >to get a taste of you. Is Zod short for Sod, as in sorry Sod? >Sodding off?* James' mental taunt echoes after Zod cannot see him any >longer. *Either way, you're a dead alien, unless you know a VERY good >doc - who won't think you'll contaminate their tech. You have about >100 seconds left. Do your bones _itch_ yet?* Zod staggers back, sweating. "Very-very good, Terran. But not-not quite good enough. You see, part of what protects me from the various energies to which we are vulnerable are nanites of my own. And I think I can keep you busy with many, many other problems momentarily." He rockets toward Babylon Five, aiming for C-&-C... ...only to run into a familiar forcefield. *Thanks, Mr. Bond. I owe you another one-Kara happens to be a friend of mine. And the General here is one of my _least_ favorite people. But he's been too tough to deal with...until now.* Blaze rockets into Zod, slamming him back into Epsilon 3. "Hello, Zod. Remember me? You slapped me around pretty good last time we met." Zod's eyes narrow. "Blaze. Yes, I remember you. I should have killed you when I had the chance." Blaze smiles ferally. "Who said you ever had a chance?" To James, he adds, *Kryptonian-tech nanites! I love it! It figures K-Metal would be vulnerable to K-Metal!* Roland winds up with the Phoenix Rod, and aims for the bleachers with Zod's head. *Think you can find someone worthy of your talents in this mess? General Clod here sure doesn't qualify.* Roland casually crushed several Cylon Raiders as he flew after the luckless would-be tyrant of Krypton... >:>Meanwhile... (OOC: Thanks! I tried hard to make this bunch formidable, even to the CAoL. And the world-eaters haven't even arrived yet...) >Zia swallows once, hard. She'd be running by now, but this is enough >to stun even her. Something about frying pans and fires plays >absently through the white noise of her thoughts. The "cameras" (her >link back through James, Nemo, and then out relayed to others) are >still running and recording, but Zia herself is having a few split >seconds of difficulty coping with what she is seeing. Oddly enough, Zia senses no resistance at all with her broadcast. >"Sorry, Aunt, but I'm _sure_ I have a pressing engagement - ANYwhere >else. Begging you pardon..." Zia _quavers_. Dara raises one eyebrow, still smiling. Darkseid's eyes flicker, noting Zia's presence for the first time. "Hmm." Deathwalked looks at a palmtop. "The devourers are late. Unpardonable." "They would hardly fit under this dome, now would they?" Bester slides a rook down the board. "Mate. And I, for one, would be rather uncomfortable with a neutron star parked over my head." >Suddenly there are three equal-sized silver mini copies of the Silver >Zia streaking away at the best speed she can make. She doubts she'll >make it home-free even so, if they want to stop her, so information >and data screams broadcast and straight sent both. She sends over >B5's system frequencies (the main station's - Zia won't "flood" the >fighter's communications), one sent in the general direction of the >"big friendly" ship that Zia doesn' t know who is in yet, and one at >Nemo's Velvet Glove. If any of the entities on the receiving end can >also discern the emotion of the sender, rather than just the data, >they'll know that Zia is _far_ more worried and outright frightened >than she was even when she thought she'd destroyed her home world. >"^Nemo, +please+ tell me that BUG isn't doing what I think he is >doing building that.. that... (she splutters, quite unlike Zia) that >THING.^* /*"ZIA!"*/ Roland streaks away, dragging Zod behind him with TK. If Zia's _that_ shaken... ...but the only entities that follow the three Zias are parademons. /Grife. Darkseid. This is bad./ Roland provides cover for the Zias as best as he can. /Zia, which one of 'you' should I worry most about? Hnng-/ "Treat ME like chattel, will you?!" Zod slams into Roland's back. "Zod...SHUT UP!" Roland's eyes flare, and Zod is hit with the full, unmitigated force of Blaze's psychokinesis. The General flies back, glowing a faint green as James' nanites begin to get the upper hand for the moment. *Eat lightning, parademons...* =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:07:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:34:17 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005304 >On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 16:45:22 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005293 > >Zia swallows once, hard. She'd be running by now, but this is enough >to stun even her. Something about frying pans and fires plays >absently through the white noise of her thoughts. The "cameras" (her >link back through James, Nemo, and then out relayed to others) are >still running and recording, but Zia herself is having a few split >seconds of difficulty coping with what she is seeing. Mike twists in mid-jaunt, his glowing white eyes focusing on the dome on the planet. Looked like Cylons would have to wait. >: "Honestly, Shard, why don't you just kill him?" Dara asks as she >:lunges. "Hello, dear," she says to the silver form without missing a >:beat. > >Zia startles, and gives Dara a short, but utterly respectful, nod. Mike arrives on the planet, just outside the dome. /Forward to Zia: This is no time for family reunions, RUN!/ >: "KILL him? Then what? Spend the rest of my short life being >:hunted by a berserk Druid with a small army behind her? Besides, >:he's too much fun to play with." Shard parries, then ripostes, but >:overextends perhaps a millimeter. >: More than enough for an Amberite trained by Benedict. Her blade ^^^^^^^^ Benedict's opposite in the courts of Chaos, IIRC. Benedict himself was just the 'dupe' of Dara's mother. In almost the same way Dara duped Corwin and had Merlin. Apparently, it's a family tradition. ;) >"Sorry, Aunt, but I'm _sure_ I have a pressing engagement - ANYwhere >else. Begging you pardon..." Zia _quavers_. Mike steps half into the force dome... >Suddenly there are three equal-sized silver mini copies of the Silver >Zia streaking away at the best speed she can make. She doubts she'll >make it home-free even so, if they want to stop her, so information >and data screams broadcast and straight sent both. She sends over >B5's system frequencies (the Tink relays through her connections to the station... >main station's - Zia won't "flood" the fighter's communications), one >sent in the general direction of the "big friendly" ship that Zia >doesn' t know who is in yet, and one at Nemo's Velvet Glove. If any >of the entities on the receiving end can also discern the emotion of >the sender, rather than just the data, they'll know that Zia is _far_ >more worried and outright frightened than she was even when she >thought she'd destroyed her home world. "^Nemo, +please+ tell me that >BUG isn't doing what I think he is doing building that.. that... (she >splutters, quite unlike Zia) that THING.^* /C'mon, Zia, we'll think about that once we're out of here!/ Mike shouts through the link, /I'll try and hold this thing open as long as I can but don't tarry!/ =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:07:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 19:53:56 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005305 >On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 18:35:07 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005303 >And Zia/James said: > >>: "Rao, he's worse than the crimson one," Ursa snarls. "Come, >>:Psycho. We have to go deal with the girl scout." She grabs Psycho >>:and flies off. >> >>*Ursa and Psycho are gunning for you, Kara. Do you need a teep >>backup?* James informs and asks - as if he weren't in a hand-to-psi >>duel with a superbeing who could make him mince-meat. That is, if >>Zod actually had any chance of out-manuevering James. (OOC: Y'know, I knew I forgot something...) [Ah. Thank you. I don't usually need knights in shining armor, but I don't object to them, either,] Kara 'thinks' with a smile. [If you could just shield my thoughts from that _horrid_ little man, he won't be any more trouble to me. As for Ursa...I believe she needs a lesson in manners. She's mean, rude, and the basic black look reminds me far too much of Psi-Corps.] She looks concerned. [Be careful with Zod! He's not as stupid as he looks, and he's got some sort of weird implants that he boasts will even protect him from magic!] =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:08:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 23:32:39 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005306 > Faust looks rather confused as the demons scour local space... And find nothing. The light has stopped, as well as the three seconds of dissappearing weapons fire. In the laser's place is a Rending. The Eddorian and Cylon ships have holes torn in their shields, or their hulls. It's almost as if the ships were being eaten. Eaten by something Very Hungery that eats metal and energy. Every few seconds, a burst of plasma appears out of nowhere. (The exact oppisite of what was happening earlier.) A voice can be heard singing "Oh, I've been working on the railroad, all the livelong day. I've been working on the railroad, just to pass the time away..." and something about "A steel drivin' man..." [OOC: That's odd. A few peanuts have fallen on my head from out of nowhere.] Thanks Scott "Steeler" Osborne =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 23:08:57 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005307 Zia swallows once, hard. She'd be running by now, but this is enough :>to stun even her. Something about frying pans and fires plays :>absently through the white noise of her thoughts. The "cameras" (her :>link back through James, Nemo, and then out relayed to others) are :>still running and recording, but Zia herself is having a few split :>seconds of difficulty coping with what she is seeing. : : Oddly enough, Zia senses no resistance at all with her broadcast. Oddly enough, she seemed to think she _herself_ would be more a target than the mere broadcast of the signal. : Dara raises one eyebrow, still smiling. : Darkseid's eyes flicker, noting Zia's presence for the first time. :"Hmm." >/C'mon, Zia, we'll think about that once we're out of here!/ Mike >shouts through the link, /I'll try and hold this thing open as long >as I can but don't tarry!/ */Mike, RUN! I'm already out and gone - those boards are fast. But I have every reason to think US being in THERE is a real bad thing. Especially the CAoL Old Guard. Teleport, or anything, will you?/* Zia sends, in an oddly lagged voice - two or three relays, telepathy wise. : /*"ZIA!"*/ : Roland streaks away, dragging Zod behind him with TK. If Zia's :_that_ shaken... : ...but the only entities that follow the three Zias are :parademons. : "Zod...SHUT UP!" Roland's eyes flare, and Zod is hit with the :full, unmitigated force of Blaze's psychokinesis. The General flies :back, glowing a faint green as James' nanites begin to get the upper :hand for the moment. : *Eat lightning, parademons...* */I'm clear enough, Roland, and VERY hard to hurt in this form, anyway. Make sure Mike gets out./* Zia sends, beginning to get a bit of her composure back. James, still behind Zod and Roland, gives a smile. As he is free to concentrate, he does so. Then up behind the momentarily out of control Zod, and a light touch. Zod is teleported... INTO this systems star. AFTER Zod cannot take any warning whatsoever, and to himself so Roland won't *hear* it, James comments, [I bet my engineer is better than your engineer, Zod. Yours probably hardened your nannite defenses against energy, like you said. BUT mine made the nannites work as much better in the yellow spectrum as does the rest of your organic systems. We'll find out - if you live, I'll at least have Sheila owing me the case of beer.] The most local to James and Roland Zilver Zia streaks up just under the speed of light, seeming to "appear" near James. There is a half-beat pause while James psionically decontams himself of nanite infection, then the little Zia form flows up and over him. Now, they really DO look like the Silver Surfer, although in a suit, not just briefs. :) James blinks once, accustomizing himself to the changes, even his eyeballs are silvered. Roland can faintly *hear* Zia working on the symbology of the construct in the mental background, but James comes in easily over her, */Better oppponents? You're the one who knows these folks best - I thought the three of them were worthy together. I wouldn't mind a suggestion, however. I'll just keep working while you decide./* He is gone, abruptly vanishing to the eye, as the surfboard takes him away... James re-appears nearby the fighting wing of the Galactica. He seems to pause and observe a few very long tens of seconds. */Got the reflexes duped. I don't want to do a direct nueral reprogram wave, Zia, I think reflex and hunch is better - and will wear off quickly if the individual doesn't think it works./* A very small, even trivial, ripple begins at James, spreading through the local time/space continium like a pebble dropped in water. Every human pilot it reaches suddenly gains the subtle benefits of an analgram of Starbuck and Apollo's Cylon fighting techniques. Not as "control the body" stuff - it's like hunches and sudden reflex motions. But a pilot flying on the edge of his skill is hardly going to notice THAT. He is too busy trying to stay alive and kill the enemy. James takes three small objects, well-wrapped from the box on his belt. He glances down, and the wrappings fall limply as he teleports the objects to their destinations. Apollo and Starbuck won't notice the Lenses on their respective left arms until AFTER they're not in an intense dogfight, but Adama might well notice his before that. Then he flashes away to go after the best teeps on the enemy side. * * * The second Zilver Zia copy takes up station off the bow of the HUGE ship Dragon's Bane, and monitors the fight from the other side. * * * The third mini-Zilver Zia flies back to the Battlestar Galactica, morphing into a snake-like shape to wend through the entry ports, and returns to where her "real" body is. The silver flattens out into a thin layer under her clothing, leaving her appearance quite unremarkable. [I hate being multi-located.] She gripes to herself, sitting up slowly, with her eyes still shut. But she just leans back against a bulkhead, still sitting slumped. One hand absently holds onto the pommel of the katana at her side, as if for the comfort of knowing it's there. */If I'm correct - can someone check and make sure that this area isn't being closed in on us, too? Jadis was delaying us so that ... monstrous construct could be prepared. I - I think it's supposed to use some of the living beings that were there, too. And possibly some of our side, as well. It - Well, this is WILD guessing, but I think that crazy Bug is trying to re-do Everything with his remake of a new Pattern. Or at least a very sizable portion of the Infinite. And he is I think trying to hold us here until he needs us for parts./* */If he completes it without any of our side falling into being used so - the new creation will have very little of the Lighter Side. That'll be his ultimatum later, maybe. I hope I'm wrong about all this. Either way, I believe it's made so that Knightmare emerges transcendant no matter what - as it'll be HIS Pattern then. Brrrr... now that is a chilly thought./* Suddenly, Zia interrupts her own chain of thought, as a sudden intuition flashes. */... Everyone, beware. There may well be a ...well, call it a rogue Vorlon. Working on THEIR side../* -- Ziactrice "Zia" Keenan & James "Bond" Keenan A wild sea In the distance, Over Sado, The Milky Way. - Basho =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Supporting Cast (IC) On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:03:52 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005308 > On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 00:00:13 -0700 > Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005295 > > Zack and Stranger piled through the door, which another oparative > slammed shut. A burst of light signalled Raver's arrival, using one of the transponders off the Velvet Glove. "Stranger." Zack blinked at the demon clad in black plate/chain mail, a massive sword in one gauntlet. [Raver! I'm not sure the sword'll take the zombies. We might need more oomph than that.] [Perhaps. I doubt this ficton has seen our like.] Raver shrugged, hooking their wings onto loops in their armor to avoid hitting the walls. They nodded at Zack, introducing themselves with a curt "Raver." [We shall see how well the zombies hold up to cold steel.] "We will follow your lead, Stranger." =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:42:36 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005309 > On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 16:45:22 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005293 > > Suddenly there are three equal-sized silver mini copies of the > Silver Zia streaking away at the best speed she can make. She doubts > she'll make it home-free even so, if they want to stop her, so > information and data screams broadcast and straight sent both. She > sends over B5's system frequencies (the main station's - Zia won't > "flood" the fighter's communications), one sent in the general > direction of the "big friendly" ship that Zia doesn' t know who is > in yet, and one at Nemo's Velvet Glove. If any of the entities on > the receiving end can also discern the emotion of the sender, rather > than just the data, they'll know that Zia is _far_ more worried and > outright frightened than she was even when she thought she'd > destroyed her home world. "^Nemo, +please+ tell me that BUG isn't > doing what I think he is doing building that.. that... (she > splutters, quite unlike Zia) that THING.^* ^First we get you out. *Then* we worry about what the construct is for.^ If there's a clear path, Nemo will send out a (gravity based)tractor beam to grab Zia. One strong enough that anyone who grabs it will have to drag the Velvet Glove along. Being gravity based, it'll grab all of her equal, and thus not squash her. :-) =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Supporting Cast (IC) On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:52:33 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005310 > Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005298 > >> On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 00:00:13 -0700 >> Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005295 >> >> Zack and Stranger piled through the door, which another oparative >> slammed shut. > > Dorn.Nemisis > Ports in with a Weapons Crate... and start distributing, > > "Tangle Polymer pellets, also good for sealing doors... > Tangle Polymer Grenades, also good for blocking open halls... > Included Medical Nano will attempt to Cure their condition. > Icers, Targeted Cryo-Inducers... > Anything else you think would go well?" > > He will pull any requested weapon from the Crate and hand it over... "There's always someone who doesn't get the word...." ^They are vulnerable to lime, that's calcium oxide, not the fruit.^ =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:14:53 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:21:28 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005311 > On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:00:38 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005289 > > *NEMO, could four Broken Patterns be re-constructed to make a > fifth?* NEMO's answer is a burst of pure math. Translated into English, it'd be something like "Yes, Maybe, No. Here are the probabilities" > James rolls his eyes at Nemo and the CAoLer's, "She always gets that > way when she's thinking hard - says the most incredible things. Of > course, once in a while, they work." A half-dozen slender metal > straps appear near him, and he nods. "Borrowing a bit of the > asteroid, Nemo. Transmutation is a specialty of mine. And kryptonite > isn't difficult, for a radiative. Be right back, have a lady in > distress or hundred to help." Nemo sends ^We'll hardly notice. But I can use kryptonite for a few things myself. What's the structure? Green is good, but I'd like the full set if you've got them.^ Upon recieving the info from James, Nemo has the reactor start cranking out some kryptonite. Green, and if James gave him the structures, gold and jewel as well. He sets up for white, but doesn't start production. =========================== Date: Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:21:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 23:18:08 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005312 :On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 19:53:56 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005305 :>On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 18:35:07 :>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005303 : : [Ah. Thank you. I don't usually need knights in shining armor, but :I don't object to them, either,] Kara 'thinks' with a smile. James starts to answer this - then notices what the 'coating' fromt the Term Zia sent his way LOOKS like. He er, mentally closes his teeth on THAT answer. [If you could just shield my thoughts from that _horrid_ little man, he won't be any more trouble to me. As for Ursa... I believe she needs a lesson in manners. She's mean, rude, and the basic black look reminds me far too much of Psi-Corps.] *^That little pasty one? He isn't a man; he is a leech. I can hold him indefinitely, unless a lot more of the enemy TPs notice me - and most don't scan my bands.^" She looks concerned. [Be careful with Zod! He's not as stupid as he looks, and he's got some sort of weird implants that he boasts will even protect him from magic!] *^Matching his looks would be impossible - but he is close. If he isn't doing an impression of a roasted marshmellow yet, I will definitely scan those implants more thoroughly next time I have the ten seconds of free action required. But I highly doubt it; what I had to hand wasn't magical in nature. That isn't really my style.^* -- James "Bond" Keenan "Anyone who can see through a woman is missing a lot." Robert A. Heinlein =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 00:01:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 00:00:06 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005313 >On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 23:08:57 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005307 > >*/Mike, RUN! I'm already out and gone - those boards are fast. But I >have every reason to think US being in THERE is a real bad thing. >Especially the CAoL Old Guard. Teleport, or anything, will you?/* Zia >sends, in an oddly lagged voice - two or three relays, telepathy >wise. Mike blinks and mentally shrugs. /Musta been an afterimage./ He yanks himself out of the dome and gives a 'Bester' salute to the occupants. "Be seeing you." >*/I'm clear enough, Roland, and VERY hard to hurt in this form, >anyway. Make sure Mike gets out./* Zia sends, beginning to get a bit >of her composure back. /I'm clear, both of you./ Mike looks up at the force dome. He shrugs and teleports back about a mile. /Hmmmmm.../ >Suddenly, Zia interrupts her own chain of thought, as a sudden >intuition flashes. */... Everyone, beware. There may well be a >...well, call it a rogue Vorlon. Working on THEIR side../* /Roland, Kosh Naranek {green/brown Kosh} and Kosh Ulkesh[1] {blue/purple Kosh}. Ever seen either one of them? I'm guessing the former might work unwillingly, the latter more willingly. And I suspect, if I am judging what I just saw correctly, that Dark Tower is one huge balancing act of opposing forces. But most of what I saw I only recognized through third and fourth-hand references, and understood very little of it./ [1] Named in _To Dream in the City of Sorrows_, Babylon 5 Book 9. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 03:05:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 01:25:34 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005314 > On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 18:35:07 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005303 > > Three hairless, ugly humanoids appear. They look like nine-foot > tall goblins with bad complexions. (Yes, even for goblins.) "Free > again. What would you have of us, Faust?" > "Find the light that burns and stop it!" > "Ick. Lasers," the tallest one says. > "You-you know?" Faust stutters. > "Of course," the shortest one replies. "We have Hypernet access." > Faust looks rather confused as the demons scour local space... Well, at least the Velvet Glove is in no danger from him. Not only is it "cold iron" which tends to be pretty good shielding against magic, but it's also "meteoric" iron, which is *strong* mojo in just about all magic systems. :-) > Then Nemo said: >>> massively. That would only retard your development.> > > (OOC: The feeling is mutual. Too bad the Eddorans aren't in much >of a position to do anything about it.) NEMO flicks a thought at Sinestro: *You have chosen unwisely yet again. But you still may repent.* No attack. Just the comment. And the "feel" of NEMO behind it. If that doesn't distract/worry Sinestro, *nothing* will. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 04:36:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAEIV: Rejoining the fray On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 07:21:42 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005315 >On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 10:02:17 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005290 > > Sil nods wearily. "I think that would be best." She gazes evenly >at Sinister for a moment. "You seem to be...at least _somewhat_ >different from the Sinister I knew. I hope we never have to meet >like this again." Sinister seems to smile, for at least you see lots of very sharp teeth. "The feeling... Is mutual." > /Legion, are you sure you're up to this?/ Sil asks. /Your daughter >was...well, 'worried' would be too strong a word, I think,/ she sends >with a mental chuckle. /Mischief is very young... perhaps two or three years old in human years would be an emotional equivalent. Now that my genetics have been straightened out and I have dealt with all the loose personality fragments I am good to go again./ Legion turns and looks up at Sinister, saying softly, "Thank you..." Sinister is as unreadable has he has ever been. After several long seconds he replies, "It... was my pleasure. Take care of yourself, Legion." Legion just nods. "I shall." She turns to look at the others... /Guys? Three more incoming... Well, Nemo, you certainly gave me a large enough target.../ And with that, the three vanish from inside the Tesseract, reappearing in the bridge (or if insufficent room, the hallway just beyond) of the Velvet Glove. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 05:43:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAEIV: Finding a nitch On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 08:08:02 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005316 [OOC: Because of IC/OOC time problems, this is posted way out of order... they would have been on the Velvet Glove within minutes of it arriving in B-5's space] After Observing for a few moments, Legion murmurs "Excuse me." and vanishes from the Velvet Glove... ... Reappearing in a quiet corner of Babalyon 5's med bay. She leans against the wall, her eyes half closed. One of her 'selves' quickly casts a clarivoyance spell, allowing the battle to be observed. Several other selves begin the job of tracking the friendly and hostile craft. One of the doctors looks over at her, seeing a human female, six foot tall or so, with flaming red hair. Her black jumpsuit and jacket look vaguely military, but there are no insignias of any sort. And she appeared out of no where. "Um... Excuse me, miss... But who -are- you?" Legion does not bother to open her eyes fully. "We are Legion. We are here to protect," She feels a 'friendly' one-man ship explode beneath the combined attacks of three Cylon ships. She teleports the pilot away before he can be killed by the explosion, though he has been inhaling fumes for some time before the death-blow to his ship. The pilot appears on an unoccupied bed in the medlab. To those listening, she does not seem to pause in her speech, "and evacuate the injured." =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 07:08:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 08:54:50 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005317 :On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 00:00:06 -0500 :Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005313 : :/I'm clear, both of you./ Mike looks up at the force dome. He shrugs :and teleports back about a mile. /Hmmmmm.../ *^Didn't mean to do that to you, Mike - er.^* Zia seems embarrassed a moment, *^I'm not quite used to open conflict, especially on this scale. Lost my nerves there a second. Thanks for coming in - I think it was your "yell" in the background that broke the horror-stasis. Not that you _have_ to tell James that, okay? He has already suggested I stay out of the front line. (sigh) He is probably right; I'm not much of one for that sort of fight. I'm going to stay in support category.^* */Nemo, Dragon's Bane, Tink - if you can patch me into the sensor feeds - not ALL of them, just the useful ones from a human time and sense perspective, I'll take over battle tactical analysis. If that is all right with you, Roland? Besides intel, it is what I do best - and I suspect that they can filter it well enough my speed of thought won't turtle down the data too badly. Nemesis - don't want to interrupt your rescue ops, but if we can use some splits to start tying in the Galactica's forces it will help them survive better on their own./* Then to everyone, */They have like _no_ parts to repair - some of the smaller transports are barely keeping life support. I don't recall Adama's folks being in this bad of shape, but then - I'm not from this fiction, either. James and I are doing some smaller shifts to help out, but appearing things from nowhere is too big a change with a Chaosite on the other side. Besides, she is stronger than us./* :/Roland, Kosh Naranek {green/brown Kosh} and Kosh Ulkesh[1] :{blue/purple Kosh}. Ever seen either one of them? I'm guessing the :former might work unwillingly, the latter more willingly. And I :suspect, if I am judging what I just saw correctly, that Dark Tower :is one huge balancing act of opposing forces. But most of what I saw :I only recognized through third and fourth-hand references, and :understood very little of it./ */I grok everything _except_ the Vorlon and Shadow tech. You're right, except most of those should be mutually destructive/exclusive. Somehow, in that area, normal inter-Shadow reality isn't holding up right. I think that was part of what unsettled me so much; I am Ordered, and that ... had only the appearance of some structure that violates most of what I've always understood about the "Rules" so to speak./* She sounds uneasy to "admit" a weakness. She is also being over-careful to make sure this doesn't sound like she is "making excuses" for herself. */Mike, I don't suppose you can see any way to beat this thing on the Shade/Vorlon parts? I think stopping it right now would be very hard on the local Shadows; if it's finished... well, we don't want to go THERE, either./* Zia sounds miffed she can't "yank a thread and unravel" it. -- Ziactrice "Zia" Keenan "Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos." I Ching =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 07:08:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:04:06 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005318 :On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:42:36 PST :Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005309 :> On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 16:45:22 -0500 :> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005293 :>: The Silver Zia has exactly one more second to run like hell out :>:the dome... :If there's a clear path, Nemo will send out a (gravity based)tractor :beam to grab Zia. One strong enough that anyone who grabs it will :have to drag the Velvet Glove along. : :Being gravity based, it'll grab all of her equal, and thus not squash :her. :-) Nemo could easily discern these things are not carbon-based organic life-forms (not that Zia is, completely, either, but somewhat). Actually, they're a plastic-metallic construct a bit like the Terminator robots, but psionically programmed rather than by an E/M system. When this one is in "safety" it's triggered to reconform to a link to Zia's "real" locus, on the Battlestar Galactica. *^There. This is a speed of thought interface between my Lens and yourself - the best I can do in operating speed. (Knowledge that it's still a miserable crawl compared to the computer intelligences, not that THAT intimidates Zia a whit). So, what plan do you have for dealing with the Nuetron devourers? Any method by which we can catch their incoming forces - since they've obviously got MUCH more waiting in the wings, before they "show up" here and pound us to smithereens, Nemo?^* -- Zia "Careful planning will never replace dumb luck." =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 08:11:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:44:39 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005319 :On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 20:21:28 PST :Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005311 :> On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 12:00:38 -0500 :> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005289 :> :> *NEMO, could four Broken Patterns be re-constructed to make a :>fifth?* :NEMO's answer is a burst of pure math. Translated into English, it'd :be something like "Yes, Maybe, No. Here are the probabilities" */Unicorn's Tail./* Zia, quite unlike herself, cusses. She had no trouble "translating" the pure math. */I was hoping the disconstructing wouldn't be possible. How about methods for making the reconstruction unfeasible, self-destructive without taking out the nearest Inifinite Section (and ourselves in the process), self-destructive with a kamikaze attitude, and inverting the purposes of Knightmare's construct? I need some options on how to deal with that thing - because I currently don't see a way out for our side./* Her formulations for those questions are likewise pure math with Boolean test logic included. She actually presents about 4,000 of the best options for solution that she can generate, as an example base for NEMO, but herein I have kindly translated it back into English for all the James rolls his eyes at Nemo and the CAoLer's, "She always gets that way when she's thinking hard - says the most incredible things. Of course, once in a while, they work." A half-dozen slender metal straps appear near him, and he nods. "Borrowing a bit of the asteroid, Nemo. Transmutation is a specialty of mine. And kryptonite isn't difficult, for a radiative. Be right back, have a lady in distress or hundred to help." :Nemo sends : :^We'll hardly notice. But I can use kryptonite for a few things : myself. What's the structure? Green is good, but I'd like the full : set if you've got them.^ *{} The basic form, crystalline. The colors are, of course, merely the impurities present that change the angles or color. {} Green, {} Red,* long pause while James is dealing one-handed with the three on Kara. Then he picks up his thread again, while fighting Zod alone. Nemo gets the definite feeling Zod doesn't quite rate with James as "seriously dangerous" even after James duly takes Kara's warning and becomes more cautious. *Jewel {}, my personal favorite. Always thought it looked more like agate, however. White {}, Blue {}, and Purple {} - that last is from Mztzylplk - I don't know that it's possible without magic./* James finishes, as he deliberately teleports Zod out hoping the sun actually will result in the villain's death. */Sheila once speculated on an anti-matter version, but she never had the facilities to try it./* :Upon recieving the info from James, Nemo has the reactor start :cranking out some kryptonite. Green, and if James gave him the :structures, gold and jewel as well. He sets up for white, but doesn't :start production. */I wouldn't mind having some of the jeweled when you get done, Nemo. For that matter, the other espers in our group might want reinforcement againt the Ploorans and Eddorians./* James says as he takes a moment to check Zia's safety, re-assess the shadow ripple he did to make sure it's working properly, and move the nano-layer under his dermis to regain his flesh tones. The "surfboard" reforms into a flight pack and various sensing equipment inside a skeletal framework of a spacesuit-like thing. The helmet is slender, though, not bulbous, and fully opaque. Apparently the knight in shining armor remark was just a little too much for him. Of course, NOW he looks rather like a black and silver version of Doctor Fate. But if someone tells him he just did it again, his reaction will probably be "readable".> That, and the amount of psi he was using temporarily tired James. Even though he is about as good a telepath as Roland is pyrokinetic, and only slightly less well-suited to the teleportative... he needs a breather. He still has a psi-null field generated around Psycho, however, matched with the telepaths locale. [Bet that feels odd - having been a telepath for that long, without experience deadened Shadows. Or with him, having silence might be a favor I'm doing the leech. Well. Can't win them all.] : */I'm not too mechanically inclined, myself, but if someone can give me possibilities for disrupting enemy drives or power sources WITHOUT doing likewise to any on our side, I'd be willing to attempt a bit of reality warping... just don't ask me to mess with Planck's constant again. (A subtle dig directed Zia's way - she is too deep in math speak with NEMO to really *hear* it.)/* The erstwhile assasin comments, still waiting Roland's suggestion of targets. He turns slowly, scanning intently to check on the only enemy who know he is here yet. Where or what is the fate of Zod, Ursa, and their little buddy leech, Psycho? -- James "Bond" Keenan "Evil comes in many forms, be it a man-eating cow or Joseph Stalin." The Tick =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:42:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE:Planetfall. On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:19:47 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005321 Driss finally gets the message about the happenings down on the planet. His jaw sets with thought. most of the names he doesn't recognise, a few others give him glimmers of memory, but nothing definite. but the reactions on the link are definite. Everyone is worried abotu these guys. Driss sits down and starts pulling out equipment and clothing, dressing quickly. "Forg, take us into the planet's atmosphere. I'm going to be making a quick stop." Geltram walks up and watches Driss change. "Are you sure this is a wise descision?" "No. But I do know that if these guys are enough to get everyone else this flustered a little diversion to buy some time won't hurt. And whobetter than I to do it. No one down there can have enough power to actually kill me, and with the equipment I'm putting together I should be prepared for anything more or less." Geltram just nods, "I see. Then there is nothing I need say that is going to be of any concequence except to assure you that the Force will be with you in this selfless act." "Now don't go trying to paint me a hero with this 'selfless act" stuff, I'm just bored. that's it. yeh just bored." Driss quips with a smile, looking up from the buckles on his armor. Geltram just walks away, "There is nothing you can say that changes to truth." "We're getting near the planet Driss, tell me when you're ready Driss." Called Forg over the comm system. Driss checked himself over. The studded leather armor completely covered the blast vest he wore and only slightly glowed from its magical aura. six pendents hung around his neck and rings glittered on every finger over his leather gauntlets. On his left side hung his trusty rapier, a large weapon that looked like a high-tech sawed off shotgun hung on the right. Another smaller handgun peeked out from the top of his left 7-league boot, and a very ornate throwing dagger was in the right one. Snapping a small computer onto his left forearm, Driss decided he was ready. "Ok, bring us in as low as you can, I'll be in the airlock ready to make hte jump." Driss sent on the comm system and strode confidently towards the airlock. Overhead the strange construct, the Tie Scout soared towards it at 850kph Lasers flared straffing the ground with negligable effects but distracting viewers from the small object falling from the ship before it goes racing back into space again. The sound of Driss hitting the earth and the dust rising up from the spot announce his arrival. As the dust begins to disipate, Driss stands there completely covered by his cloak. "Hello. I don't suppose any one on you happens to have the building permit for this monstrocity." =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:45:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Starfish Troopers On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 10:07:03 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005322 >On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 21:03:52 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005308 >>On Sun, 02 Aug 1998 17:46:49 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005300 >> >>"Aye, he's an old friend, and we've fought together before," Morgan >>smiles. "Zack, this fellow goes by 'Stranger.' Stranger, this is >>Zack Allen, chief of security and Barry's cousin." > > A burst of light signalled Raver's arrival, using one of the >transponders off the Velvet Glove. "Stranger." Zack blinked at the >demon clad in black plate/chain mail, a massive sword in one >gauntlet. [Raver! I'm not sure the sword'll take the zombies. We >might need more oomph than that.] > [Perhaps. I doubt this ficton has seen our like.] Raver shrugged, >hooking their wings onto loops in their armor to avoid hitting the >walls. They nodded at Zack, introducing themselves with a curt >"Raver." [We shall see how well the zombies hold up to cold steel.] >"We will follow your lead, Stranger." Morgan continued, barely suppressing a smile at Zack's counfouded expression. "And this is, well, right now she's Raver. Another friend." She then turns to the demon. "Raver, those aren't technically zombies. If you kill the starfish, the person underneath reverts to normal. We'd rather not kill the hosts if it can be helped." She grabs up two of the converted fire extinguishers and hands one to Raver with a grin. "It's not as much fun as swordplay, but it's a lot more effective. Everyone armed?" Assuming all the security present are, she says to Zack, "OK, open up and 'open up'." =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 11:45:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:29:11 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005323 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 08:54:50 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005317 > > */Nemo, Dragon's Bane, Tink - if you can patch me into the sensor > feeds - not ALL of them, just the useful ones from a human time and > sense perspective, I'll take over battle tactical analysis. If that > is all right with you, Roland? Besides intel, it is what I do best - > and I suspect that they can filter it well enough my speed of > thought won't turtle down the data too badly. Nemesis - don't want > to interrupt your rescue ops, but if we can use some splits to start > tying in the Galactica's forces it will help them survive better on > their own./* ^The VG has a "battle tank" display about the size of the one on the Dauntless. And you can code the sensor feeds any way you like.^ =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 11:45:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:32:26 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005324 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:44:39 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005319 > > */Unicorn's Tail./* Zia, quite unlike herself, cusses. She had no > trouble "translating" the pure math. */I was hoping the > disconstructing wouldn't be possible. How about methods for making > the reconstruction unfeasible, self-destructive without taking out > the nearest Inifinite Section (and ourselves in the process), > self-destructive with a kamikaze attitude, and inverting the > purposes of Knightmare's construct? I need some options on how to > deal with that thing - because I currently don't see a way out for > our side./* Her formulations for those questions are likewise pure > math with Boolean test logic included. She actually presents about > 4,000 of the best options for solution that she can generate, as an > example base for NEMO, but herein I have kindly translated it back > into English for all the ^The last resort solution is to leave their construct alone and move the universe surrounding it to a safer location. Then destroy or isolate the construct. This requires a rather large amount of power.^ Yes, you'll finally been told my secret method for dealing with a tantrum by the Star Dragon. Leave it, and move the universe to safety. :-) The "rather large" bit is a *major* understatement though. It's the sort of thing NEMO *can* do, but would be a strain even for him/them. Especially since I rather suspect we'd have to move an entire "sheaf" of universes to sufficiently isolate the construct. ps. yes, I realize this would also set a new record *anywhere* for "cosmic" power levels. > */I wouldn't mind having some of the jeweled when you get done, > Nemo. For that matter, the other espers in our group might want > reinforcement againt the Ploorans and Eddorians./* James says as he > takes a moment to check Zia's safety, re-assess the shadow ripple he > did to make sure it's working properly, and move the nano-layer > under his dermis to regain his flesh tones. ^No problem. But if you can manuever Zod into a position within a 45 degree cone center one the main axis of my ship, I'd like to see how he deals with a particle beam consisting of a few tons of green K at just under c.^ ^I'd use gold K, but I don't want to risk any friendlies getting caught by splash from the target. At least you can *treat* green K.^ =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 11:45:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:15:35 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005325 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:04:06 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005318 > > Nemo could easily discern these things are not carbon-based organic > life-forms (not that Zia is, completely, either, but somewhat). > Actually, they're a plastic-metallic construct a bit like the > Terminator robots, but psionically programmed rather than by an E/M > system. When this one is in "safety" it's triggered to reconform to > a link to Zia's "real" locus, on the Battlestar Galactica. Givenb the power of the beam, it might be at least "uncomfortable". :-) > *^There. This is a speed of thought interface between my Lens and > yourself - the best I can do in operating speed. (Knowledge that > it's still a miserable crawl compared to the computer intelligences, > not that THAT intimidates Zia a whit). So, what plan do you have for > dealing with the Nuetron devourers? Any method by which we can catch > their incoming forces - since they've obviously got MUCH more > waiting in the wings, before they "show up" here and pound us to > smithereens, Nemo?^* ^If they are what they sound like, some form of neutron star, then they won't be a problem. There are several ways of handling them. NEMO can have them as a light snack, or I can do a variety of things to them.^ ^I've also got several items about to come online that'll change the balance *drasticly*. You may be familar with one of them. A sunbeam.^ =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 11:45:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AEEIV: ... then the sun went out... On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:47:12 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005326 (Remember those strange forces Nemo sent out from the Velvet Glove some messages back? :-) Nemo sends to Roland: ^Which friendlies besides Kara draw their powers from sunlight? Link them to me *fast*, because the sun is going to go out for a while...^ And to Kara: ^Please get to someplace where you can get into a spacesuit ASAP. The local star is going to go dark for a while.^ And by tightbeam comm links to B5, the Galactica, and the DragonsBane. {Switch any solar powered equipment to backup sources immediately. The local star won't be providing light for a while.} (Message repeats several times). Nemo will arrange for pickups or even teleport anyone who can't get to safety in the next minute or so. --------- It had taken many minutes for the forces to reach the star and the resulting forces to return. But now Nemo had another weapon ready, and more power. The weapon? A desperation measure developed by the Galactic Patrol to defend Tellus shortly after the fall of Helmuth[1]. The sunbeam. A series of forces the allowed concentrating and directing the *entire* output of a star into a beam of destruction. Not merely concentrating the energy, but converting it into the same sort of energies their most dealy beam projectors used. And beyond that, Nemo had sent a transpon beam[2] to the star. At need he could tap *all* it's power, not merely that which was being radiated away. Suddenly the sun dims and seems to go out. At the same time, a beam of concentrated destruction lashes out and directly into the open Thirdspace vortex. ------------ [1]"Gray Lensman", etc by E.E. "Doc" Smith [2]"The Mightiest Machine" by John W. Campbell, jr. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 12:28:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AEEIV: ... then the sun went out... On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 15:09:26 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005327 >Suddenly the sun dims and seems to go out. At the same time, a beam >of concentrated destruction lashes out and directly into the open >Thirdspace vortex. For a few seconds, the crunching of the enemy ships stops. A man appears next to Supergirl. A black haired, blue eyed man. A man wearing a brown trench coat. (Even if this is in space...) He tosses a small object at her. "This should partially protect you." He says. The object, if examined, is a patch (similar to the ones that are used for quiting smoking) that reads "Sunlight Patch- For Deep Space And Emergancy Use Only". "If you put it on your skin, it *should* provide a decent source of yellow sunlight for a few days." (The patch, when applied, causes sunlight to touch the skin of the wearer, as if the sun was still out. It will last three days, give or take four hours. And yes, that man is Scott.) Thanks Scott "Just trying to be helpful" Osborne =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 13:13:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 14:38:43 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005328 :On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:32:26 PST :Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005324 : :> On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 09:44:39 -0500 :> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005319 :> :> herein I have kindly translated it back into English for all the : :^The last resort solution is to leave their construct alone and move : the universe surrounding it to a safer location. Then destroy or : isolate the construct. This requires a rather large amount of : power.^ Zia blinks. ^Er, yes, I guess it would. If you have to do that, I want to be as far as possible away - I react badly to such Shadow storms as that would engender.^ :ps. yes, I realize this would also set a new record *anywhere* for :"cosmic" power levels. P.S.S Uh, yeah. Right. At least we er, have an option. Sheesh! You made MY jaw drop. :^I'd use gold K, but I don't want to risk any friendlies getting : caught by splash from the target. At least you can *treat* green K.^ ^Actually, as far as I've had experience, above a certain dosage, green K is lethal to the scions of Krypton, Nemo. Although it's very likely you have more data to go on. If Zod makes it back out of the starbody before the Scavengers have finished him, That Would Likely Do It. I take it you don't take the principles of non-killing as far as do Zia or Roland? I'll get Kara, and give Zia a "lift" to your battle room... er, small moon? (grin)^ James finishes, apparently not aware just what (or whom?) he is "joking with" - or perhaps aware and doing it anyway. ^Kara, I'll be here {}; you're speed is too much for my physiology. I'll bamf us back to the B. Galactica - Zia just happens to have a suit ready that should fit you.^ James appears as promised, and shuffles gorgeous women around in his arms for a couple of teleports. What a way to fight, eh? He has James Bonds' LUCK that's for sure. :) Ziactrice will help Kara get into the suit,and check it out for full levels of air and water, etc. James politely turns his back, absently "fixing" a few weaponcraft as the more... uncomfortably personal hookups are done. -- James "Bond" Keenan & Zia, his wife "It is not the same to talk of bulls as to be in the bullring." Spanish proverb =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 14:25:18 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AEEIV: ... then the sun went out... Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005329 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:47:12 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005326 > > {Switch any solar powered equipment to backup sources immediately. > The local star won't be providing light for a while.} > > (Message repeats several times). The Nemisis Ship picking on the ThirdSpace Gateway get it relayed from the console in B5 C & C... > Nemo will arrange for pickups or even teleport anyone who can't get > to safety in the next minute or so. An array of Gates overlapping like scales forms on the ship, > Suddenly the sun dims and seems to go out. At the same time, a beam > of concentrated destruction lashes out and directly into the open > Thirdspace vortex. As it passes over the Nemisis Ship, which was directly in the fireing path, Hundereds of lesser beams each only a few centimeters in diameter radiate from the Ship as the gates redirect a minute fraction of the SunBeam at other targets... The Ship continues to drop its bombs down the Vortex, carefully keeping them in its blast shadow... *Are you sure that is a good Idea? That thing Likes to Absorb Energy...* =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 14:25:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005330 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 08:54:50 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005317 > > */Nemo, Dragon's Bane, Tink - if you can patch me into the sensor > feeds - not ALL of them, just the useful ones from a human time and > sense perspective, I'll take over battle tactical analysis. If that > is all right with you, Roland? Besides intel, it is what I do best - > and I suspect that they can filter it well enough my speed of > thought won't turtle down the data too badly. Nemesis - don't want > to interrupt your rescue ops, but if we can use some splits to start > tying in the Galactica's forces it will help them survive better on > their own./* {Galatica Control, I am Nemisis of The Callahanian Army of Light, A Group of Repair and Refit Drones are being Vectored to your fleet Now, IFF {}. They will begin Repair, Upgrade, and Resupply tasks on arrival, Life Support and Defensive Systems will have Priority. Other Priorities may be engaged, Please Advise.} > Then to everyone, */They have like _no_ parts to repair - some of > the smaller transports are barely keeping life support. I don't > recall Adama's folks being in this bad of shape, but then - I'm not > from this fiction, either. James and I are doing some smaller shifts > to help out, but appearing things from nowhere is too big a change > with a Chaosite on the other side. Besides, she is stronger than > us./* */I will do all that I can, and I do not require that they have supplies, I will supply my own Matterials./* =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:13:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: The Gates of Heaven On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 18:40:24 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005331 >On Sun, 2 Aug 1998 19:34:17 -0500 >Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005304 > >/C'mon, Zia, we'll think about that once we're out of here!/ Mike >shouts through the link, /I'll try and hold this thing open as long >as I can but don't tarry!/ Bester smiles at Mike. "Mr. Knight. This is an unexpected pleasure." The power of a P-12 mind, boosted to about ten times its former strength and 'agility,' reaches out for Mike's thoughts. "Won't you stay for dinner?" KnightMare itself turns. There is a wave of...satisfaction. "Greetings, Michael Seven. Of all your 'Army of Light,' you are my most worthy opponent. Which makes this...satisfying." Time 'gels' and solidifies in local reality. Then the local multiverse. Then as far as any of the CAoL can sense. Time Travel just became impossible in this locality. Somewhere/when, the Time Lords spend one second panicking before becoming trapped in time, like flies in amber... "My apologies about your mate; the Roofasan overstepped its bounds." >Mike blinks and mentally shrugs. /Musta been an afterimage./ He yanks >himself out of the dome and gives a 'Bester' salute to the occupants. >"Be seeing you." "You can count on that," Bester replies with a smile that would give a penguin chills. >/Roland, Kosh Naranek {green/brown Kosh} and Kosh Ulkesh[1] >{blue/purple Kosh}. Ever seen either one of them? I'm guessing the >former might work unwillingly, the latter more willingly. And I >suspect, if I am judging what I just saw correctly, that Dark Tower >is one huge balancing act of opposing forces. But most of what I saw >I only recognized through third and fourth-hand references, and >understood very little of it./ /Kosh Naranek is actually a decent sort in this reality,/ Roland replies. /I can't imagine him working with KnightMare. As for 'Skippy,' Lara rescued Kosh. She _didn't_ save purple-puss. He's dead, to the best of my knowledge./ Roland rubs his jaw, as if remembering the losing end of a fight. >say/represent?> (OOC: Oy! Why don't you give me an easy one, like the Ultimate Question to 42? Okay, the short, short version: in addition to various praises to the Great Maker, there are a number of esoteric phrases reminiscent of the Tao Te Ching and the most obscure Qaballah, only with a billion years of study behind them. However, there is some straightforward commentary about the nature of quantum reality-and how it might be altered...) =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:13:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AEEIV: ... then the sun went out... On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 17:18:45 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005332 > Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005329 > > As it passes over the Nemisis Ship, > which was directly in the fireing path, > Hundereds of lesser beams each only a few centimeters in diameter > radiate from the Ship as the gates redirect a minute fraction of > the SunBeam at other targets... > The Ship continues to drop its bombs down the Vortex, carefully > keeping them in its blast shadow... > > *Are you sure that is a good Idea? > That thing Likes to Absorb Energy...* *The beam should fry anything trying to exit the vortex, and is configured to be able to *transit* the vortex. (ie the beam is coming out the other end!). That will make things very difficult for them.* =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:13:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 17:09:41 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005333 > On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 14:38:43 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005328 > > ^Actually, as far as I've had experience, above a certain dosage, > green K is lethal to the scions of Krypton, Nemo. Although it's very > likely you have more data to go on. ^I don't expect there to be very much "splash", at least not in quantities that can't be avoided. So only small quantities would be floating around in odd areas. That's an acceptable risk with green K, but not with gold K.^ > ^If Zod makes it back out of the starbody before the Scavengers have > finished him, That Would Likely Do It. I take it you don't take the > principles of non-killing as far as do Zia or Roland? ^Zod decided to make "normal" means of stopping him ineffective. So he's assumed the risk of abnormal means by his own actions. I'd rather not kill, but I recognize that stopping him without killing him may take more finesse than I can spare the time for.^ > ^I'll get Kara, and give Zia a "lift" to your battle room... er, > small moon? (grin)^ James finishes, apparently not aware just what > (or whom?) he is "joking with" - or perhaps aware and doing it > anyway. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:21:00 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Goodbye, 007. (NOT! ) On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 19:08:56 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005334 >*/I'm clear enough, Roland, and VERY hard to hurt in this form, >anyway. Make sure Mike gets out./* Zia sends, beginning to get a bit >of her composure back. Relief washes off of Roland. Then Zod knocks him for a loop-literally, sending Blaze spinning end-over-end momentarily. >James, still behind Zod and Roland, gives a smile. As he is free to >concentrate, he does so. Then up behind the momentarily out of >control Zod, and a light touch. Zod is teleported... INTO this >systems star. AFTER Zod cannot take any warning whatsoever, and to >himself so Roland won't *hear* it, James comments, [I bet my engineer >is better than your engineer, Zod. Yours probably hardened your >nannite defenses against energy, like you said. BUT mine made the >nannites work as much better in the yellow spectrum as does the rest >of your organic systems. We'll find out - if you live, I'll at least >have Sheila owing me the case of beer.] Zod burns. "BOOOOOOND!" A blast of fire like the Devil himself escaping Hell bursts out of the star, and Zod streaks back toward the fight. His right eye is gone, replaced by a tiny camera (which is flaking K-Metal) and his right arm looks like the last act of Terminator. He's bleeding from three different places, and most of the rest of him is undergoing some sort of fusion. Zod stops. "You have taken me for a fool, Terran. You are skilled, true, but Zod-" >The most local to James and Roland Zilver Zia streaks up just >under the speed of light, seeming to "appear" near James. There is a >half-beat pause while James psionically decontams himself of nanite >infection, then the little Zia form flows up and over him. Now, they >really DO look like the Silver Surfer, although in a suit, not just >briefs. :) James blinks once, accustomizing himself to the changes, >even his eyeballs are silvered. Roland can faintly *hear* Zia working >on the symbology of the construct in the mental background, but James >comes in easily over her, */Better oppponents? You're the one who >knows these folks best - I thought the three of them were worthy >together. I wouldn't mind a suggestion, however. I'll just keep >working while you decide./* He is gone, abruptly vanishing to the >eye, as the surfboard takes him away... /Well, there's this guy named Despero-powerful alien psion with major ultratech-/ Roland begins. "-is no one's fool. Despero! Deathpoint!" A 7-foot tall lavender alien with three eyes and a fin on his head appears in eight places around James. A shimmering cube, about 20' in all directions, appears, a corner at each of the Desperos. All but one vanish, leaving small pinpoint projectors in their wake. *Greetings, sir. I am Despero.* He easily mindblasts a charging Roland. *I haven't met a challenge like you in some time. Let's see how the Deathcube works against you.* All six sides begin shrinking inward. *Each of the 'walls' of the Deathcube is a gateway, opening out to its opposite. Fly up, for example, and you will come 'out' the bottom, back inside the box. Each of the generators is protected from external attacks by similar countermeasures...* Roland concentrates, and a bolt of electricity fades from view. *...as well as most antipsi defenses. Eventually, the cube will become a point, which will reduce you to a zero-dimensional entity. This is usually traumatic enough to kill most three-dimensional beings.* Despero smiles. *Enjoy.* He then turns to Roland. *You wanted to get me away from the speedster, Blaze? You have succeeded. Congratulations.* Despero's smile vanishes, and the two psions begin to fly around one another, jockeying for position, Blaze trying to reach the trap, Despero just trying to kill Roland... ...and Zod, still burning like a living Roman Candle, rockets toward that battle... (OOC: Hey, can't have James Bond around without at least one nasty deathtrap for 007 to think his way out of! I built in at least one way for him to extricate himself, BTW, though I'm not picky...) >The erstwhile assasin comments, still waiting Roland's suggestion of >targets. He turns slowly, scanning intently to check on the only >enemy who know he is here yet. Where or what is the fate of Zod, >Ursa, and their little buddy leech, Psycho? (OOC: Zod, you know. Meanwhile...) "Do something, you disgusting toad!" Ursa snarls, embroiled in a fight with a rather more chipper Supergirl. "I'm trying, you feckless female," Dr. Psycho shoots back, "but her will is being augmented by another mentalist's shields." Psycho smiles nastily. "You, Ursa Dru-Zod, are on your own. AMAZO!" Psycho vanishes. "ANTON PSYCHO, YOU COWARD-UHN!" Supergirl knocks Ursa through a damaged Base Star with one punch. "Gee, did your pet leech go bye-bye? Poor Ursa. Kara make it all better." Supergirl laughs as she follows the luckless Kryptonian... =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:33:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Gates of Heaven On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:49:19 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005335 >On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 18:40:24 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005331 > > Bester smiles at Mike. "Mr. Knight. This is an unexpected >pleasure." The power of a P-12 mind, boosted to about ten times its >former strength and 'agility,' reaches out for Mike's thoughts. >"Won't you stay for dinner?" Bester receives: ...Serve Stove Top stuffing instead of Valvolean Motor Oil doesn't break down like other motor oils at high car prices got you down in the dumps? Well come on by Mad Max in beyond Thunderdrome with Whitney Houston as a singer in love with her Calgon take me away with creditors calling you at working on the railroad all the live long daytime teevee was never like Late Night with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles onions on a tight budget gourmet dinners... > Somewhere/when, the Time Lords spend one second panicking before >becoming trapped in time, like flies in amber... > "My apologies about your mate; the Roofasan overstepped its >bounds." "As did you." > /Kosh Naranek is actually a decent sort in this reality,/ Roland >replies. /I can't imagine him working with KnightMare. As for >'Skippy,' Lara rescued Kosh. She _didn't_ save purple-puss. He's >dead, to the best of my knowledge./ Roland rubs his jaw, as if >remembering the losing end of a fight. /Ah well, was worth a shot. Though I never suggested Naranek would work willingly. If we're part of Knightmare's plan, our willing cooperation is likely not something he is counting on, he'd try to force us or attempt to get us to work for him unwittingly. In Naranek's case, he could be 'virgin at the sacrifice.' Just a thought./ >>say/represent?> > > (OOC: Oy! Why don't you give me an easy one, like the Ultimate >Question to 42? Okay, the short, short version: in addition to >various praises to the Great Maker, there are a number of esoteric >phrases reminiscent of the Tao Te Ching and the most obscure >Qaballah, only with a billion years of study behind them. However, >there is some straightforward commentary about the nature of quantum >reality-and how it might be altered...) Mike forwards this information raw through the link to those that can best make use of it. He and Tink them vanish... TBC =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:33:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: The Villains Strike Back On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 20:22:37 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005336 Before the below: Amazo is staggered by the coursing blast, but none of the other Legionnaires should have been able to stand up to it... #Nuts! Green Lantern to Velvet Glove! Amazo is equipped with my updated Power Ring. My-and therefore, his-present weakness is to the 1b column of the Periodic Table-the heavier, the better. IOW, if you've got some jewelry, shoot him with it!# (OOC: Hee. I've been planning that one for a while, too...) Soon afterward, however, Amazo vanishes... >On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:47:12 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005326 > >Nemo sends to Roland: > >^Which friendlies besides Kara draw their powers from sunlight? Link > them to me *fast*, because the sun is going to go out for a > while...^ /Um, just her, AFAIK, why?/ Roland asks, dreading the answer... >And to Kara: > >^Please get to someplace where you can get into a spacesuit ASAP. The > local star is going to go dark for a while.^ "Thank you, but this nice gentleman in a brown trechcoat gave me some sort of patch," Kara replies. "It feels so odd, but it's rather nice, actually." (OOC: How do Kryptonians make themselves heard in space? Believe it or not, Silver Age Kryptonians have a power called 'SuperVentriloquism.' I couldn't make this up.) >Suddenly the sun dims and seems to go out. At the same time, a beam >of concentrated destruction lashes out and directly into the open >Thirdspace vortex. The nose of an Eddoran bubbleship appears just before the beam strikes. It vanishes soon afterward, along with an entire battlefleet. The entire gate wavers briefly... > company as well as Amazo. And convince the Eddorians that they want > their gate *closed* before Nemo gets *serious* about closing it> Amazo reappears over the Dragon's Bane with Psycho, apparently at full strength. Stretching to the limit, he begins pounding away at almost a full mile's worth of ship. Two more Eddoran capitol ships, along with three squadrons of cyberVorlon fighters, join in the attack. "None of you are a match for Amazo, the one-man Justice Legion!" Heat vision and PK crackle along the hull, while dozens of emerald tools work on taking the ship apart, literally. Psycho sighs, invading the Dragon's Bane's 'brain' telepathically. *Such a one-track mind, that Amazo, eh? It occurred to me, when that boy scout Blaze jumped in, that _he's_ a member of their stupid Legion. And he has photokinesis. Now be a _good_ ship and do what the Doctor tells you to...* Ursa, OTOH, while not gasping for air, looks at a rapidly charging Kara with wide eyes... ...and Zod has his own source of light, though he probably isn't enjoying it much. ;^) Meanwhile, the Velvet Glove has its own problems, as three of the Eddorian cruisers open up on it, a fourth trying to trap the VG in a 'box.' Gharlane, leader of the Annihilation forces of the Supreme Eddoran Empire (hey, these guys never had Arisians around to keep 'em in check, remember) examines the effect coolly. "This is unacceptable. We have an open gateway. Their forces are demonstrably inferior to ours, with the exception of a small handful of extra-dimensionals. This should be a simple matter." "Mighty Gharlane," a Plooran says, 'bowing' as much as a winter-phase Plooran can, "the gate is small. We can only send a few ships at a time. If we could secure the gate more thoroughly, the matter would be much simpler." Gharlane nods. "Send your best telepaths to our side of the gate-at a safe distance from the edges-and increase the mental signal. Once we control their leaders, we will control them all. Oh, and destroy the Cylons once we have a beachhead. They strike me as unreliable." The Imperious Leader's Base Star. "Half of our Base Stars are destroyed, Oh Imperious Leader," Lucifer intones. "Good," the Imperious Leader replies. Lucifer is at long last surprised. "I beg your PARDON?" "Our technology is a match for the Terrans, but hardly enough for the Legion, let alone those interdimensional gadflies. Bring in the upgraded Base Stars." Lucifer dims briefly. "By your command," he replies dubiously. Six more Base Stars are disgorged from hyperspace, directly into the raging dogfight, and begin launching more Raiders. The Galactica. "More Base Stars, Commander," Tigh reports evenly. "Ready the main gun," Adama replies. "FIRE!" A hellish bolt of energy that had already crippled one Base Star slams into the nearest Cylon ship. A deflector screen flares and dims. "What in the name of the Twelve was that?!" Tigh blurts. "Hopefully, nothing more powerful than what our new allies have installed in our own craft. Positive shield, now." Once again, the Galactica raises bulkheads, though this time they too have deflectors. "Sir-! The last civilian ship is away!" Tigh stares at the screen. "I don't see how that's possible...!" Adama smiles. "Remind me to thank those young ladies...ah, I believe their names were 'Zia' and 'Nemisis.' Fire." The Galactica continued to rain energy in all directions... =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 20:33:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish-(I can't do it...) On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 20:23:44 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005337 My hunny said: >She grabs up two of the converted fire extinguishers and hands one to >Raver with a grin. "It's not as much fun as swordplay, but it's a lot >more effective. Everyone armed?" Assuming all the security present >are, she says to Zack, "OK, open up and 'open up'." The bulkhead opens, and the Starros surge forward. Two seconds later, several Starros are retreating at best speed, and a great many lurkers are rubbing their faces and wondering what the nass just happened to them. "All RIGHT!" Lou kisses his extinguisher. "And to think, I always _hated_ lime." "It's not that kinda lime, Lou, and keep your eyes open," Zack replies. "I don't think a few shots of white powder is gonna stop something that calls itself 'Starro the Conqueror.' Anything with less ego would'a died of embarrasment by now..." Zack trails off as a 'WOO-woo' sound is heard in the distance. Several such sounds meld together, and glints of light off chrome can be seen just around the corner as... ...Cylons. Lots of them. And the Starro soldiers are with them... (OOC: My hunny will be suitably dealt with for that horrid pun, rest assured. And I'd just managed to forget that travesty they called a movie...) (OOC: ) "On the other hand," Morgan comments grimly to Raver, "_Those_ look like good candidates for sword fodder. Raver, Stranger, I'm porting to the far side of this bunch to attack the rear. I can take you with if you want. Zack, have someone get the civilians out of here, and start shooting, lime and PPG's depending on the target. When the ranks are thin enough that we're in danger of getting hit by 'friendly fire,' I'll let you know." *O.K.?* she sends to Zack telepathically, so he'll recognize her 'voice'. "Uh, yeah. On three," Zack says, then winks at Morgan. "THREE!" Morgan ports 50 meters around the bend in the corridor. Drawing Aramegil again, she takes the heads of the three Cylons in the back row with one shot. /*Daaamn. Like a hot knife through butter,*/ she sends to no one in particular, and battle is joined. =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 21:40:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Villains Strike Back On Tue, 4 Aug 1998 00:08:23 EDT Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005338 > Lucifer dims briefly. "By your command," he replies dubiously. > Six more Base Stars are disgorged from hyperspace, directly into >the raging dogfight, and begin launching more Raiders. Scott mutters "_Now_ the gloves are off..." And one by one, all the new Base Stars' Raiders start melting down to slag, each melting in a ninty second period. _Just_ enough time to eject, if the Cylon's allow that. The time between each fighter starting to melt is five seconds. (OOC: How many fighters (in total) do the new Base Stars have? Scott only has enough Melter Maids(tm) to do in about a thousand fighters (986.2132 to be exact)...) =========================== Date: Mon, 3 Aug 1998 21:40:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Bits On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 21:13:14 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005339 >On Mon, 3 Aug 1998 10:19:47 -0700 (MST) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005321 > > The sound of Driss hitting the earth and the dust rising up from the >spot announce his arrival. As the dust begins to disipate, Driss >stands there completely covered by his cloak. "Hello. I don't suppose >any one on you happens to have the building permit for this >monstrocity." Morden teleports to the edge of the dome, smiles a smile that would freeze a supernova, places his hand on it, and steps through a 'bubble' of secured force energy. "Hello, officer. Are you with the Time Lords, the Arisians, or the Bazaar?" the Shadow-aide takes out three sheafs of paper. "I have the pan-dimensional permits required of all three, of course. I will also, naturally, need _your_ identification." (OOC: This is not a joke-well, okay, it is-but it _does_ happen. What does Driss do?) Babylon Five: The War Room. "I should be out there," Sinclair grumbled. "So you have said," Delenn replied with a gentle smile. "I feel the same way." "Delenn, you're an ambassador-" "And you are the president of the Alliance," Delenn reminded him gently. "There were times when you were forced to watch me do battle, and times when I had no choice as well. Now, others fight for us." She smiled at Sinclair's scowl. "It is hard, Jeffrey, I know. But this is our place now. Come. The new 'Cylon' attack requires new tactics by our forces." Sinclair looks at the warboard. "They'll probably concentrate their fire on those big ships Roland's people brought in, and the Galactica. If the White Stars can slip in unnoticed..." "Mr. President," Ambassador Na'Toth says, striding up to him, "we have a link to Admiral Sheridan." "Thank God," Sinclair breathes. "Patch him through." The image of John Sheridan fills the holotank of the war room. "John. Excellent timing. I hope you have good news." "Better than any of us could have hoped. The presence of the Thirdspace aliens has united us like never before." John smiles. "Every race-even the Drakh-are with us. The biggest fleet in history is on its way. The galaxy stands together on this one, Mr. President." Jeffrey Sinclair coughs. "Good work, Admiral. Keep in touch. Sinclair out." Delenn hugs him. "In our darkest nights, the brightest parts of ourselves shine through." "Sometimes I think this whole thing was a mistake, then this happens," Sinclair chuckles. "I don't think I've ever been so proud of them. Damn, what a fleet!" Delenn frowns as another wave of telepathic command washes over the station. "Let us hope that it is enough." Lara Naranek smiles at the two, and looks at the forward screen. Her smile vanishes. A moment later, so does she. Nemo said: >^The last resort solution is to leave their construct alone and move > the universe surrounding it to a safer location. Then destroy or > isolate the construct. This requires a rather large amount of > power.^ OOC: You could move the universe; difficult, but not impossible. The forcefield and Z'On'Dar's Tower are another story; it looks like it could withstand the Stardragon's fury. >The "rather large" bit is a *major* understatement though. It's the >sort of thing NEMO *can* do, but would be a strain even for him/them. >Especially since I rather suspect we'd have to move an entire "sheaf" >of universes to sufficiently isolate the construct. OOC II: Just the two, though given what the Eddoran universe is like NEMO might not be inclined to do anything about it. 8^P >ps. yes, I realize this would also set a new record *anywhere* for >"cosmic" power levels. OOC III: Oh, ye of little faith... >On Mon, 03 Aug 1998 08:08:02 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005316 > >One of the doctors looks over at her, seeing a human female, six foot >tall or so, with flaming red hair. Her black jumpsuit and jacket look >vaguely military, but there are no insignias of any sort. And she >appeared out of no where. "Um... Excuse me, miss... But who -are- >you?" (OOC: That sounds enough like Dr. Franklin. Go for it. ) >Legion does not bother to open her eyes fully. "We are Legion. We are >here to protect," She feels a 'friendly' one-man ship explode beneath >the combined attacks of three Cylon ships. She teleports the pilot >away before he can be killed by the explosion, though he has been >inhaling fumes for some time before the death-blow to his ship. The >pilot appears on an unoccupied bed in the medlab. To those listening, >she does not seem to pause in her speech, "and evacuate the injured." (OOC: Oh, perfect setup...) Babylon Space. "Damn, I've never flown like this before!" Boomer exults, taking out his fourth Eddoran fighter, the highest kill rate for any of the pilots. This gains him considerable attention. "Boomer! Watch your flank!" Starbuck cries, banking hard to cut off the three cyberVorlons locking onto Boomer. "Whoa, frak! Where did they come from?" Boomer slides right, losing one of his pursuers who gets tagged by a White Star. Starbuck locks onto the second, firing bolt after bolt. "Frak, come on, someone get that third flower from hell!" Starbuck snarls as the Eddoran loops away, its forcefield trailing ions from its holes. "Feldercarb," Boomer says in a surprisingly calm voice. "It's got a lock. "Tell Athena I-" Boomer's Viper turns into a bright fireball. "BOOMER!" Thud- "Whoa," the Galactica pilot in the bed in front of Legion says, slowly regaining his bearings. "Where am I?" He looks up at Legion. All the way up. "Oh. This must be heaven." ===========================