Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 57 Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 13:07:04 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 05:12:24 EDT >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005422 > >/*As you suggest,/ Aurora answers. An instant later, she and Dragon's >Bane fuse into a single mind, with all her knowledge and skill, and >all his power. /*Nemo, Despero if you wish you may link with us, that >we might strike Starbreaker with all our combined might*/ the fusion >sends, as it fires a pure mental blast, that would have knocked the >Unit for a loop, into Starbreaker's mind. Just so that the Cylons >won't feel left out, Dragon's Bane's secondary weapons begin firing >at any Cylon fighters, that are not hidden by the planet, or in a >direct line with: Starbreaker, Galactica or B5 fighters, the >Galactica or B5, or CAoL Members (please remember that the smallest >beams, of the secondary weapons, are as big around as the Cylon >fighters.) Starbreaker reels-again-as the combined might of the Aurora/Dragon's Bane amalgam and the Despero/ Amazo amalgam strike deep into his mind. But not for long. *"FOOLS! I-AM-STARBREAKER!"* He absorbs the tail end of the energy blasts (OOC: I'm assuming that Aurora cuts off the blast as soon as he starts absorbing it; Despero does) and uses some of the _physical_ energy that he's absorbed to aid his mental defenses. Aurora has seen this sort of stunt before... *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into himself. Only the Cylons, Hal, and the Lensed beings (true lenses, not just CAoL) are immune to the empathic blast. But the wave can be resisted...and is. *FOR FREEDOM!* washes through astral space, and G'Kar adds his mind to the B-5 telepathic amalgam. So what _has_ G'Kar been doing all this time...? Cylon ships begin shooting at one another; the Cylon com system has hideous encryption defenses, but with lots of time and attention, they could be hacked with EK...anyone who reads the virus will note that it isn't all-encompassing, but rather effective in what it does...corrupting the Cylon IFF systems. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 15:06:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 14:35:33 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005430 > On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:43:04 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005419 > >>On Fri, 07 Aug 1998 19:54:22 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005404 >> > >> Stranger is right; having cut the Cylons and Starros off from >>retreat or reinforcements, they should be an ex-problem soon. >> Then all three CAoLers see about a dozen starfish each flying at >>their heads, as a few Starros heave buckets full of them at the pair >>behind them and the security forces (not to mention Raver) ahead of >>them... Raver swore, snapping their wings up around their head in a cloaking motion. The starfish slid harmlessly off to the ground, only to be turned into seafood shish kebab by Raver's talons. Moments later, their wings dropped back into their usual caped position and revealing a once-more helmed head. [F^@#. I knew there was a *good* reason I don't eat stuff with tentacles,] Mandy grumbled. The demon mumbled in agreement as they slashed the flopping starfish to bits while spraying the new Starros. [It might be a good thing to introduce them to a mallet.] (OOC: I'm assuming shielding works...) > /I can keep it from forcing me to kill you,/ Morgan's voice sounds > distant and weak, /But that's about all./ "Hell's bells," they breathed. Raver shoved through the crowd to try and knock Morgan out long enough for the lime to take effect.Or, if that failed, to kill her temporarily. >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005418 >> /*Folx, I only want CAoLers who can worldwalk on their own to >> come through the gate. Nemo, Aurora, I'd like you two-oh, you too, >> Despero-to stay here and keep Starbreaker busy. Everyone else, hold >> off the Eddorans, and give the Cylons a black eye-or whatever that >> thing is.*/ The demon paused, exchanging bemused looks with Stranger. /Very well. If you will tell the damned starfish to retreat or otherwise get out of our way without further attempts to interfere?/ [Raver?] [?] [It...might be a good thing if we could somehow take out El Supremo Starro once Starbreaker is dealt with.] Raver arched an eyebrow. [...by shadowdancing...] [WHAT?] The mental shout echoed inside their skull, and Mandy winced. [Ow... tone it down, willya?] Raver ignored her, hissing, [Are you mad, human? You would dare oblivion for the sake of executing the mind behind these...starfish?] Mandy pointed out reasonably, [They've got Morgan. Who happens to be one mean Druid, and handy with a sword to boot. It isn't easy for someone like us to sneak around this place, especially not fast enough to do any good. And if you don't want to do it for the sake of doing a good turn, think about what they could do with her power.] There was silence for a long moment as Raver thought about it. [...Perhaps. James did tell us a likely location for the creature's lair, but we are not asking him to teleport us.] [Wh...oh.] Mandy nodded at Raver. [Right. Okie, shadowdancing, it is.] Her tone was grim, as the two simultaneously reached out to reassure themselves that James's repairs to their bond were holding. [Only after all else has failed, however.] The crisp tone brooked no further discussion, but Mandy wasn't willing to argue further. They turned their attention to the outward world, the whole exchange having only taken a few microseconds. "Stranger?" =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 16:36:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 18:15:10 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005432 :On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 20:26:13 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005416 :>On Fri, 7 Aug 1998 09:10:53 -0500 :>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005399 : : /Starbreaker doesn't _obey_ the laws of physics. If KM is _that_ :powerful, why is he even bothering with us?/ Roland frowns. /There's :one piece of this puzzle still missing-"EEYOW!"/ : Roland and Zod break and dodge in different directions as :Starbreaker, recovering, tries to 'eat' them both... /Physics is a weak correspondence science, relevant only in smaller parts of the local Infinite Shadow Slice./ Zia's apparently on 'automatic' answer split responds. The main 'force' of her mind seems well employed in her chosen duty of coordinating tactical ops, and transfering strategic data from all feeds in relays to all the ally forces. :Then Nemisis said: :>/The physics of this interaction indicates, :> That it is not an attempt to Drain StarBreaker's Energy, :> When StarBreaker Absorbed the Mass/Energy of the NegaSphere, :> Equal amounts of the Energies of both simply ceased existing... :> Or at least that is what should have happened./ : : /Nemisis, Starbreaker ignores physical law with depressing :regularity. It has been argued that he is a mystical entity of some :sort, but magick is extremely rare here, and no less an authority :than the Phantom Stranger has declared that such is not the case./ /...How odd, I wonder if he is really a Chaosite in disguise?/ Zia's intuition flashes, then she shuts down that mental channel. /Too much data to govern that properly, I will safeguard it with a Lens construct from now on./ :>nanos would. But maybe he'll forget and infect all his own, or even :>KM's own, tech later. :) Besides, Kryptonians are _notoriously_ hard :>to kill.> : : (OOC: Kryptonians _get_ their power from starstuff. OTOH, Zod was :essentially marginalized by the nanites; Roland wouldn't have had a :prayer against Zod under normal circumstances.) : /Um, James, can you countermand those nanites? Zod is working with :us for now. Don't remove them, though, just tell 'em to back off for :now,/ he adds with a wicked grin. /If they were capable of being countermanded, I might consider it. But why do you think I was so careful about handling them?/ James replies, a bit confused that Roland didn't follow that. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 16:36:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 18:35:57 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005433 :>James flashes into Thirdspace, his last readable thought being a :>mild curiosity about what he'll find on the other Side. :) : : Roland 'ports to the side of the ship James (who had a :disgustingly easy time Mindbombing the ship) has commandeered. /Ah, :James, my plan _does_ involve shutting the gate down on this side, :but as a team-/ : Roland's train of thought stops dead. : They have stormed the gates of Hell. James "Dr. Fate" helmet goes intangible, and he gives the Freelance Immortal who chose to tag along his trademark cold grin. : Thousands of ships swirl in the dark ether of Thirdspace, tended :by stations that dwarf Babylon Five. Roland and James have to erect :mindshields just to screen out the emptiness of the sentients on :board those stations, and Roland at least is an _active_ telepath. Actually, James doesn't erect a power-drawing screen - he just phases the silvery Dr. Fate helmet back in. Apparently, he is using that to protect himself in some manner. : /Zia, I have Black Lensman sign the likes of which _God_ has never :seen,/ Roland tries to quip, but it comes out serious. Zia says, /Good, thanks, Nemo. I have them back on channel, now. And the quote should go "the like of which even God has never seen before", actually Roland./ James shakes his head, slowly, as he notes even in this sort of fight Zia can't resist correcting lines. : And it's true; the Ploorans, Delgonians, and humans making up the :attacking force of psis is only a small portion of the available :forces. : But they've found the Gate. : It's easy to see why the Sunbeam didn't destroy it; there's no one :generator. Several of the stations combine to make the opening in :dimensions. James, BTW, can tell by the 'thickness' of the ether here :that Nemo _did_ get a few of the generating bases. James relays the data on how many and where to Zia, who will then uplink it to Nemo at her best attained speed. : /James, how's your cyberpsi?/ Roland asks after a long moment. /I :think we're going to need some help on this one... : (OOC: James had such an easy time of his invasion of the Eddoran :ship because there were very few sentients on board. Most of the :vessel as well as the fighters are run by drones whose minds have :been effectively destroyed. They superficially resemble the Borg, :Puppet Master victims, or Microsoft victims in that no personality :remains, but the physical damage precludes recovery. Basically, the :fighters are now _also_ guilt-free crunchies. As per standard :Eddoran training, the sentients _are_ competent and well-trained, but :definitely no match for James Bond.) Actually, James just steps into Roland's personal space, motioning him to stand still a moment. He actually does erect a total telepathic barrier shield for a split-second. Assuming Roland doesn't fight it as it goes up, that is. Then, he projects a single thought, a long string of symbology. Every living organic thing on the ship...dies suddenly. *We do not have time to waste on these fodder with that Tower being finished.* James says, as the barrier falls on the "we" part. Roland was close enough to tell James didn't enjoy killing that way, but doesn't deeply regret it, either. /Why shouldn't I just set Nemo's device, now?/ James does so. /If you countermand it, that is fine. But at least have it for a backup; there are far too many arrayed here to fight through if they cross./ /Nemo, it's set up, but we're still in the kill zone./ : The Eddorans try to form up, but the furball that has developed :(and the slower communication time required by physical links rather :than telepathy) leaves them flatfooted when the forces of the Army of :Light rally. : And either Zia or James will now note that Apollo, once he knows :the full potential of his Lens, will rival Kimball Kinnison :someday... Ha! Kimball didn't even come CLOSE to the "full" potential of the Lens... in fact, that might not be possible, given it's nature. Hmmm. : /Hey, if that's your Thing,/ Roland quips, boarding the Eddoran :vessel if James allows. :/Hm. Addition to the plan. We have an Eddoran ship; anyone think we :can bluff our way into one of those things?/ /Better yet, anyone have any idea why we'd WANT to do a thing like that?/ James quips /I cannot emulate an Eddorian mind, I know that much. Not safely, at least./ =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:08:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:41:25 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005434 >On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 > > *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ >before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of >Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's >nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate >energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into >himself. John stands, now that the negasphere and other attacks are out of the way, and opens a square box next to him. Reaching down he says, "Raschid, you are a great cook and a lousy emperor, tis a pity what I must do now." He pulls forth a double crust garbage can pizza, extra garlic. Hefting it, he sends it spinning towards Starbreaker's back, using his own powers to guide and protect it on the way in. Just as it's about to hit he calls out, "Hey Starbreaker, take this." Starbreaker turns and gets the pie right in the face. /Roland, I think I got his attention. What should I do with him?/ =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:08:10 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: Velvet Glove's Tactical Gantry On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 18:45:51 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005435 :On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:43:04 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005419 : : Aboard the Velvet Glove. : Sil, who has wired herself to the fire controls and added her :Power Cosmic to them, blinks as a new person arrives. : "DON'T EVEN BLINK!" she booms, and several nasty-looking weapons :appear around Byron. : [Brilliant, Ariel,] Byron thinks with a sigh. "Silver one, I come :in peace. I open my mind to you in proof. I am looking for a Lady :Ziactrice." : Byron's mindshields go down. In addition, he has no PK or :dimensional shields up. Zia asks Nemo to patch her voice through the outer com, "About time you were back. Destroy Ariel's Trumps, let me scan you for planted ones. While you give me a precise of your best skills and talents so I can insert you into the fight." "Oh, and nice blade you have there. What until Shard gets a gander at you. Halo Boy might have a rival in his affections. I'm in the tactics gantry." Assuming Nemo has some way to lead him there, she cuts off with a nasty, evil-sounding snigger of amusement. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:08:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:51:26 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005436 >On Thu, 06 Aug 1998 22:52:34 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005393 > >>On Thu, 6 Aug 1998 09:40:29 -0500 >>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005387 >> >>:On Wed, 5 Aug 1998 00:22:18 PST >>:Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005375 > >Also, Shadow said: >> /Sounds like a challenge. When you guys throw a party, you don't >>pull any punches. Still, you did forget the band./ John materializes >>on the forceshield, drumming away like a madman. He's really not >>that bad, actually. /Orders, sir?/ he asks Roland. > > Roland almost sobs in relief. /JOHN! Thank the Light! Can you >distract him-mess with his sensory input, give him a pseudo-Galactus >to play with, something like that?/ /Can do, Noble Leader. I'll play with him myself a bit, much better than any Galactus level being./ >Then, Nemo sends to Roland: >>:Remember that strange curdling of space in the outer system? It's >>:at the far end of the course line specified. And the "not there" at >>:the end is now approaching the Eddorian vortex (and Starbreaker) at >>:multiples of lightspeed. >>: >>:Anything in its path passes a spherical boundary 10,000 km in >>:radius and just disappears. Just before impact Nemo sends a warning >>:to all friendlies: >>: >>:*{Do *not* attempt to scan the impact area with sensors *or* >>:senses!}* John stands in his seat and shades his eyes as he squints toward the Negasphere, "Ha, I _told_ her I wasn't going to be needed." He sits back down, not wanting to do anything to disrupt Nemo's actions. > "BAH!" Starbreaker says, disgusted, and 'slaps' the negasphere >away. > Which slams it right into him. > There is a strange moment wherein everyone feels...odd, as if they >were just turned inside-out or such. > Then reality snaps back to normal. The negasphere is gone. >Starbreaker floats there, dazed but otherwise apparently unharmed. >NEMO has new reams of data on the nature of quantum fluctuation. And >Roland grins sheepishly. "Whehell, this _is_ going to be interesting." John taps his earring, "Hey Kain, look. Would you like a playmate in there?" Something swirls inside the earring, and John laughs. > /Well, at least that problem's solved,/ Roland sighs with relief. >/Folx, I have a plan that will take out both of our problems at once. >It's incredibly dangerous, probably insane, and debatably suicidal./ >Roland smiles broadly. /Who's in?/ John calmly packs his drumsticks in a special case on the side of the set. /Sounds like a normal CAoL plan to me./ he quips. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:13:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Herding Daggits (was A Desperate Gamble) On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:13:12 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005437 :Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005428 :> On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:02:19 :> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005418 : : :> /*We're going to cut off the Thirdspace Gate, which will free up :>our telepaths. Then everyone with any mental oomph will merge into :>one amalgam and tell Starbreaker to take a damn nap.*/ Roland smiles :>grimly. /*Let's hope it's as easy as that. Killing two birds with :>one stone is never as simple as it looks. ^James and I cannot do a such a merge, Roland.^ Zia sends, at a less-than-horrible moment (when he isn't fighting for his life, or cowing Starro. ^There are things in our minds that are harmful to humans.^ :Boomer who has been having a Blast, : At least after he got over the Size of a GunStar... :* This Thing is Great, : The Only Trouble I have is The Cylon Fighters are too spread out :for maximum efficiency... : Do we have any Herd Daggits?* : :Boomer does not know that the "Radio Scanner" has a General Psi band :Built in. Well, he is about to find out, perhaps. Zia goes open on the local Lenses. Zia's mental (voice) over the Lens is a touch deeper while remainging VERY female, but as sure and as focused as a laser. She warms up the sending, so it won't shake them enough to get them killed if they are startled in combat manuevers. @Apollo, Starbuck, you're tagged to be the Herd Daggits. Use your squads to funnel them together. The way they are shooting each other up, it will weed them fast.@ "Nemo, herding fire as we'd agreed, until the fighters designated as Daggits here encroach. Then hold for optimal kill in the fire zone, at which point you can blanket roast the whole area." @Boomer, watch the energy levels on that thing, and stay above {readout on his gear in the Gunstar} that angle of declination, so Nemo can fire into the lower massed Cylons.@ ^Nemesis, does that thing have the energy drain problems of the fictional Gunstars? If it does, do you have a tow unit ready to pull him out of there. Or do you plan to pull the pilot and call the ship a loss?^ @Every engaging ship has fire support from the big guns on the station and the more enormous ships. If things get hot on some single fighter, have them pull out like so {}. That is patterned to draw shots on their pursuers.@ @Adama, Eddorian ship locations are being assigned to each Battlestar. You'll be fighting at a further remove than normal, but you no longer have civilian ships to screen and protect.@ She scans the outer reaches of the scans she is getting from everyone, again. Almost like she is expecting company. But is it friendly or unfriendly that she waits for? =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:17:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:18:35 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005438 :On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 14:35:33 -0700 (PDT) :The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005430 : : [Wh...oh.] Mandy nodded at Raver. [Right. Okie, shadowdancing, it :is.] Her tone was grim, as the two simultaneously reached out to :reassure themselves that James's repairs to their bond were holding. His repairs... are holding so well it seems a bit odd - some of them seem almost able to bend and stretch with the bond's distortions, and perhaps even fracture. Then the juncture repairs itself again. Almost like the fixes can regenerate? However James accomplished this, it seems he is no new hand at dealing with such a linkage as this, if he was able to do THIS kind of work that quickly. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 17:35:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 20:27:39 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005439 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 > >>On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 05:12:24 EDT >>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005422 >> >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005418 > Starbreaker reels-again-as the combined might of the Aurora/ > Dragon's Bane amalgam and the Despero/Amazo amalgam strike deep into > his mind. > But not for long. > *"FOOLS! I-AM-STARBREAKER!"* > He absorbs the tail end of the energy blasts (OOC: I'm assuming > that Aurora cuts off the blast as soon as he starts absorbing it; > Despero does) (OOC: yep) > *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ > before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of > Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's > nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate > energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into > himself. > Only the Cylons, Hal, and the Lensed beings (true lenses, not > just CAoL) are immune to the empathic blast. But the wave can be > resisted...and is. The Dragon's Bane/Aurora fusion, reaches out through 4 space, mentally, and grabs, not Starbreaker, but the 3 space sphere that he occupies. One quantum of time later, they stop time in that volume (OOC: no warning, and after time stops, it should be impossible for him to convert anything, since that would require time to flow). ^Despero, quickly create a sequence of memories for Starbreaker that involve him being betrayed by the Eddorans. If you can add an emotional response to that, of hatred for them (the Eddorans) that would add the finishing touch. Have it ready to insert subtly in his memories as soon as I drop the hold on time. I will attack as you attempt to insert it, to draw his attention away from you. Oh, and do hurry, I won't be able to hold this for very long.^ The Fusion sends. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:09:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Herding Daggits (was A Desperate Gamble) Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005441 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:13:12 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005437 > > @Boomer, watch the energy levels on that thing, and stay above > {readout on his gear in the Gunstar} that angle of declination, so > Nemo can fire into the lower massed Cylons.@ From Boomer: * As you say Ops Central.* > ^Nemesis, does that thing have the energy drain problems of the > fictional Gunstars? If it does, do you have a tow unit ready to pull > him out of there. Or do you plan to pull the pilot and call the ship > a loss?^ ^Temporary Depletion of Material Projectiles, is the worst he could encounter, That does include some of his defensive systems, All Energy Weapons, Basic Command and Control systems, and Drive Systems have multiple redundant Power feeds.^ > @Adama, Eddorian ship locations are being assigned to each > Battlestar. You'll be fighting at a further remove than normal, but > you no longer have civilian ships to screen and protect.@ =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:35:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 20:08:16 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005443 >On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 > *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ >before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of >Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's >nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate >energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into >himself. The waves of terror hit Mike first, but he's an old hand when it comes to fear. It simply adds to his intensity, giving him more energy with which to fight back. He simply pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath, and continues. [I don't fall that easily. Family, incoming!] On the Walkabout, in the core of the ship, a glowing blue crystal spins at incredible speeds. A face appears in the spinning crystal, Tink's face. She snickers. [Terror doesn't work on machines. I have the physical end, just concentrate on the mental.] The tide of terror rushes over the ship. The forwardmost gunners feel it first. They tremble slightly as the fear sweeps over them, but it is quickly absorbed between countless others mentally joined with them. The terror sweeps across the pilots' chamber. Like breaking surf, the pilots in the ten rows of Minbari-style beds open their eyes, startled, then calm as the generated fear is dispursed by the gestault. Franklin pauses as he walks down the central V of the angled beds. He straightens the navy blue suit he is wearing, adjusting his power tie as if composing himself before giving a business presentation, and pushes up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. [Intriguing,] is Franklin's only response. By the time the terror hit the command chamber, the only reaction was a few eyeblinks by the three occupants. > *FOR FREEDOM!* washes through astral space, and G'Kar adds his >mind to the B-5 telepathic amalgam. The battlecry is reinforced by a chorus of mental voices from the Walkabout. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 20:36:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Herding Daggits (was A Desperate Gamble) On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 22:18:01 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00005444 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:13:12 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005437 > She scans the outer reaches of the scans she is getting from > everyone, again. Almost like she is expecting company. But is it > friendly or unfriendly that she waits for? She'll pick up that Doc is now in 'normal' space, about 30 light seconds out from the south pole of Eridini Prime and appears to be dancing among 6 separate points that have things... growing?... at each. That's the quick scan, let me know if she does anything more in depth. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 21:40:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 16:00:50 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005445 > Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005420 > > Nemo, > Please Verify This ## Extrapolation of the Negative Mass Formulae... > Inertia/Time/Mass/Energy +++> > > And This ## Function to Stabilize This ## Quantum Structure... > 1000 * 10^-35 Radius, (Nanite is not the right term but it gives the > Idea...)> Nemo replies with whatever is appropriate. =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 22:36:33 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Velvet Glove's Tactical Gantry On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 21:42:24 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005446 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 18:45:51 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005435 > > Zia asks Nemo to patch her voice through the outer com, "About time > you were back. Destroy Ariel's Trumps, let me scan you for planted > ones. While you give me a precise of your best skills and talents so > I can insert you into the fight." > > "Oh, and nice blade you have there. What until Shard gets a gander > at you. Halo Boy might have a rival in his affections. I'm in the > tactics gantry." Assuming Nemo has some way to lead him there, she > cuts off with a nasty, evil-sounding snigger of amusement. Bryon gets a glowing line and light-mote to follow. And only he can see them (why distract the rest of us?:-) =========================== Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 22:36:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 21:34:59 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005447 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 14:35:33 -0700 (PDT) > The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005430 > > The demon mumbled in agreement as they slashed the flopping > starfish to bits while spraying the new Starros. [It might be a good > thing to introduce them to a mallet.] ^Please don't cut them into pieces. The pieces regenerate ...^ =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 05:37:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 08:07:42 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005448 >On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:02:19 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005418 > > /*Folx, I only want CAoLers who can worldwalk on their own to come >through the gate. Nemo, Aurora, I'd like you two-oh, you too, Despero >-to stay here and keep Starbreaker busy. Everyone else, hold off the >Eddorans, and give the Cylons a black eye-or whatever that thing >is.*/ Legion sends /Fearless Leader, if you really want me/us to go through that gate, I/we will... but I/we can't guarentee what the reality-distortions will do to me/us.... or who I/we will become over there.../ =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 05:37:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 08:16:33 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005449 >On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 > *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ >before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of >Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's >nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate >energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into >himself. > Only the Cylons, Hal, and the Lensed beings (true lenses, not just >CAoL) are immune to the empathic blast. But the wave can be >resisted...and is. > *FOR FREEDOM!* washes through astral space, and G'Kar adds his >mind to the B-5 telepathic amalgam. Legion's light laughter echos through the B-5 amalgam, the terror melting in its wake. *G'Kar! So glad you could join us... Let us say it is an honor to meet you...* Her minds dance like butterflies in the psychic wind, unable to be broken by the force of the wave, and too bright to succumb to the terror. Gentle touches and soft reassurances lend support to any of the allies that need it, without being intrusive. =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 09:08:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: OOC: Re: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 08:36:21 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005450 >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 14:35:33 -0700 (PDT) >The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005430 > >> On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:43:04 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005419 >> >> /I can keep it from forcing me to kill you,/ Morgan's voice sounds >> distant and weak, /But that's about all./ > > "Hell's bells," they breathed. Raver shoved through the crowd to >try and knock Morgan out long enough for the lime to take effect.Or, >if that failed, to kill her temporarily. Brief OOC note: There _is_ no more lime. Morgan/Starro changed all the fire extinquishers back . Hopefully by the time everyone realizes that and starts thinking about desperate measures, the Starbreaker-induced truce will have gone into effect. Otherwise we have to make the poor GM decide if Morgan's a good enough mage and swordswoman to hold off Stranger and Raver without delivering any potentially fatal blows :-). =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:38:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:27:42 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005454 >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 05:48:53 -0500 >Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005423 > >>On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 19:50:10 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005415 >> At one of the catwalks, a humanoid stands in front of the light- >>violet field with various tools on his belt. He scratches his head. >> "Fah. Always the same. No one care about hard work needed to keep >>Machine working. Never worry about poor Zathras. But, at least >>Zathras have less work now." Still, he continues to examine to he >>forcefield as he takes one scanner after another to it. > >Mike clucks his tongue as he walks along the catwalk. "Not good. >Question is, is Draal in there? And if so, is he in control of the >Machine? And if not, where is he?" Zathras turns. "AH, Mr. Knight!" He claps his hands, then drops the scanner he was holding and shakes his right hand furiously in the air, nursing a small bruise. "Draal _is_ in there. Zathras and Zathras also in there, but Zathras try to find way to get them out. Also, Zathras think that Great Machine would be making many noises and shaking ground a lot if Draal were still controlling it." >>On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 20:26:13 >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005416 >> /Hey, if that's your Thing,/ Roland quips, boarding the Eddoran >>vessel if James allows. /Hm. Addition to the plan. We have an >>Eddoran ship; anyone think we can bluff our way into one of those >>things?/ > >/Depends,/ Mike sends, /What are Black Lensman? And what was piloting >that ship?/ /Humanoids, I think,/ Roland sends wryly. /There really isn't much to go on, except for the ship's controls, but they look pretty standard. Good hunting, Mike./ >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:41:25 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005434 >John stands, now that the negasphere and other attacks are out of the >way, and opens a square box next to him. Reaching down he says, >"Raschid, you are a great cook and a lousy emperor, tis a pity what I >must do now." He pulls forth a double crust garbage can pizza, extra >garlic. Hefting it, he sends it spinning towards Starbreaker's back, >using his own powers to guide and protect it on the way in. Just as >it's about to hit he calls out, "Hey Starbreaker, take this." >Starbreaker turns and gets the pie right in the face. /Roland, I >think I got his attention. What should I do with him?/ Roland boggles. /RUN!/ The pie vanishes, transformed into energy. With 100% efficiency. But Starbreaker does not absorb it. "How...amusing." The energy tightens into an iridescent ball the size of a marble. Starbreaker grows to ten meters tall. "Perhaps this will prove to be equally amusing." Several fighters from both sides are converted to energy (though Starbreaker is cheated of the Alliance pilots by Legion) and they, the pizza, and all the energy blasts that all the converted fighters were firing all slam straight into John. (OOC: IIRC, John is just as good at devouring energy as Jadis was. If this is correct...) Starbreaker's eyes narrow. "So. You too are a being of power. Let us see whether or not you can survive without _your_ energies!" And a vortex appears around each of Starbreaker's eyes, and John, the Velvet Glove, Dragon's Bane, and Amazo are all subjected to a horrific power drain attack... >The Dragon's Bane/Aurora fusion, reaches out through 4 space, >mentally, and grabs, not Starbreaker, but the 3 space sphere that he >occupies. One quantum of time later, they stop time in that volume (OOC: While some temporal manipulation is possible, KnightMare has already 'locked' time for the local multiversal continuum; it wouldn't do for him to be a) undone preemptively or b) frozen helplessly while the Tower is dismantled. But I'll rule that Starbreaker is slowed to a crawl.) >(OOC: no warning, and after time stops, it should be impossible for >him to convert anything, since that would require time to flow). >^Despero, quickly create a sequence of memories for Starbreaker that >involve him being betrayed by the Eddorans. If you can add an >emotional response to that, of hatred for them (the Eddorans) that >would add the finishing touch. Have it ready to insert subtly in his >memories as soon as I drop the hold on time. I will attack as you >attempt to insert it, to draw his attention away from you. Oh, and do >hurry, I won't be able to hold this for very long.^ The Fusion sends. Despero concentrates. ^I'm trying! Great Maker, he's _powerful!_ And the accursed Thirdspace mentalists-^ Despero snarls. One enemy tepe dies. Two. Three. But the Eddorans have just thrown a much larger amalgam at the B-5 mind force, with their own enhancers added for good measure...and Starbreaker is insanely powerful as it is... "GRAAH!" Time ripples, shifts, and aligns back to its original form. But the effort _cost_ Starbreaker. He turns to look at the Dragon's Bane with eyes full of hate... "YOU!" His full hunger is directed at the Bane. "You I will spend _eons_ digesting!" *I think not,* Despero replies dryly. *My dear Aurora, can these 'spinal guns' be set in reverse?* =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:07:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: The Harlequin awakens. On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:39:48 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005455 >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 09:41:46 -0700 (MST) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005426 > He gives Chaos a flamboyant bow and flies off as Roscoe rounds the >bend. *DRISS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE????* Roscoe mentally shouts at Driss >but Chaos parries the message away before it can reach him. > "Sit down adn watch the fireworks Roscoe. Driss is safe in my >capable wings." laughs Chaos, vanishing just as Roscoe lunges at him >fangs bared. ...and reappearing in a small vial, immediately attacked by Mxyzptlk and the Impossible Man... > *Alright! Conga time!* He gestures again and several nearby cylon >ships twist and bend and shift into the shapes of giant Cylons. The >nearest one puts its hands on Harlequin's hips and the rest all >follow suit and they begin dancing a conga line to music only they >seem to hear. "FRAK!" Apollo dodges just in time to keep from becoming Cylon toe jam. {Where did they come from?} Starbuck asked. "You're asking ME?" Epsilon Three. Morden picked up the vial, smiled faintly, and walked back through the forcefield 'airlock.' [We don't have to contain _every_ Chaos. Just the ones that come here...] =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:37:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:12:45 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005456 >On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 18:35:57 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005433 > >: Roland said: >: /Zia, I have Black Lensman sign the likes of which _God_ has >:never seen,/ Roland tries to quip, but it comes out serious. > > Zia says, /Good, thanks, Nemo. I have them back on channel, now. >And the quote should go "the like of which even God has never seen >before", actually Roland./ /Oh, for Light's SAKE!/ Roland replies, exasperated, but he can't help the smile that creeps into his 'tone' as well as his mouth. >Then, he projects a single thought, a long string of symbology. Every >living organic thing on the ship...dies suddenly. *We do not have >time to waste on these fodder with that Tower being finished.* James >says, as the barrier falls on the "we" part. Roland was close enough >to tell James didn't enjoy killing that way, but doesn't deeply >regret it, either. Roland's smile vanishes, but he doesn't frown; even _he_ has trouble disapproving of the deaths of such utterly merciless beings. > /Why shouldn't I just set Nemo's device, now?/ James does so. /If >you countermand it, that is fine. But at least have it for a backup; >there are far too many arrayed here to fight through if they cross./ Roland sighs. /That's why,/ he says, pointing one thumb behind him. At Starbreaker. /But once we bring the Gate down...I hate to say this, but I can't think of one sprocking reason not to-/ *Samms team Aleph to unidentified Resistance force,* they 'hear.' Roland starts at the unexpected sending, but calms down quickly (though he does it a lot faster if someone 'steadies' him). Doing a tight, carefully shielded beam, he sends, *Samms team, this is Blaze of the Justice Legion. Please explain.* There is a quick, compact burst that briefly overwhelms Roland in its density. Other, more subtle telepaths don't have as much trouble. Kimball Kinnison, premier agent of the Terran resistance, and his telepathic 'mentor,' Worsel (no pun originally intended, but since it fit so well...) are leading a raid on the Gate stations, due to the large Eddoran force present and to prevent a reality without Eddorans to remain free. There are other agents on several of the stations. They 'know' that it's a suicide mission, but if I know this bunch, we're not just going to fry the resistance fighters... (OOC: Ain't I a stinker? ) >: And either Zia or James will now note that Apollo, once he knows >:the full potential of his Lens, will rival Kimball Kinnison >:someday... > > Ha! Kimball didn't even come CLOSE to the "full" potential of the >Lens... in fact, that might not be possible, given it's nature. Hmmm. (OOC: Yeah, but considering that the Second Stagers constituted the four finest members of their generation throughout an entire galaxy...) >:/Hm. Addition to the plan. We have an Eddoran ship; anyone think we >:can bluff our way into one of those things?/ > > /Better yet, anyone have any idea why we'd WANT to do a thing like >that?/ James quips /I cannot emulate an Eddorian mind, I know that >much. Not safely, at least./ /James, if there's more than one Eddoran in this fleet we're toast. We can't spare the big guns with Starbreaker on the other side of that gateway./ Roland frowns. /But you're a damn good telepath. Do you think you can 'look' like the captain of this thing, mentally?/ (OOC: The ship's captain wasn't fully human, at least by most standards, but depending on how 'Amberite' James is, the difference may well be inconsequential to him.) =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 21:49:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:38:05 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005457 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005454 > "GRAAH!" Time ripples, shifts, and aligns back to its original > form. But the effort _cost_ Starbreaker. He turns to look at the > Dragon's Bane with eyes full of hate... > "YOU!" His full hunger is directed at the Bane. "You I will spend > _eons_ digesting!" > *I think not,* Despero replies dryly. *My dear Aurora, can these > 'spinal guns' be set in reverse?* *Absolutely! Shall we?* Aurora answers, and with that, a beam of dead black reaches out from Dragon's Bane striking Starbreaker dead center. A micron later, and another strikes from a point in space at an angle in the plane of and opposite the bisecting angle between Dragon's Bane, Starbreaker, and Amazo. Those members of the CAoL with sigils, can feel first an incredible draw on the energy pool available through the sigil, and then even more incredible energy flowing back into it. These two beams are each capable of sucking down the power of a quasar, in less than a second (of course that energy has to go somewhere, Dragon's Bane has his own ways of dealing with it, but Aurora can't swallow that much that fast she is dumping her draw into the sigil pool). =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:39:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: The Harlequin awakens. On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:35:07 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005458 > On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:39:48 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005455 > >>On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 09:41:46 -0700 (MST) >>Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005426 >> He gives Chaos a flamboyant bow and flies off as Roscoe rounds the >>bend. *DRISS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE????* Roscoe mentally shouts at >>Driss but Chaos parries the message away before it can reach him. >> "Sit down adn watch the fireworks Roscoe. Driss is safe in my >>capable wings." laughs Chaos, vanishing just as Roscoe lunges at him >>fangs bared. > > ...and reappearing in a small vial, immediately attacked by >Mxyzptlk and the Impossible Man... Chaos looks annoyed at them and splits into Two identical Chaosi to attack them back, but seems to get stuck on the idea. He continues to split and duplicate, his numbers riasing exponensially as the vial begins filling fuller adn fuller with Chaosi. > Epsilon Three. > Morden picked up the vial, smiled faintly, and walked back > through the forcefield 'airlock.' > [We don't have to contain _every_ Chaos. Just the ones that come > here...] Roscoe, glad Morden discounted his presense makes contact with a confused Harlequin God now that Chaos isn't interfering. *Driss. Here's what's going on []. You need to forget the theatrics and give the others a hand.* *I'm a God again? &$%&*$*(^(*%^$&*% I don't wanna have anythign to do with this power I want to be rid of it now!* *Not right now Driss, they need you. Chaos is imprisoned, he can't do anything more to you right now. You need to face Starbreaker!* *Alright! Alright! I'm going!* =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:39:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:12:40 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005459 :Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005456 :>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005433 :> /Why shouldn't I just set Nemo's device, now?/ James does so. /If :>you countermand it, that is fine. But at least have it for a backup; :>there are far too many arrayed here to fight through if they cross./ : : Roland sighs. /That's why,/ he says, pointing one thumb behind : him. At Starbreaker. /But once we bring the Gate down...I hate to : say this, but I can't think of one sprocking reason not to-/ : *Samms team Aleph to unidentified Resistance force,* they 'hear.' : Roland starts at the unexpected sending, but calms down quickly : (though he does it a lot faster if someone 'steadies' him). James is completely as ease, still. In fact, he is even having a good time. [Take down the gate. Well, let's see. Generating stations. We don't really care about the rads... unless the actual second Lensman there is too close.] His cold blue eyes move across the battle, weighing options with a practiced ease of a veteran trouble-shooter. : Kimball Kinnison, premier agent of the Terran resistance, and his : telepathic 'mentor,' Worsel (no pun originally intended, but since : it fit so well...) are leading a raid on the Gate stations, due : to the large Eddoran force present and to prevent a reality without : Eddorans to remain free. There are other agents on several of the : stations. They 'know' that it's a suicide mission, but if I know : this bunch, we're not just going to fry the resistance fighters... James, in less time than it takes to read this, gathers up all the pertinent data he has, from Zia with aid by her sensing "network" of the super-speed intelligences on the CAoL team, gives it the feeling of Virgil's own Lensed thoughtband (without one of his own, but the jeweled Kryptonite might show somewhat in the *sending*), and scoots it back like a Major League pitcher's fast ball. Roland gets only the 'summary' of what James just did. He tacks on Zia's Lens signature as an afterthought, notated "Ops Central, Firstspace Side." :> Ha! Kimball didn't even come CLOSE to the "full" potential of the :>Lens... in fact, that might not be possible, given it's nature. :>Hmmm. : : (OOC: Yeah, but considering that the Second Stagers constituted : the four finest members of their generation throughout an entire : galaxy...) : /James, if there's more than one Eddoran in this fleet we're : toast. We can't spare the big guns with Starbreaker on the other : side of that gateway./ Roland frowns. /But you're a damn good : telepath. Do you think you can 'look' like the captain of this : thing, mentally?/ He snaps up enough mental radiation to mimic all the crew, including the captian, using a recombined EMG taken from the ship herself, timed to keep changing as normal. Then James sighs. "Yes, but I don't see any reason for employing such a delicate and time-consuming subterfuge. My resources aren't endless, and I'm not immortal." He slides off the helmet of silvery metal to regard Roland levelly. "Do you think you might actually explain your intentions, rather than just telling me what to do? I might have other abilities you cannot guess at yet, for lack of data, that would serve the ends better." His cool Brit accent is faintly noticeable, and the acute observer might note a bit of fatigue. : (OOC: The ship's captain wasn't fully human, at least by most : standards, but depending on how 'Amberite' James is, the difference : may well be inconsequential to him.) =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:39:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:14:05 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005460 : Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble : Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005449 :>On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 :>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 :> *"All forms of energy are mine to command! You will all _grovel_ :>before me! HAHAHAHAHA!"* Waves of pure terror rocket out of :>Starbreaker, washing over both friend and foe. And Starbreaker's :>nature finally becomes apparent to the cosmics...he is the ultimate :>energy converter, capable of taking any state and absorbing it into :>himself. Zia's next several voice-dispatched orders (via the Lens or com to the other non-teep forces) carry a very _sincere_ note of gladness. Although only Nemo, Sil, and Byron Gaunt are close enough to discern that she is as much the empath as James is telepath. Thus she was concerned about "echoing" the fear wave from the others patched in back out to them, even with her Lens. She was happy that the depth of lead in the Velvet Glove's "body" is shielding out any broad sent unaimed psionic energy. She smiles as G'Kar joins the teeps and shifts the battle on that front. =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:39:59 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:53:16 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005462 : Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble : Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005454 : : Roland boggles. /RUN!/ : The pie vanishes, transformed into energy. With 100% efficiency. : But Starbreaker does not absorb it. : "How...amusing." The energy tightens into an iridescent ball the : size of a marble. Starbreaker grows to ten meters tall. "Perhaps : this will prove to be equally amusing." /Thank the Tail someone finally convinced him to stop repeating his name./ Zia says - it might be serious... or it might not. : Several fighters from both sides are converted to energy (though : Starbreaker is cheated of the Alliance pilots by Legion) and they, : the pizza, and all the energy blasts that all the converted fighters : were firing all slam straight into John. /ACK!/ Zia reacts, ripping out orders to various fighter ship squadrons, trying to clear ANY sort of space between them and the Starbreaker. : (OOC: IIRC, John is just as good at devouring energy as Jadis : was. If this is correct...) : Starbreaker's eyes narrow. "So. You too are a being of power. Let : us see whether or not you can survive without _your_ energies!" : And a vortex appears around each of Starbreaker's eyes, and John, : the Velvet Glove, Dragon's Bane, and Amazo are all subjected to a : horrific power drain attack... Zia appears on Battlestar Galactica's command bridge, and then looks QUITE embarrassed at herself. "... time linear to point..." Fortunately, she is quiet enough no one seems to have noticed her, even as her words still arrive on the fire control and ship relay channels, here. That and she just doesn't stand out much, still wearing the mechanic coveralls, being short, and totally abstrated. Not to mention standing behind everyone else against a bulkhead. "...must of lost my position reference... how do I do a space reference without a time relationship?" The petite brunette slaps the side of her own noggin', amazed at how slow she thinks when running only this much stuff in her head. "Gaunt, silly. Silly, silly. Trumps and all. Better not use Ariel's. Ah, I know." /Sil, would you mind doing something VERY low keyed but Orderly wise so I can have a marker, please?/ Zia "... imitating Shroedinger's cat in five dimensions (or more) can be most vexing to observer and observed phenomenon, both. Especially when I'm the one being the phenomena." A Mathemagician's Journal, the Walkabout Year =========================== Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:40:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:40:38 -0700 (MST) Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005464 > On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:38:05 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005457 > *Absolutely! Shall we?* Aurora answers, and with that, a beam of > dead black reaches out from Dragon's Bane striking Starbreaker dead > center. A micron later, and another strikes from a point in space at > an angle in the plane of and opposite the bisecting angle between > Dragon's Bane, Starbreaker, and Amazo. Those members of the CAoL > with sigils, can feel first an incredible draw on the energy pool > available through the sigil, and then even more incredible energy > flowing back into it. These two beams are each capable of sucking > down the power of a quasar, in less than a second (of course that > energy has to go somewhere, Dragon's Bane has his own ways of > dealing with it, but Aurora can't swallow that much that fast she is > dumping her draw into the sigil pool). Harlequin flies over towards Starbreaker seemingly unnoticed. "Ah, a theft of power, and theft _is_ what I'm best at. Let's see if I can't give them a hand shall I?" He whispers to no one in particular and touches Starbreaker on the shoulder with one finger adn begins swiping energy as quickly as he can manage. =========================== Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 05:58:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:36:20 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005466 > On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 20:12:45 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005456 > > /James, if there's more than one Eddoran in this fleet we're > toast. We can't spare the big guns with Starbreaker on the other > side of that gateway./ Roland frowns. /But you're a damn good > telepath. Do you think you can 'look' like the captain of this > thing, mentally?/ > (OOC: The ship's captain wasn't fully human, at least by most > standards, but depending on how 'Amberite' James is, the difference > may well be inconsequential to him.) /Roland. Do you wish the presence of one of my 'selves'?/ =========================== Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 05:58:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 05:21:46 -0500 Molly Said As CAoL Message # 00005467 >On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:27:42 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005454 > Zathras turns. "AH, Mr. Knight!" He claps his hands, then drops >the scanner he was holding and shakes his right hand furiously in the >air, nursing a small bruise. "Draal _is_ in there. Zathras and >Zathras also in there, but Zathras try to find way to get them out. >Also, Zathras think that Great Machine would be making many noises >and shaking ground a lot if Draal were still controlling it." [Why does everyone think they know my name?] Mike nods. "True, if Draal still had the Great Machine, he would not stand for this. What have you found out about the force shield?" >>/Depends,/ Mike sends, /What are Black Lensman? And what was >>piloting that ship?/ > > /Humanoids, I think,/ Roland sends wryly. /There really isn't much >to go on, except for the ship's controls, but they look pretty >standard. Good hunting, Mike./ /Be vewy, vewy quiet, we're hunting Cwabbits. / Mike pulls out a hand-held tricorder and scans the shields as well. "Is there another location to control the Great Machine from?" =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 00:19:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:08:59 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005469 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 05:12:24 EDT > Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005422 > > /*As you suggest,/ Aurora answers. An instant later, she and > Dragon's Bane fuse into a single mind, with all her knowledge and > skill, and all his power. /*Nemo, Despero if you wish you may link > with us, that we might strike Starbreaker with all our combined > might*/ the fusion sends, as it fires a pure mental blast, that > would have knocked the Unit for a loop, into Starbreaker's mind. > Just so that the Cylons won't feel left out, Dragon's Bane's > secondary weapons begin firing at any Cylon fighters, that are not > hidden by the planet, or in a direct line with: Starbreaker, > Galactica or B5 fighters, the Galactica or B5, or CAoL Members > (please remember that the smallest beams, of the secondary weapons, > are as big around as the Cylon fighters.) I'd rather suspect that the Mesklinite fighters are keeping the Cyclons *far* busier than they want to be. They are darting around like hummingbirds on speed. And if they miscalculate and a Cylon fighter is in the way, they just go thru it. Those GP hulls are toufgh, and the jolt is hardly even noticed by the pilots. :-) =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 00:19:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:19:47 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005470 > On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:14:05 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005460 > > Zia's next several voice-dispatched orders (via the Lens or com > to the other non-teep forces) carry a very _sincere_ note of > gladness. Although only Nemo, Sil, and Byron Gaunt are close enough > to discern that she is as much the empath as James is telepath. Thus > she was concerned about "echoing" the fear wave from the others > patched in back out to them, even with her Lens. She was happy that > the depth of lead in the Velvet Glove's "body" is shielding out any > broad sent unaimed psionic energy. (or two inches of gold) will just about stop anything not "targeted" > specifically in ADND psi... or at least that is the way I play it. > Which is why Zia has been relaying through Nemo, using her Lens, or > using the Velvet Glove's "intercom" systems.> Thwere's probably more gold than that as *impurities* in the kilometer or so of "cold iron" between her and the surface. :-) Yep. it takes a bit more than 1 part in 20,000 of gold to give 2 inches per kilometer. And I'm virtually *certain* that the gold content of asteroidal nickel-iron runs that high. =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 00:19:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:33:26 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005471 > On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:53:16 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005462 > >: Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble >: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005454 >: (OOC: IIRC, John is just as good at devouring energy as Jadis >: was. If this is correct...) >: Starbreaker's eyes narrow. "So. You too are a being of power. >: Let us see whether or not you can survive without _your_ energies!" >: And a vortex appears around each of Starbreaker's eyes, and >: John, the Velvet Glove, Dragon's Bane, and Amazo are all subjected >: to a horrific power drain attack... /If you want Starbreaker distracted, I think I have just the the thing. But you'd better not goof, or we are all in a lot of trouble./ /He wants energy. I'm going to *give* it to him. Even Gharlane thought that the energy of a universe would sate him. I plan on giving him far more than a mere universe..../ Those capable of reading "sidebands" on the link get an image of mutiple *universes*, packed *solid* with matter denser than neutronium being cionverted into energy in almost immeasurably short spans of time. /But if I want this universe tio survive the experience, I've got to deliver the energy via direct contact./ Again, the "sidebands" have an image of a beam of energy *starting to cross the gap between the VG and Starbreaker and the entire universe collapsing into the beam instantly due to the sheer *gravity* of that much energy. =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 00:19:54 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: some reinforcements On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 20:18:52 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00005472 Doc has finished his dance, and is now sitting... er, floating, in the middle of six capital class non-Euclidian cubes. He sends a non-intrusive (i.e. if you'r busy it is ignored very easily) tight beam on what appears to be the common, nonLens, psi circut for the CAoL: * Who's in charge of TacOps for this furball? I've got some reinforcements and need to know how to plug them in. * If anyone asks for specs they get a data packet back listing: 1. All offensive and defensive cababilities of a Berserker 2. Adaptability, defensive, offensive, and self-repair ability of a Borg Cube 3. All this controlled by the psychotronic unit from a Mark LXXXIV BOLO (OOC: IIRC LXXXIV = 84 /OOC) 4. Virtually unlimited power 5. Inertialess movement and gravity transparent 6. Can detect and home in on a wide range of psi broadcasts (heavily shielded against outside psi interferance) 7. Have no problem with one way missions that have a purpose (All BOLOs seem to share the desire to 'die' fighting for a cause) 8. Suggested use: assign target priorities then 'fire and forget' =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 07:00:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish-(I can't do it...) On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:35:35 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005473 > On Sat, 8 Aug 1998 00:07:04 EDT > Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005405 > > The starfish stop in midair. > > "I beg your pardon, could you direct me to the nearest cybernetics > expert?" A man with a dead, metallic voice asks of Stranger. > > The man _resembles_ Scott Osborne, but unlike Scott, looks like he > just swallowed a long wooden pole, which is pushing out of the other > end of his digestive tract. "Level Red five, Bob's cybernetics." Stranger uses the frozen fish as an opportunity to bring his extinguisher to bear. > "Good day, then." The man turns around, and the starfish resume > their former trajectories. The Starros are liberally limed. =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 07:00:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:57:00 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005474 > On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:43:04 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005419 > >>On Fri, 07 Aug 1998 19:54:22 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005404 >> >> Stranger is right; having cut the Cylons and Starros off from >>retreat or reinforcements, they should be an ex-problem soon. >> Then all three CAoLers see about a dozen starfish each flying at >>their heads, as a few Starros heave buckets full of them at the pair >>behind them and the security forces (not to mention Raver) ahead of >>them... > > ...and Morgan turns on Stranger with a wicked smile growing > beneath a red and white starfish... */" Shit! Man down! Man down! The Starros got Morgan! "/* > "She/I have always wondered which of us is better with the > blade..." she says, Aramegil glinting dully in the dim light. Stranger steps back spraying Morgan with the fire extinguisher which looses liberal quantities of fire suppressant before dying completely. > Morgan is soon covered in fire-suppressant foam, which turns into > normal air a moment later as her Power Ring glows briefly. Stranger throws the empty extinguisher at her, for a second he feints with the lightsaber, but decides to drop it and draw his own blades. > "Ye'll have to do better than that!" Aramegil flashes through the > air-but with the flat of the blade aimed at Stranger rather than the > edge. Stranger steps back, again, parrying with ninja-to, he ducks and twists the blade attempting to twist it from her hand, but she is wise to the trick and keeps her grip. > /I can keep it from forcing me to kill you,/ Morgan's voice sounds > distant and weak, /But that's about all./ /I don't intend to give you the chance if I can help it lass, nothing personal./ Stranger lunges for the starfish with his longsword, but his blow lacks the commitment it might normally have and Morgan is easily able to deflect it. > "Hmmph. How bothersome." The Cylons begin to rise anew, their > damage repaired by the Philosopher Stone in Morgan's Power Ring. "I > do believe that it is time to leave with this prize." "Come back you spineless bottomfeeder" > *SATISFIED?!* Roland calms down slowly. *Very well. But if I even > get vapor from a hint of an idea that Morgan is in any danger, > you'll be calamari so fast there'll be Starro on the Zocolo menu > before you know what happened!* > There's a long pause. *You do not kill.* > *I make exceptions,* Roland sends coldly, sending Gaunt's fate to > Starro. > *She will not be harmed,* Starro sends quickly. Stranger, deciding to take anther approach, unleashes a mental blast, intended to drive a 'wedge' between Morgan and Starro. His lens flares brightly as he throws his considerable willpower behind it. "Leave her be!" he mutters through clenched teeth. Using this as cover he sends to very private messages... To Raver: *Can you get behind her and knock her out or restrain her?* To Roland: *Roland, OK, stay cool, we'll sort this, but can you use your closeness to her to trace the main Starro?* =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 07:00:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish-(I can't do it...) On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:58:44 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005475 Ziactrice Keenan wrote: >:"..look away, look away, look away Dixie land.." > > /If I may "cut in" on your musical listening pleasure.../ James' > half-snobby English accent comes through even on a mental channel. > /I can't find the signal, probably because I'm evolved enough to > have a backbone, but there is an unusual amount of activity centered > around this crate marked seafood. In {} this hold, at level {} > quadrant Brown. Do you three or four want a D-door there?/ /Not right now/ Stranger replied /But probably soon/ =========================== Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1998 07:00:41 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish.... On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 12:01:26 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005476 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 14:35:33 -0700 (PDT) > The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00005430 > >> On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 21:43:04 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005419 >> >>>On Fri, 07 Aug 1998 19:54:22 >>>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005404 >>> >> /I can keep it from forcing me to kill you,/ Morgan's voice sounds >> distant and weak, /But that's about all./ > > "Hell's bells," they breathed. Raver shoved through the crowd > to try and knock Morgan out long enough for the lime to take > effect.Or, if that failed, to kill her temporarily. >>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005418 > >>> /*Folx, I only want CAoLers who can worldwalk on their own to >>> come through the gate. Nemo, Aurora, I'd like you two-oh, you too, >>> Despero-to stay here and keep Starbreaker busy. Everyone else, >>> hold off the Eddorans, and give the Cylons a black eye-or whatever >>> that thing is.*/ >>> > The demon paused, exchanging bemused looks with Stranger. /Very > well. If you will tell the damned starfish to retreat or otherwise > get out of our way without further attempts to interfere?/ /Yeah, we're kind of up to our ass in seafood and cylons at the moment, but we'll try and hold out here/ > [Wh...oh.] Mandy nodded at Raver. [Right. Okie, shadowdancing, > it is.] Her tone was grim, as the two simultaneously reached out to > reassure themselves that James's repairs to their bond were holding. > [Only after all else has failed, however.] The crisp tone > brooked no further discussion, but Mandy wasn't willing to argue > further. They turned their attention to the outward world, the whole > exchange having only taken a few microseconds. > "Stranger?" "Yes?" =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:23:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:34:18 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005477 : On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 15:19:47 PST : Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005470 : : Thwere's probably more gold than that as *impurities* in the : kilometer or so of "cold iron" between her and the surface. :-) : Yep. it takes a bit more than 1 part in 20,000 of gold to give 2 : inches per kilometer. And I'm virtually *certain* that the gold : content of asteroidal nickel-iron runs that high. Well, sea water is even better - but its' not a solid, contingious layer, either. But that much lead would certainly fit the rationalization, I would say. :) Might even explain why Zia is miffed when the time being stopped makes her bop about like she did... =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Starfish-(I can't do it...) On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:41:41 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005478 : On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 11:58:44 -0700 : Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00005475 : : Ziactrice Keenan wrote: : :> /If I may "cut in" on your musical listening pleasure.../ James' :> half-snobby English accent comes through even on a mental channel. :> /I can't find the signal, probably because I'm evolved enough to :> have a backbone, but there is an unusual amount of activity :> centered around this crate marked seafood. In {} this hold, at :> level {} quadrant Brown. Do you three or four want a D-door there?/ : : /Not right now/ Stranger replied /But probably soon/ /Let me know - and don't count on it being (bang) fast. I might be fairly occupied on this Other Side, very very soon./ James remarks. There is no fear in his voice, but the recognition of an enemy that may be very tough to win against. =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: some reinforcements On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:46:59 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005479 : On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 20:18:52 -0500 : Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00005472 : : Doc has finished his dance, and is now sitting... er, floating, in : the middle of six capital class non-Euclidian cubes. : : He sends a non-intrusive (i.e. if you'r busy it is ignored very : easily) tight beam on what appears to be the common, nonLens, psi : circut for the CAoL: * Who's in charge of TacOps for this furball? : I've got some reinforcements and need to know how to plug them in. * Zia picks him up, or Nemo calls the message to her attention, if she was too busy. /Hmm, mixed myth-exotic hardware? If my aunt comes out against us, that'll be us fighting them. Is there a hard-built self-destruct that these CAN'T work around? If you are sure reality-bending won't work on them, send them half defensive craft to cover the living piloted ships, and then half to the other side of the Thirdspace Gate./ She updates fire control programs, making sure the friendly rockets won't mark the first flight. =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Herding Daggits (was A Desperate Gamble) On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 13:38:13 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005480 > On Sun, 9 Aug 1998 19:13:12 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005437 > > ^James and I cannot do a such a merge, Roland.^ Zia sends, at a > less-than-horrible moment (when he isn't fighting for his life, or > cowing Starro. ^There are things in our minds that are harmful to > humans.^ ^What if I act as a buffer?^ (Actually it'd be more of an impedance matching transformer... :-) > "Nemo, herding fire as we'd agreed, until the fighters designated as > Daggits here encroach. Then hold for optimal kill in the fire zone, > at which point you can blanket roast the whole area." "I'm an idiot!" Nemo's exclamation starles those close enough to hear it. He quickly sends thoughts out to Tink, Grep, and all the others who are good at computer "hacking" and who can spare a bit of attention. ^I don't know *why* this didn't occur to me sooner. Probably because the Cyclons are *so* easy to kill. What I proposed is a slight bit of systems hacking. We pentetrate to their core programming and drop in Asimov's 4 Laws of Robotics. Don't worry to much about smoothing out any conflicts that creates in them. Being immobilized is as good as being converted right now and we can't spare a lot of time.^ =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 20:39:14 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005481 On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, Morgan wrote: >>John stands, now that the negasphere and other attacks are out of >>the way, and opens a square box next to him. Reaching down he says, >>"Raschid, you are a great cook and a lousy emperor, tis a pity what >>I must do now." He pulls forth a double crust garbage can pizza, >>extra garlic. Hefting it, he sends it spinning towards Starbreaker's >>back, using his own powers to guide and protect it on the way in. >>Just as it's about to hit he calls out, "Hey Starbreaker, take >>this." Starbreaker turns and gets the pie right in the face. >>/Roland, I think I got his attention. What should I do with him?/ > > Roland boggles. /RUN!/ /Well, Yeah, I suppose that is an option./ > The pie vanishes, transformed into energy. With 100% efficiency. >But Starbreaker does not absorb it. > "How...amusing." The energy tightens into an iridescent ball the >size of a marble. Starbreaker grows to ten meters tall. "Perhaps this >will prove to be equally amusing." "You actually _do_ have a vocabulary. Damn, now I owe Rhia 50 bucks." >Several fighters from both sides are converted to energy (though >Starbreaker is cheated of the Alliance pilots by Legion) and they, >the pizza, and all the energy blasts that all the converted fighters >were firing all slam straight into John. It hits a shield in front of John. Five main wings around a central spoke, (think helicopter or fan blades), with a complex tracery running between them. The shield flares and a pretty lightshow occurs, complete with a 30 ft long chinese dragon. A slight smile touches the corner of John's mouth, and the rest of the energy is absorbed. > (OOC: IIRC, John is just as good at devouring energy as Jadis was. >If this is correct...) OOC: The shield is to help control the amount of energy John has to take in at any one time. While he could just swallow it all, it wouldn't be pleasant. Though from the amount that Starbreaker threw at John, he needn't have bothered with it. The showoff. > Starbreaker's eyes narrow. "So. You too are a being of power. Let >us see whether or not you can survive without _your_ energies!" > And a vortex appears around each of Starbreaker's eyes, and John, >the Velvet Glove, Dragon's Bane, and Amazo are all subjected to a >horrific power drain attack... "Have you any idea just how long I've been storing away energy? However, Far be it from me to make ripples. Definitly time to go with the flow." John allows his own enerhies being pulled upon to carry him towards Starbreaker. /Hey Roland, I'm going to do some HtH, any pointers?/ In John's hands materializes his staff, though the staff seems to be absorbing some of the energy being pulled out of John wherever John isn't touching it. He leans back and half-closes his eyes, looking for all the world as if he was in a recliner. *Zia, If you have a minute, do you think you could send me what you saw of KnightMares Tower?* > "GRAAH!" Time ripples, shifts, and aligns back to its original >form. But the effort _cost_ Starbreaker. He turns to look at the >Dragon's Bane with eyes full of hate... > "YOU!" His full hunger is directed at the Bane. "You I will spend >_eons_ digesting!" > *I think not,* Despero replies dryly. *My dear Aurora, can these >'spinal guns' be set in reverse?* John twists the staff and blades spring out from each end. /Besides being such a handy physical weapon, It also enhances my own ability to absorb energy. Now if I can just stick him once, I should be able to get all of my own back and then some./ "Tut, tut. Don't turn your back on the man with the knife just because you hear the oncoming train." John thrusts the staff at Starbreaker, and even though he is out of range, the staff telescopes towards him. OOC: If Starbreaker attempts to convert the staff, The staff will just start converting Starbreaker's energy and storing it away for John. =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: A Desperate Gamble On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:22:12 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005482 >On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 08:16:33 -0400 Caprice Said > >Legion sends /Fearless Leader, if you really want me/us to go through >that gate, I/we will... but I/we can't guarentee what the >reality-distortions will do to me/us.... or who I/we will become over >there.../ /Negative, Legion, do not come through,/ Roland replies, a touch shaken. /The ability to worldwalk is only a _prerequisite,_ not a draft. Given the history of this universe and the space-time butchery this gateway is creating, I have a feeling that coming over here would be a _bad_ idea for you./ >>On Sun, 09 Aug 1998 12:35:11 >>Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005429 >> *FOR FREEDOM!* washes through astral space, and G'Kar adds his >>mind to the B-5 telepathic amalgam. > >Legion's light laughter echos through the B-5 amalgam, the terror >melting in its wake. *G'Kar! So glad you could join us... Let us say >it is an honor to meet you...* *Oh?* G'Kar replies, intrigued. *To what do I owe the pleasure?* *Business BEFORE pleasure, G'Kar,* Lyta sends tartly. *Of course, Lyta, of course,* G'Kar replies, but when Lyta's mental signature returns to the battle, Legion (if it won't distract her) gets the image of G'Kar kissing her hand...the flirt... >Her minds dance like butterflies in the psychic wind, unable to be >broken by the force of the wave, and too bright to succumb to the >terror. Gentle touches and soft reassurances lend support to any of >the allies that need it, without being intrusive. A few pilots, knocked for a loop, straighten out. Pilots, however, _have_ to have nerves of steel. The far worse damage was done to B-5 herself... ...but the folx on this station have been through a lot. The most badly affected entity, in fact, seems to be Starro... =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE: The Harlequin awakens. On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:28:27 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005483 >On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 22:35:07 -0700 (MST) >Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005458 > >> On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 19:39:48 >> Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005455 >> >> ...and reappearing in a small vial, immediately attacked by >> Mxyzptlk and the Impossible Man... > > Chaos looks annoyed at them and splits into Two identical Chaosi to >attack them back, but seems to get stuck on the idea. He continues to >split and duplicate, his numbers riasing exponensially as the vial >begins filling fuller adn fuller with Chaosi. And from the Chaosi's point of view, the vial seems to grow to be able to hold the fight. The Impossible Man sticks his tongue out at Chaos^1 and starts splitting, though his splits are not identical. Each one seems to be a green-and-purple version of some denizen of the Marvel Universe... Mr. Mxyzptlk, OTOH, decides to grow larger, his voice booming as he laughs... Morden peers at the vial. "They appear to be shrinking, Z'On'Dar. They shouldn't be appearing through the forcefield." The Shadow nods. "Self-replication. Do not concern yourself. The hyperspace the vial contains can fold on itself to hold as many as they wish to be." Morden blinks. "Can't they do something about that?" KnightMare waves its hand. "Of course. Binding the Trickster is folly; sooner or later, it will seek release, then revenge. But keeping it occupied is surprisingly easy. Ironically, Chaos is easily distracted." =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:31:28 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005484 >On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:38:05 EDT >Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005457 > >*Absolutely! Shall we?* Aurora answers, and with that, a beam of dead >black reaches out from Dragon's Bane striking Starbreaker dead >center. A micron later, and another strikes from a point in space at >an angle in the plane of and opposite the bisecting angle between >Dragon's Bane, Starbreaker, and Amazo. Starbreaker only snarls, his own devouring beams contesting with the those aimed at him. *Great Maker,* Despero hisses. *At least we seem to be containing him.* And while no power is drawn away from Starbreaker, Despero's assessment seems accurate; the beams all seem to be cancelling each other out! =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 01:24:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 19:37:48 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005485 >On Tue, 11 Aug 1998 00:12:40 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005459 > >: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005456 >:>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005433 >: (OOC: Yeah, but considering that the Second Stagers constituted >: the four finest members of their generation throughout an entire >: galaxy...) > > ALL for it. Him and Starbuck... who makes a GREAT Conway Costigan >figure... heh. D'ya think Zia and James'd give out Lenses to folks >they didn't STRONGLY admire? Although how DO you explain Ivanova not >getting one? Giggle. Talk about yer Red Lensman. Whoo!> (OOC: Um...the 'Lenses and whiskers' thing? The fact that she's already slightly telepathic and would react _badly_ to having a Lens just show up? Because then I couldn't justify having the diversionary force around for, oh, five more seconds? ) > He snaps up enough mental radiation to mimic all the crew, >including the captian, using a recombined EMG taken from the ship >herself, timed to keep changing as normal. Then James sighs. "Yes, >but I don't see any reason for employing such a delicate and time- >consuming subterfuge. My resources aren't endless, and I'm not >immortal." He slides off the helmet of silvery metal to regard Roland >levelly. "Do you think you might actually explain your intentions, >rather than just telling me what to do? I might have other abilities >you cannot guess at yet, for lack of data, that would serve the ends >better." His cool Brit accent is faintly noticeable, and the acute >observer might note a bit of fatigue. "I thought I had," Roland says with a frown. He thinks. "Hmph. Must be distracted. My plan is a simple one: Get on to those bases, shut down the gate generators more or less simultaneously, and get out. The devil, as always, is in the details. If you have any ideas, or a better plan, believe me I'm all ears." =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 05:34:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: Enough Sushi Already On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 08:03:24 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005487 [OOC: Morgan, made this a seperate post... so if you don't want to be rescued yet you can just kill the thread] Legion does not like the idea of Morgan being taken. REALLY does not like. Briefly a small grey kitten appears on Legion's shoulder, and gives her ear a lick before vanishing. Legion's voice rings clearly through the link, /Stranger, keep things busy... Roland, I apologize for this in advance.../ Legion checks her grip on the fabric of reality, and then ... Morgan vanishes from inside B-5. And reappears briefly in the vaccum of space. [OOC: Very briefly. Just long enough to disorient. She's teleported again before she initiates any response or any real harm is done. At the worst, she'll have a few broken cappillaries] Morgan reappears in a small chamber, which is being contiously doused with garden lime. The chamber will only open after she has been rid of the starfish. The room around her looks like a lab out of Sinister's tesseract... the subtle differences only being obvious to someone who has seen Sinister's lab first hand. The small grey kitten, Mischief, sits there cleaning her already immaculate paws. And something else would be obvious to the senses of a Druid... this equipment... this place... this dimension... is alive. Self aware. But the mind is so completely alien as to make communication for most humans problematic. After all, what does one /say/ to a dimension? =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 08:09:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: Who's where in the zoo? On Sat, 8 Aug 1998 09:27:59 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005488 :It is at this point that he notices James' attempt to get a hold of :Kara's mind-sig: Tried? I take it that you are saying James couldn't? Could we perhaps hold down the number of folks retconning other characters actions to PCs so effected? And let the DM decide for the NPCs? Not that James can or would break such a shielding necessarily, but always coming up loser is getting to be a bit annoying for the poor man. He couldn't take out Zoddie . Despero got him in a death trap, which he managed to avoid only with Zia's help. Then James couldn't make any effective attack on Despero, either. By the time he took Nemo's little device and went into Thirdspace on a genocide run (and pretty suicidal looking mission), he was probably thankful it wasn't another super-villian, at least. :) :He finds out that she already as a very solid shield with a foreign :signature pattern, it appears to be purely defensive and doesn't :impinge on her normally thought process in any way. : :>from the tele-bomb. If she agrees to 'swap' targets, he then ports :>her back to stop the missile, and sends a mental attack of Location :>Confusion at Ursa. Yes, and Nemesis stopped the single missle still inbound towards B5, so Kara is apparently free to help with Roland's "narf!" plan. :) : /ooSC> :Aside from Kara, who's where in this mess? James just went into the Third Space gate with Nemo's Secret Weapon Deluxe Special. Zia is on the Velvet Glove, Nemo's ship, handling battle ops and tactics for most of the forces of human ships now arrayed by passing orders. She has feeds from the "computer-fast" intelligences; I think Nemo, Tink, Dragon's Bane, and maybe one or two others were scanning and summarizing to her. At least one Nemo was there, as well as Roscoe, who currently needs a lift down to Epsilon Three to meet up with Driss. The main baddies are around the Tower of Terror on Epi 3. The super villains, Kara, Roland, and BUNCHES of war ships are in space with the uncomfortable company of the Starbreaker, (AKA Bad News for Our Side). Usra, Zod, Despero and Amazo appear to have kicked in to help, fearing the Starbreaker LOTS more than us. Faust went to the Haiwaian Isles. Aurora is on the huge battle ship, Dragon's Bane. Mike was (I believe) joing Melissa and Tink on the ship they just brought in of Tron-ish appearance, with a mysterious third person we haven't been introed to, yet. And Gary Seven, their grandfater, Mike's father. Which is a really neat twist btw. Legion was in B5's sickbay, with Doctor Franklin. Boomer was on his way into battle. Apollo and Starbuck are dogfighting, and haven't had time to discover the Lens' that James teleported to them a while back. I think Dr. Franklin should get one too, and maybe Boomer, but I can't find the time to do it. :) Because Zia would ask first, and explain a bit, unlike James. Nemesis is using B5 to stage while she does repairs and splits pretty much EVERYWHERE, I think I can say. I have no CLUE where Fuzzy might be... I'm fuzzy on that? Also in quatum uncertainty mode are GL (Hal), and Barry (Flash). Zack, Morgan, and Stranger are fighting the (sigh) Starfish Troops, and boarding Cylon's within B5's corridors. And the mysterious cyber-man with the programming difficulty WAS on B5 talking to Stranger, but vanished again. Whew.. did I miss anyone? Zia What? I'm supposed to know, just because I'm in ops? Who do you think I am? Ivanova?? =========================== Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 08:09:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE IV: Beginning of the End On Sat, 8 Aug 1998 09:34:49 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005489 :On Sat, 08 Aug 1998 07:25:52 -0400 :Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005409 :Legion sends to Zia (and anyone else Zia sent to), Just to Legion, actually. Zia doesn't LIKE admitting a weakness to even her, but certainly not everyone currently on the link. ^Trust me, I am equally well aware of such, although I cannot do anything about the source of the problem. I could loan you mental force to damp it with, by Lens, but I'd have to know more about the exact causation mechanism within you to suggest anything more effasive. I would suggest asking Kny - er, Mike, and Nemesis, if they could work out an insulative field against the time discontinuity, at least. And I was going to ask Roland if he really wanted Hal to relocate B5 outside the battle zone. Call me if you want me to do aught for you.^ =========================== Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 00:01:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Desperate Gamble On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 18:44:57 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005492 >On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 23:53:16 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005462 > > Zia asks Nemo to patch her voice through the outer com, "About time >you were back. Destroy Ariel's Trumps, let me scan you for planted >ones. While you give me a precise of your best skills and talents so >I can insert you into the fight." Byron blinks. "Destroy th-I thought they were indestructible. Um, here." He takes out the few cards Ariel gave him-one of Roland, one of the station, one of Chronos (booby-trapped to Hell and gone) and one of Zia. >The petite brunette slaps the side of her own noggin', amazed at how >slow she thinks when running only this much stuff in her head. >"Gaunt, silly. Silly, silly. Trumps and all. Better not use Ariel's. >Ah, I know." > >/Sil, would you mind doing something VERY low keyed but Orderly wise >so I can have a marker, please?/ Sil nods with a smile, though her eyes never stop tracking Byron. /Prepare for ping,/ she replies obediently. The closest analogy the 3-dimensional GM can provide is like a slight ripple of silk on hair-you have to be really paying attention to feel it, but once it's there it's unmistakable. /Ping one,/ Sil says evenly. =========================== Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 00:02:02 -0700 (PDT) Subject: RE: AAE: Who's where in the zoo? On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 18:45:11 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005493 (OOC: IIRC, posts only get sent to a.c if the AAE tag is in the subject.) >On Sat, 8 Aug 1998 09:27:59 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005488 >Also in quatum uncertainty mode are GL (Hal), and Barry (Flash). (OOC: Oh, yeah, that's right...MUHUHAHAHAHA!) GL and Sinestro are still gritting their teeth, too absorbed in their desperate struggle to have noticed even Starbreaker. Then a yellow streak zooms by, followed by a crimson comet. (OOC: - Bonus points to anyone who knows that last reference.) The duelling ring-wielders are distracted by the close flyby to notice the universe around them. "GREAT GUARDIANS!" Hal exclaims, just thrown enough to get slammed into the surface of E-3. Sinestro follows carefully, firing evil-looking spears after his nemesis. {Zoom? Was that you?} {Lousy no-good two-bit primitive-yes, that was me Sinestro. This anachronism's Legion ring allows him to use his speed energy to fly, as well as storing his costume. So I, of course, used my superior technology to replicate the effect. HNNG!} As Sinestro lands, he sees Zoom fly back from a hyperspeed punch from Flash, which the Scarlet Speedster follows up with a blast of cyclonic dust borrowed from Epsilon's barren surface. (OOC: I don't remember if the surface of Epsilon Three had a breathable atmosphere in the series; this one does now. If E-3 didn't have surface air, then KM put it there...) Hal fired a short burst at Sinestro. "For Light's sake, Sinestro, didn't you see him? STARBREAKER is up there!" "Bah. I will deal with him...once you are dead!" A giant yellow rat hissed, towering over the Green Lantern. "Hey, Zoom, I didn't know you had a brother," the Flash quipped, steering Zoom into the face of the ring construct. "You're not thinking, Sinestro," Hal said coolly, and a great emerald cat appeared and grabbed the rat by the tail. "Flash! Two-by-four!" "Got it," the Flash replied, and as Zoom worked desperately to counter the whirlwind holding him helplessly airborne, the current suddenly shifted and vanished, while the cat's flicking tail knocked Sinestro forward. The two hate-filled villains crashed into each other rather emphatically. "ZOOM! SINESTRO! Stop playing! We have to stop Starbreaker before he kills us all!" Zod boomed, throwing an Eddoran vessel into the duelling energy maws. "I'll go pitch in back on Babylon Five," the Flash said, vanishing. Hal nodded, then flew up. "Consider your next choice carefully Sinestro. {Green Lantern to Ops. Did someone want Babylon Five moved to a safer location?}" =========================== Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1998 00:02:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: some reinforcements On Thu, 13 Aug 1998 20:54:19 -0500 Doc Said As CAoL Message # 00005494 > On Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:46:59 -0500 > Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005479 > > Zia picks him up, or Nemo calls the message to her attention, if > she was too busy. /Hmm, mixed myth-exotic hardware? If my aunt comes > out against us, that'll be us fighting them. Is there a hard-built > self-destruct that these CAN'T work around? ^ Do you require such measures for Melissa, Grep, Tink, Nemisis, Dragon's Bane, or any of the other MI's here? ^ > If you are sure reality-bending won't work on them, send them half > defensive craft to cover the living piloted ships, ^ And what makes you think they aren't living, in the same sense that the above mentioned MI's are? But we can discuss that later. ^ > and then half to the other side of the Thirdspace Gate./ She updates > fire control programs, making sure the friendly rockets won't mark > the first flight. In a private band to Zia ^ Ummm... I noticed that one of the ships coming out turned around and is headed back. This being the only ship to do so I presume that it has been captured and turned into a trojan horse, if so could you feed me an IFF code for them? Radio, visual, voice, or mental/spiritual will work fine. ^ Assuming she does. ^ Thanks. I will make a slight change and task one on each side to find, and render ineffective, enemy teeps. Other than that, any priorities for the ones going through the gate? ^ ^ I will set up here to build/grow more of these, the next batch will be stationed on guard here to keep the enemy from getting ideas, after that they will start splitting: five through the gate, one into the furball. ^ There will be a total of seven sets(first set took about 5 minutes, the rest will take about 2 minutes; certian processes are already in place), when the last set starts moving the set on guard will split up as above (42 units is all the personalities that he has on tap and this is not the time/place to bring new ones on line) On the general push, * That small copycat of Dragon's Bane, IIRC, shows signs of intelligence capable, but not aware yet. Anyone know if it _IS_ intelligent just _NOT_ awake, or if it is just unfilled capacity as yet? * ===========================