Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4
Chapter 59
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1998 16:36:44 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE 4: Central Ops Transmission Updates
On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 18:35:51 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005555
Whew... pardon me while I play major catch-up a bit. I'll try
suggesting several things instead of just more telepaths on this side
of the gate, since the Ploorans and Eddorans and Starro on the
original side seem to have the telepathic contingent of the CAoL well
busied...
As Nemo leaves to take care of the slight problem with the star(s?)
going out under Starbreaker's voracious attack, Zia lays down the
temporarily "safed" Trumps she disarmed from Byron Gaunt. A heavy-info
feed from James causes her to pause a moment, but activity by the
Terror Tower shield catches her attention even more so. "Hmmm. All
right, you're needed to reinforce Roland on B5 - I suggest - " She
breaks off to smile as the Eddorian/Plooran's Cone of Death becomes a
big huge hairball as Admiral Sheridan's forces emerge, firing freely
into their unprotected rear formation. "This Gharlane hasn't met me,
obviously. Oh, what FUN!"
Her eyes return to the here and now, and Byron Gaunt. She points her
chin at Sil's locale, her direct gaze still focused on the tactical
displays. "I suggest a clearance through Sil before you show up. Sil,
drop the guns and get him over there with a briefing to Roland and a
transmission to C&C of status, I've forwarded the report brief on
Shard and Starro, along with my predictions of Garibaldi's goals to
your console already. The report on Starro and Garibaldi has already
gone at Scarlet priority to Commander Ivanova. I would TP her it as
well, but that would be too rude, even for a warning."
"Byron, prevent Ivanova's attachment to Starro forces. Find out and
foil Shard's purposes, and if you can teep whatever info from him you
can get. Or start him mouthing off; he seems the talkative sort. Once
you've done all that, get down to medlab and stabilize Legion if you
can help her. I'd suggest asking the Sevens for help at that juncture.
Keep in contact with *this* frequency; it's a dedicated and probably
secure repeater to and fro on the CAoL link. If you have trouble,
speak my name and I should pick you up on a limited direct TP band."
"Questions?"
To James as she waits, *I suggest the old coconut shell game - I
suspect you can take out all the operators, and shut down the power.
That should shut down the Black Boxes without us having to spare teeps
we don't have to close that gate. With the added advantage of maybe
getting these Tellurians of unPatrolness shadow to aid us in return.
And USE the silly Lor dof Order bit if you need it, James, being
Doctor Fate won't hurt you as much as being dead would - and I'm sure
that between Nemo, Sil, and I restoration of your own personality
wouldn't be nearly so troublesome as normal.*
Zia
===========================
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1998 19:06:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 21:46:46 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005556
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 11:45:47
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005549
>
>>On Fri, 21 Aug 1998 23:00:16 -0400 (EDT)
>>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005538
>>
>>John pops around to the side of Starbreaker, and hauls off a hard
>>right into his jaw. No special power behind it, no extra dense fist,
>>no spiked energy-draining glove of doom, just a quick, hard right
>>hook.
>>
>>OOC: Do not let it be said that John does not have chutzpah.
>
> Starbreaker (at the full 18 feet tall) stops in mid-rage, and
>stares in shock at John. Then his eyes narrow. "I thought I killed
>you, speck!"
John stares Starbreaker in the eye, "I know what's likely to kill
me, and buddy, you're not it." John is prepared to bug out at the
first sign of massive counterattack.
> (OOC: Yep. He's got chutzpah, all right. He'd also be lunch,
>except...)
(OOC: Pish, take more intelligence than Starbreaker's shown so far
to kill John. Seriously hurt him though... )
> "Kkk-...*" Starbreaker reels, his 'eyes' rolling back. He clutches
>at empty space, trying to defend himself. Incredibly, he is actually
>able to use his amassed power to protect himself, but the rate of
>conversion is horrific (worse than energy-to-matter) and he shrinks
>to his 'normal' six feet tall.
> *Truly incredible!* Despero sends. *You have him! Do not relent!
>Of my calculations are correct, he should be in stasis again in...3.2
>minutes!*
> What Despero doesn't realize is that while Starbreaker's body
>might return to stasis, this attack might well send his soul to the
>next life, effectively 'killing' him.
> He's nailed.
> If nothing happens for the next 3.2 minutes...
John watches him gurgle for a few seconds, then dusts his hands off
and walks away, "Well, that's over with." John goes back over to the
drum set he left on the sphere and seats himself again. The orchestra
breaks into a rendition of 'Into the Hall of the Mountain King', John
begins drumming, though not on any audible level, and proceeds to sink
through sphere.
"Don't mind me, I just want a game of chess."
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 01:05:49 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: And now, the Robin Goodfellow Orchestra...
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 02:37:03 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005558
>On Fri, 21 Aug 1998 21:24:27
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005540
>
>>On Fri, 21 Aug 1998 13:54:42 -0500
>>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005533
>
>>Puck snarled, "Do you know the '1812 Overture'?"
>>
>>The Cylons nodded. Puck said, "Fine, we'll play that then."
>>
>>The music started. When the first cannon was to go off, two Cylon
>>ships crashed into each other. The song continued and so did the
>>colliding Raiders.
>>
>>"I -love- audience participation!" Puck said.
>
> (OOC: Now that the GM has stopped laughing long enough to
>write...)
>
> Zoom looks up at the band.
> "I'm not fighting _that._"
> "Would you rather argue with the Shadow?"
> Zoom looks at the dome.
> "Let's go."
> The emerald cage vanishes, and the two streak out toward the
>orchestra.
Puck looks down at the two approaching figures.
"Everyone's a critic. Looks like I will have to go have a talk with
them."
Puck hops off an imaginary podium and stalks toward the planet. Then
he gets that mischievious look in his eyes.
He turns to the band, "Alright boys, let's do something a bit more
modern."
Puck spins on a heel and his tuxedo changes into a pair of dark grey
parachute pants, white t-shirt with a large Japanese rising sun flag
on it, white Nike high-tops and red vinyl Michael Jackson jacket.
Puck smirks as the Cylons start the new song. He taps his foot then
start singing.
"We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind. Cause
your friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well they're no
friends of mine."
The Cylon Raiders stop exploding and start popping in spectacular
colors while the crews start dancing as they float in space.
"I say, we can go where we want to, to a place they will never find.
And we can act like we come from out of this world, leave the real one
far behind."
The Cylons pick up the chorus and Puck continues...
"Ah we can go when we want to. The night is young and so am I. And we
can dress real neat from our hats to our feet and surprise 'em with a
victory cry. I say we can act if want to. If we don't nobody will. And
you can act real rude and totally removed. And I can act like an
imbecile."
The space between the planet and Puck is starting to get quite
cluttered with safety dancing Cylons.
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:08:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: The Tide Turns
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 10:30:49
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005559
: "Sheridan to 'Velvet Glove,' do you require assistance?"
"Zia of Central Ops from Velvet Glove to Sheridan." The smile is
evident from the tone. "You seem to have already obliged _quite_
handily, Admiral. I won't ask you which fork to use first; but a
tie-in to your fire control and tactical groups is advised. Domo
arigato, and welcome to the shooting match." Zia's tone goes slightly
less personal as her true attention shifts back to other duties, but
her voice continues, albeit more mechanically, "Current tactical
disbusions and intel on the enemies capabilities and forces has just
been sent on to your telepath groups. E-feeds to follow on your cypher
when stated."
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 18:35:51 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005555
>She breaks off to smile as the Eddorian/Plooran's Cone of Death
>becomes a big huge hairball as Admiral Sheridan's forces emerge,
>firing freely into their unprotected rear formation. "This Gharlane
>hasn't met me, obviously. Oh, what FUN!"
In Thirdspace, Gharlane frowns, as a premonition of impending doom
flickers past him...
>Her eyes return to the here and now, and Byron Gaunt. She points her
>chin at Sil's locale, her direct gaze still focused on the tactical
>displays. "I suggest a clearance through Sil before you show up. Sil,
>drop the guns and get him over there with a briefing to Roland and a
>transmission to C&C of status,
Sil frowns. "Roland's...busy."
(OOC: Explanation to follow. )
>"Byron, prevent Ivanova's attachment to Starro forces. Find out and
>foil Shard's purposes, and if you can teep whatever info from him you
>can get.
"Shard?" Byron asks, thrown. "I'll do what I can."
>"Questions?"
"I'll tepe what I need along the way." Byron vanishes.
>over a few more Boskone ships, and start landing at various stations,
>synced with James, while James takes them out. Can I have a reading
(OOC: Go for it.)
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:08:28 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 10:47:36
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005560
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 03:26:02 -0400
>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005543
>>>Almost simulaneously, the crews of ships of the Eddorian and
>>>Zwilnik forces (en masse, in each ship), as well as the telepaths
>>>on the other side of the Thirdspace Gate, suffer the effects of a
>>>Class 5000 mental attack. [2]
>
> Am I to assume that this part, at least worked?
(OOC: Dhyrclhanc can make a Class 5000 mental attack? Eeeewww!
Unfortunately, the Ploorans are an entire _race_ of Second-Stage
mentalities. You take out a few capitol ships, but the flyer pilots'
'minds' are essentially nonexistent. It's rather like trying to blind
Daredevil; the job's already been done.)
>> /Bro, you have the damnest timing,/ Roland replies dryly. /Nass,
>> pick a target and start blasting. The so-called 'Eddoran Empire'
>> could probably use a reintroduction to Lensmen./
>
>/Eddorians? Where? Where? Where? Lemme at 'em/sends the draconic
>Lensman, to Roland, doing his best Runt impersonation.
/See that gate?/ Roland sends, with a mental image of a big hand
pointing at the Thirdspace gate. /They're in there. Sic 'em!/ he
finishes with a big grin.
>>>/Hey Kim, what are you doing here? Is that Worzel there too? How is
>>>the old snake?/
>>
>> *Huh?* Kimball sends. Dhyrclhanc will note immediately that
>> _this_ Kinnison is a _much_ less experienced telepath than the one
>> he knows, and that the Director doesn't have a Lens! *Yeah,
>> Worsel's here. You are, I take it, with the Earthforce bunch?*
>>
>Dhyrclhanc sends to *this* Kinnison, *Uh, yeah, sort of. Sorry, I
>thought you were someone else.*
*Ah, check. Worsel's working on the 'Black Box,' but I can send
your regards if you like.* There's a familiar snapping sound as
Kinnison ensures that the Resistance agents have some privacy.
>[Palatine and Takhsis, I hate it when that happens. I'm still not
>used to running into cognates like that. Now for those Eddorians,
>It's time they learned what combat with a real Lensman is like.]
Within the Dome, Takhisis smiles. "Ah, I was wondering when he'd
arrive."
>"Whoah. Those are new designs; the Eddorians I fought never had
>designs like that."
>
>/Hey Roland, you sure these guys are Eddorians?/ asked Dhyrclhanc
>jokingly.
/I've never had the pleasure,/ Roland replies dryly.
>"PIXAR, Rifts us to the outer edge of the furball. Nearest to one of
>the larger colection of those enemy ships.
> Exactly how many of those psuedo-Vorlon fighters and soap
>bubbles with guns are left will dictate Dhyrclhanc's next move. So
>how many are left, oh mighty GM?
(OOC: Lots. You guys keep knocking 'em down, and the Eddorans keep
sending 'em. 'Crunch all you want, we'll make more[tm].' Until you get
bored with that. )
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:08:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 11:38:14
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005561
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 00:52:54 PST
>Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005545
>
>Upon reaching it, he vanishes as what appears to be the same star
>manifests itself. Those with the senses and attention to spare will
>note that somehow a ripple in spacetim was generated that *canceled*
>the gravity wave created by the vanishing of the star. It didn't
>propogate, it just *was*.
>
>They'd also notice that the new star has the same odd characteristic
>as Nemo. It doesn't seem to exist below the first sub-quantum level.
Z'On'Dar watches this event evenly. [Hmm. Interesting. I think it
would be best to 'hedge my bets.'] The ancient Shadow concentrated.
*Galan. I summon you.*
>The Nemo still aboard the Velvet Glove sends to all the CAoL (and
>allies) who might have useful input on the question:
>
>/Everyone, I need to make a decision about whether or not to try to
> overload Starbreaker *soon*!/
/Ah, that looks like it'll be unnecessary, Nemo,/ Roland sends.
Then all the cosmic entities sense a quantum ripple of
galaxy-shaking proportions, though the ripple does no harm. In fact,
it seems to stabilize local reality. (Legion is probably feeling much
better.)
The star(s) now exist(s) below the quantum level.
A spherical ship dozens of kilometers in diameter appears in
geosynchronous orbit over the Dome. A figure rises from the 'top.'
Galactus has come.
He looks the same as ever to the naked eye, an enormous humanoid
encased in purple armor, save for the ebon staff he now holds, a
device as tall as Galactus himself. But to those with deeper
knowledge, it is clear that the Devourer of Worlds is fundamentally
different from what he was. There is a calm in his eyes, a peace he
never had.
His hunger is no more.
> energy of our universe is something on the order of 10^71 Joules.
> This would be 10^49 times as much. I can't even come up with an
> analogy for it. I don't think there's that much difference between a
> finger snap and a supernova... The *gravity* exerted by that much
> energy amounts to 10^40 g at 20 billion parsecs!
(OOC: That is truly sick. I'm glad the _real_ enemies are more
powerful than the pseudo-Eddorans and the Legion of Losers...)
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 21:46:46 -0400 (EDT)
>Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005556
>
> (OOC: Pish, take more intelligence than Starbreaker's shown so
>far to kill John. Seriously hurt him though... )
(OOC: I'll give you that one. )
> John watches him gurgle for a few seconds, then dusts his hands
>off and walks away, "Well, that's over with." John goes back over to
>the drum set he left on the sphere and seats himself again. The
>orchestra breaks into a rendition of 'Into the Hall of the Mountain
>King', John begins drumming, though not on any audible level, and
>proceeds to sink through sphere.
> "Don't mind me, I just want a game of chess."
John doesn't sink anywhere. The dome doesn't even budge. A 'force
lock' forms near the Zodaii, and Darkseid rises from the dome, holding
a burning seed. The outer 'lock' opens.
"You," Darkseid says tonelessly, "are trespassing." He tosses the
seed to one side and the forcelock swallows him. (OOC: If John
actually _attacks_ Darkseid, ignore the following; the Lord of
Apokolips will stick around to deal with him personally...)
The seed explodes, and a 20-foot tall flaming humanoid appears in
front of John (unless John didn't turn to look, in which case he's
behind John) and bellows:
"You, who dare to defy mighty Darkseid, prepare to die before the
sword of BRIMSTONE!" He raises a hand, and a bright fusion blade
appears in it as he brings it crashing down at John...
Geosynchronous orbit.
Galactus frowns at Starbreaker.
*You deserve your fate, o cosmic coward. Yet it is Z'On'Dar's
desire you exist a short while longer. Act quickly. Even _my_
protection cannot last long against such an utterly implacable attack
upon the spirit of so foul a creature as you.*
A celestial force of power unimaginable to any mortal, and indeed
to many gods, shields Starbreaker. It immediately begins to break
down.
*Harm not the noble creature within the starship.*
Starbreaker snarls desperately as he recovers. *But she's the one
who attacked me!*
*Then I suggest you make haste,* Galactus replies, and those who
hear him would swear that there was the faintest note of humor in his
'voice.'
*The hell with you!* Starbreaker says, and focuses all his
incredible power on the Dragon's Bane, and Aurora.
The shield flickers, and Starbreaker doubles over.
*HARM NOT AURORA.*
Starbreaker snarls. *I'll deal with you later, Devourter of Angst.*
He concentrates on Amazo...
TBC
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:08:43 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE 4: Osborne's Innards...
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 11:41:32
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005562
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 16:58:04 EDT
>Scott Osborne Said As CAoL Message # 00005554
>Just beyond the battle, a caped figure appears. He says "And now,
>this is a job for... Somebody else."
From the arriving Alliance fleet, an azure blur rockets past.
"You're right. This is a job-"
Several Eddoran vessels concentrating on Kara are reduced to a
quantum state.
All the Legionnaires smile, and say as one-
"-for SUPERMAN!"
(OOC: I wasn't going to bring in Big Blue, but I couldn't resist an
opening like that! )
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:08:48 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: And now, the Robin Goodfellow Orchestra...
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 11:57:50
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005563
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 02:37:03 -0500
>Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005558
>
>Puck looks down at the two approaching figures.
>
>"Everyone's a critic. Looks like I will have to go have a talk with
>them."
>The space between the planet and Puck is starting to get quite
>cluttered with safety dancing Cylons.
>
>
Zoom flies around the band, his duplicate of the Flash's JL ring
allowing him to fly as fast as he can run.
Sinestro is following close behind, and creates a giant cannon
aimed directly at Puck.
And runs smack into the Phoenix Rod before he can fire it.
{GL's busy moving B-5,) Blaze, in his superheroic costume once
more, says to Sinestro through the rings. {And I haven't even gotten
to mash any Cylons. Then _you_ show up again, breaking the truce Zod
made with the Justice Legion.} Sinestro shoots several wicked daggers
at Roland, who dodges easily. The end of the Phoenix Rod smacks the
fallen Lantern in the face. {So I guess that makes you my stress
relief.}
{Curse you, Blaze!} Sinestro snarls, hitting only void as the
lightning-fast electric form evades him with ease.
A crimson comet rockets past, taking Zoom with it. All that can be
heard from Zoom: "not again!"
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 12:14:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAEIV: Awakening
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:07:26 -0400
Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005564
Legion's body burning with fever, it was all the anchors could do to
keep ahold of the link the other personas needed to hold on to. They
had little attention to spare to shielding, and even less for watching
the new persona emerging...
Reality distortions wrote and re-wrote her existance, torn between
what was, what is, and what should have been... Her body changed,
bones shifting, muscles reforming, callouses shifting, hair darkening
from red, to auburn, to brown with a few highlights. Her mind emerging
into a world where she did not exist, where with every affirmation of
her existence, came a negation.
[OOC: Telepathic eavesdropping on the following IS possible.]
She remembered being born... (She had never been born.)
her mother dying... (Her mother never knew her.)
her sister raising her... (Her SISTER never knew her!)
worshipping the ground her sister walked on... (Her sister would not
know her.)
refusing to cry when her sister left home... (Her sister had still
gone.)
She remembered the war... (The war had still happened.)
Psi-corp being suspicious of her... (They suspected her sister.)
She remembered the war ending... (It ended without her.)
She became a freighter pilot... (Someone else piloted those craft.)
Psi-corp's invistigations costing her jobs... (Those jobs no longer
existed.)
Turning to smuggling... (Lives saved, lives lost.)
Meeting her sister on Babylon 5... (She didn't exist to her sister!)
The fight... she shouldn't have said those things... (She didn't.)
Leaving the station... (She was never there.)
The Rangers finding her... (There was no one for them to find.)
Discovering a cause she could believe in... (The cause went on without
her.)
Training... (What is one more ranger more or less?)
Discovering a man she could believe in... (Marcus didn't know her.)
Learning how it feels to love... (How could she know love?)
When all he sees you as is a friend... (Marcus never knew her!)
and he loves your sister...
That terrible love triangle... (It never happened.)
Her sister dying... (That still happened.)
Marcus nearly killing himself saving her sister... (He had.)
She remembered saving Marcus... (She hadn't been there.)
(Marcus was dead. Marcus was dead. Marcus was dead...)
That one thought caught her mind, echoing through her skull like
thunder. Repeating over and over, impossible to escape.
Marcus was dead.
In the medlab, Natalia sat up with a wordless scream, throwing the ice
packs off of what had been Legion's body. Her temperature dropped down
towards normal, the convulsions stopped, as she looked around the
medlab without really seeing it.
Marcus was dead.
And it was her fault.
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 13:07:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:53:10 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005565
In a message dated 8/22/98 12:37:24 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005549
>
> What Despero doesn't realize is that while Starbreaker's body
> might return to stasis, this attack might well send his soul to the
> next life, effectively 'killing' him.
> He's nailed.
> If nothing happens for the next 3.2 minutes...
Aurora keeps the pressure up, but those in contact with her, can tell
it is a tremendous strain. *More...energy* she sends. An instant later
Dragon's Bane blasts out a message to every "friendly" mind in the
area, *this is Dragon's Bane, hit me with everything you can. My
shields will absorb the energy, and I can then route it to Aurora.* At
the same time the CAoL members who have sigils, can feel an enormous
drain on the energy pool.
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 13:07:21 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: RE: AAE 4: The ThirdSpace Mission
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 14:59:38 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005566
I'm a bit confused - what are these Lensmen in Thirdspace
like? Do they actually HAVE Lenses, or did the Eddorians kill off the
Arisians before the breeding programs were complete? I will try and
move this forwards a bit anyway...
James stands, head bowed inside the silver helmet, on the bridge of
his captured spacecraft, among dead things of perfectly horrible
countenance. He hasn't even bothered to look at them. He knows nothing
but himself yet lives inside this particular ship. The enemy, fooled
by his carefully counterfeited thought radiations, believes that
everything is as normal as can be expected in such a battle.
Carefully, he scans the surrounding space, sniffing for the harder,
sharper radiations of truly mighty minds.
Then, he cross-checks with the rebel forces, eliminating their minds
from his plot, held in his mind like a chess master would "see" a game
even without physical pieces and a board. *All right. These are the
top five. Pick twenty more. Form up five teams of four, who can meld
if needed. Send me a teep, a telekinetic, and a screamer, or jammer,
whichever you call that, to work on my team - someone has to keep the
ship under cover while I take down the remaining Eddorians. I expect
they'll try to run after I pick off the first two, maybe three. You'll
HAVE to slow them enough to keep them on THIS side of the gate, until
we have enough stations locked down the gate collapses.*
*Prepare to receive targets. These are stations without Eddorian or
Plooran minds in charge directly on the stations. Have your teams
subborn ships like mine; we're going to bait and swtich them.
Otherwise, they'd just go all out to take out mine. I may use one
teleport during the combat as true confusion. That is about all I have
left; I'm much stronger as a telepath than a teleportative. Unless you
have a teleporter who can take the side radiation I'll generate in
battle with an Eddorian mind. I won't have enough jets left over to
completely shield another mind.*
*An engineer who might be able to figure out how to destroy a Black
Box physically if given the time for study might also be a good idea,
once we've taken over completely one of the stations. Add one outfit
of your equivalent of Marines, to board, storm and hold it once I've
taken out the Fat Cat. Do you agree? Any better ideas are welcome.*
James looks up, as his Helm goes intangible, it's shift into the full
Helmet of Order, or of Nabu, completed by James' shadow shift and
nano-constructions. He becomes still and poised, force gathering from
the jewel Kryptonite, an eagerness for the battle ahead carefully
relegated to the back workings of his mind, as the psionic power
builds within and around him.
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 13:36:04 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 16:15:31 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005567
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005561
> *The hell with you!* Starbreaker says, and focuses all his
> incredible power on the Dragon's Bane, and Aurora.
> The shield flickers, and Starbreaker doubles over.
> *HARM NOT AURORA.*
> Starbreaker snarls. *I'll deal with you later, Devourter of
> Angst.* He concentrates on Amazo...
> TBC
^Despero, I think you're going to want to be absent. Have Amazo
wormhole to the other side of this galaxy, and attack him with the
energy drain beams through shifting wormholes. Otherwise you might end
up as toast. Oh, and I don't think that you want to stay in one place
very long, since the wormholes can be traced.^ Aurora sends to
Despero. She reduces the spiritual attack to a more maintainable
level, but keeps it up. *Galactus, Why are you protecting that
cowardly scum?*
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 13:36:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 16:27:19 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005568
Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00005545
> The Nemo still aboard the Velvet Glove sends to all the CAoL (and
> allies) who might have useful input on the question:
>
> /Everyone, I need to make a decision about whether or not to try to
> overload Starbreaker *soon*!/
Aurora answers, /NO! Don't feed him. I'm going to try something that
would work on The Stardragon. Wait until we see if that works./
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:35:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 18:06:41 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005569
> On Sat, 22 Aug '98 Nemo Said
>
>> Dhyrclhanc Said
>>
>>>> Almost simulaneously, the crews of ships of the Eddorian and
>>>> Zwilnik forces (en masse, in each ship), as well as
>
> Minor nitpick.
>
> "Zwilnik" is drug-running. "Boskone" is piracy, up to and including
> taking over worlds (or universes?).
Then I probably should've probably said/writen Boskone. In anycase, I
meant to indicate the non-Eddorian forces allied with the Thirdspace
aliens/Eddorians.
>> The Mesclinite (sp?)
> ^^^^^^^^^^Mesklinite
Thank you, I've read an over view of the storiesbut I couldn't rember
how to spell it. Ignoring the fact that I'm a lousy speller anyways
(due to the fact that I've got a minor case of good old old-fashioned
dyslexia)
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:35:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Reunions and Departures (1) (was: WHTMG?)
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:26:23
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005570
>On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 13:02:40 -0700 (PDT)
> Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005552
>
>/Mr. Garibaldi will be getting exactly the reports he would expect,
> from the Security Systems,
> Also his commands will be followed in his immediate area if
> applicable./
Garibaldi crawled through an air duct that should have been too
small for humanoids according to the design specs, but apparently
someone hadn't bothered to read their instructions. He'd be in C&C
before anyone knew what was happening, and then Ivanova and the
station would be-
[Ivanova. Susan. I...I can't...]
A surge of anger washed over him.
[I can show them. I can show them all!]
Garibaldi continued, though sweat ran down his face and his hands
were shaking...
Byron frowns as he walks up to the door to C&C. [I don't like this.
I should have moved on...well. I've never been one to whine about my
fate, in any lifetime. I act.] He reaches for the controls.
Medlab.
Franklin sighed in relief. Legion was stable (if not conscious) and
the number of wounded appearing had reduced to a manageable level.
Most of the pilots who were showing up were unharmed now, and they had
come up with a sedative that undid the aftereffects of Starro
possession in short order. He turned to check on his other Callahanian
patient.
A tendril, as black as pitch, wraps around his head, and a
telepathic command overwhelms him instantly. Franklin collapses.
[Good boy,] Shard thinks with a quiet laugh. [Sit. Stay.] He turns
and...feels..her presence.
[Ah, Solitare...it's been too long.]
Morgan lay quietly in the medlab bed. [I promised to rest, but that
doesn't mean I can't monitor,] she thinks, as her mind reaches out on
different parts of the link, catching up on all she had missed while
under Starro's influence. Noticing that Zia was coordinating, she
informs her that the Ploorans intended to turn on the Legion of Doom,
whom they now considered traitors. She lays back, smiling as she
watches Roland battling with Sinestro and Zoom.
Organic tendrils, enhanced with psychokinetic force, wrap around
Morgan with lightning speed.
"Hi honey, I'm home!" Shard laughs as he walks in, turning visible.
Two nurses charge at him, running into a forcefield rather painfully.
Morgan takes a moment to realize who Shard is, then looks at him
coldly. "What the nass are _you_ doing here?" She pings Roland,
knowing he'll want to 'hear' whatever the former Brand has to say.
Shard sighs dramatically. "I know, I know, a straight
snatch-and-grab, no style, no finesse. But when your omnipotent boss
says, 'stall the OpForce,' you do what you're told, grok?"
Byron appears, sword out, just in time to see them vanish.
"Oh bloody hell," he hisses between his teeth. [Nothing for it
now-I _have_ to contact Roland. Hope he doesn't decide to kill me on
the spot.]
Fighting to beat the band...
^MORGAN?!^
{Sorry, Sinestro,} Roland says sarcastically, {but I don't have
time to play with you right now.} Shaking off a golden elephant that
stomped him a moment before, he winds up, and hits a home run with
Sinestro's head. The anti-Lantern flies past the Harlequin (OOC: Go
for it, Driss! ) and slams into the edge of the artificial
atmosphere provided by Z'On'Dar. Roland then 'ports to the surface.
"We don't have much time," Byron says, looking out toward the dome.
"You're right. We-HUH?!" Roland turns, staring in shock at Byron
Gaunt.
The only man he'd ever killed.
He was at Byron's throat at once, his hands locked in an iron grip
around the one-time general of the Adversary.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, BASTICH!"
"akk-don't kill me, roland-" Byron sends, opening his mind to the
Freelance Immortal desperately.
Roland's eyes narrow to thin slits beneath his mask, and stare into
Byron for a long moment. Then he lets Gaunt go. "All right. But give
me any trouble, and I'll turn you into patee so fast you'll think you
were _born_ on a cracker."
Byron nods with a cough. *The obligatory threat of annihilation
upon betrayal is acknowledged.*
"Good." Roland's rarely-used ESP reaches out, seeking a better view
of Shard and Morgan.
"But have you ever considered a career as a writer?" Byron quips.
"Not NOW, Byron."
Just outside the dome.
"Ah, lovely Solitare. Just like old times," Shard sighs almost
happily.
Morgan stares at him. "What in the _frack_ are you talking about, and
who's 'Solitare'?" Her voice is even, and she keeps the link to her
husband wide open while shielding it from her captor.
"Ah, story time." He holds out his free hand, and an image appears
of a city of heartbreaking beauty. "Atlantis. Almost as beautiful as
you, isn't it?" When her only response is a disgusted look, he
continues unfazed. "Valdoria was under constant attack before 'the
mighty Atlan' came and kicked Father's rear. Ah, that's Malice to you,
by the way. Anyhow, even ol' Mr. Cosmic Power feels the urge to be
fruitful and multiply." With each sentence, the image changes: One of
Malice as a dark, handsome figure bursting with power, one of Atlan in
a vicious battle with the Destroyer, and one of a wedding.
"Anyway, Atlan's first kid was a cute little thing name of
Solitare. She grew up to become el Supremo Sorceress, and a real babe
to boot." Shard gives an appreciative growl as an image of a woman
much like Morgan appears.
"Finally, dear ol' dad gets a clue, and puts a psychic headlock on
all his 'wayward children.' The Legion o' Super-Zombies goes off to
bring down Atlantis, and we even come close to winning. Then some kid
no one's ever heard of grabs a stunner and uses that and some awesome
PK to take down a whole flank of troops, including yours truly."
An image of Harmon the Defender appears, looking rather intently
into the eyes of Lady Solitare. He notices Morgan's eyes widen, but
she still says nothing, so he continues.
"ANYway, he completes the roster of the Champions of Atlantis for
the first century. Ah, that was a glorious time to be alive, though I
have to admit, tweaking his nose earned me a lot of bruises. He was a
boy scout. You, on the other hand, were looking for more than just a
boy scout..."
Images appear of Defender and Solitare chasing Shard through the
Atlantean skyline.
"...starting to ring a bell here?" Shard smiles as an image of him
stealing a kiss from Solitare appears, followed shortly by a PK blast
knocking him into the ocean.
"If you get near a point," Morgan says evenly, "make it." The images
are starting to click, but she's not about to let him know that yet.
Shard sighs. "You're Solitare and the boy scout's still the boy
scout." He picks her up again and walks toward the dome.
^Nass! Stall him, Morgan!^ Roland sends, as he and Byron deal with
some forgotten parademons.
"I hate leftovers," Byron mutters.
"And you're hoping I'm still looking for 'more than just a boy
scout'?" Morgan says, her voice warming. ^I'll try, love, but don't
freak.^
^What the grife does _that_ mean?^ Roland asks, frowning as two
parademons have a meeting of the minds.
"Well, Harmon finally grew up a little, but before that, we had
some...good times," Shard replies, stopping in mid-stride. "You always
_did_ like a bit of the wildside in your men." A touch of the
sensation Byron...inflicted...on her once upon a time washes over her
anew. He wraps an arm around her, pulling her close.
Morgan gasps. [Grife, _I'm_ supposed to be distracting _him_,] she
thinks, regaining control. "And you always were a wild one," she
replies, turning her head so her lips brush his arm.
"Ohhh...damn, Soli, you always _were_ the equal of any ten women."
Shard smiles wickedly. "Let's find out if I can satisfy enough to
equal ten men."
His lips brush against her neck, eliciting the desired response. As
she moans, quivering in his arms, he moves up along her ear... she
struggles toward him rather than away... he kisses her cheek, and she
moves her own lips up his shoulder... toward his mouth... their lips
meet...
TBC ....
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:35:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Reunions and Departures (2)
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:29:15
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005571
His lips brush against her neck, eliciting the desired response. As
she moans, quivering in his arms, he moves up along her ear... she
struggles toward him rather than away... he kisses her cheek, and she
moves her own lips up his shoulder... toward his mouth... their lips
meet...
Tap tap tap.
"Oh hell," Shard says, turning and favoring Blaze with a wide
smile. "Hey, boy scout, how's it hanging?"
A PK blast throws Shard away from Morgan and into the dirt. The
tendrils snap away and fall off harmlessly, and Roland catches her an
instant later.
"Are you all right, Morgan?" Roland asks, looking into her eyes.
Morgan gazes back, then throws her arms around his neck and kisses him
passionately. After they come up for air, she mutters, "I don't know
if he equals ten men, but he's nowhere _near_ the only one who
matters."
Roland blushes(tm) as Shard rises, crackling with raw Quickening.
"I was having a good time," he says in a very Nicholson-esque voice.
"I was a man doing well with a beautiful woman."
"In your dreams," Roland quips.
"As if," Morgan replies simultaneously.
Quietly, Byron steps between the two Callahanians and Shard. "After
ten thousand years, Shadow Brand, I would think you'd learn. Those two
are soul mates. Even the Destroyer could not end that." He draws his
sword.
Morgan's eyes widen. She looks at Roland, then stares again at their
benefactor. She almost whispers, "Byron?" but her warrior training
stops her from distracting the man at a crucial moment. She silently
asks the question of Roland instead.
^Ariel, apparently, decided to grab his soul and use him against
us. Then she decided that KnightMare was more important, and
un-brainwashed him. He scans as sincere, and I know everything he knew
about telepathy, but that still isn't the same as a century of exper-^
Byron flies back, barely holding off the Quickening blast.
^Then again...^ Roland puts Morgan down gently, then leaps into the
fray, swinging at Shard with the Rod.
Shard dodges with surprising ease, throwing Roland back with a
solid wall of Quickening.
Morgan sizes up the tactical situation. Three-on-one close combat
could be a very tricky thing, even if the three had trained together.
She knew these men's minds, but not _that_ well. She teleports behind
Shard, opposite his attackers, in an attempt to cut off his retreat.
Shard turns on his torso a full 180 degrees to face Morgan once
more. "This isn't the first time you've turned me down, princess," he
snarls, pushing her back with a kinetic wave, "but you were always
straight with me before."
"That," Byron says, striking at Shard mentally as Roland slammed
all his power at him in one blast, "was millenia ago."
"This isn't a game, Shard!" Blaze shouts, turning into lightning
and rocketing at the living weapon.
Shard vanishes, reappearing next to the dome. "Of course it is, you
hero wannabe! All that-" he waves above him at the battle- "is just a
diversion! You lost the real fight a long time ago! HA!" His hand
touches the dome, and the forcelock wraps around him. "Not that that's
such a bad thing, really," Shard says more gently as he emerges within
the safety of the dome. "You people have no idea why all this has
happened. But you will.
"As for you Soli, I ought to be mad-" Shard smiles. "-but that kiss
was worth it." He vanishes.
Roland snarls. "NASS! What the grife are they _up_ to in there?"
Byron bows to Morgan. "Lady Morgan." He turns, unable to make
himself look at her for more than a few moments. "I tried scanning
him. His shields were too strong. He's even more powerful now than he
was then."
Morgan blinks at Byron, still trying to assimilate the returning
memories. "Not you, too?"
Byron shrugs. "My memories of lives past are...extensive. I was a
Captain of the Guard in which 'Harmon' served before becoming the
Defender. I have done good...though my failings have resulted in much
pain, as well...Little Flower."
Roland shakes his head. "We don't have time for this now. The
multiverse is going nuts around us, and the guilt is going to have to
wait. Morgan, are you up to a Starro hunt?"
"Huh?" Morgan snaps back to the present. That name, "Little Flower",
had struck a chord. But Roland was right, there was no time now. She
looks around at Roland in his Blaze form, the twin Flashes battling
above them, the emerald glow moving Babylon Five to safety, the
Kryptonians crashing through waves of fighters, and back to her
husband.
"Yeah, but it looks like I'm a little out of step with the current
fashion, though." She smiles mischievously and points her Power Ring
at her feet. In one sweeping upward motion, her garb is transformed.
It's all still grey, but with an opalesent quality. Knee-high cavalier
boots, a light grey double belt with a sword sheath, fingerless gloves
extending above her elbows, a sleeveless skin-tight unitard with a
neckline plunging low enough to show off ample cleavage without
crossing the line to immodesty, and a cowl that masked her face to
just below her green eyes and left her hair free to float in auburn
waves.
"Phoenix," Byron breathes, "you are a _lucky_ man."
"You said it," Roland replies. He puts an arm around her waist,
pulls her close, and kisses her thoroughly. "Go get 'em, Greywolf."
With that, Roland vanishes.
Byron bows to her formally. "Blaze no doubt assumed I would follow
up on Lady Ziactrice's orders, Lady Morgan. I only hope..." he looks
away again. "...I only hope I can, in some small way, atone for...what
I've done to you. And him."
Morgan bit her lip uncomfortably. What he'd done to her. Incredible
pain. Indescribable pleasure. And it was his interference that had
practically pushed Roland and her into each others' arms. He'd already
died once for that set of crimes. Surely that was enough.
"You're fighting on the side of Light again," ['Again'? Where had
_that_ come from?] "If you help us win this war, that should be more
than enough atonement. If we don't win.... She shook off that thought,
and held her hand out to him with a smile. "Light be with you, Byron."
He takes it, gently, bending down...then changing his mind. [No. I
have no right.] "My thanks, Bright Lady." He releases her hand, and he
too is gone.
Morgan stared at the spot the men had been for a moment, thinking.
Then she snapped out of it. /Hey Zia,/ she sent over the link, /What's
the last known location of that ugly echinoderm (1)?/
(1) Echinodermata is the phylum that includes starfish ;-)
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 17:34:34 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 20:25:43 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005572
> On Sun, 23 Aug '98 Morgan and/or Roland Said
>
>>Dhyrclhanc Said
>
> (OOC: Dhyrclhanc can make a Class 5000 mental attack? Eeeewww!
> Unfortunately, the Ploorans are an entire _race_ of Second-Stage
> mentalities. You take out a few capitol ships, but the flyer pilots'
> 'minds' are essentially nonexistent. It's rather like trying to
> blind Daredevil; the job's already been done.)
IIRC, according the that DCH write-up of a GL-type powerring
that you sent me, if the ring is focused upon a single task the point
total is serveral factors *over* the MSH rank of Class 5000. I limited
myself to Class 5000 so that the results wouldn't be too overwhelming.
Plus, I'm more comfortable thinking in MSH terms anyway; after a
certain point in DCH things just got plain ridiculous! Hey you wanna
send me that write-up again?
>>[Palatine and Takhsis, I hate it when that happens. I'm still not
>>used to running into cognates like that. Now for those Eddorians,
>>It's time they learned what combat with a real Lensman is like.]
>
> Within the Dome, Takhisis smiles. "Ah, I was wondering when he'd
> arrive."
To quote a certain Dr Samuel Beckett, "Oh Boy".She is the last
person I want "interested" in Dhyrclhanc. Although, In case nobody
understood this before, Dhyrclanc "worships" both Bahamut/Palatine and
Tiamat/Tahkis as the two extremes of Reality on a half budist/zen,
half wiccan-style, religion
>>/Hey Roland, you sure these guys are Eddorians?/ asked Dhyrclhanc
>>jokingly.
>
> /I've never had the pleasure,/ Roland replies dryly.
/It was a rhetorical question anyway, bro./
>> Exactly how many of those psuedo-Vorlon fighters and soap-
>>bubbles with guns are left will dictate Dhyrclhanc's next move. So
>>how many are left, oh mighty GM?
>
> (OOC: Lots. You guys keep knocking 'em down, and the Eddorans
> keep sending 'em. 'Crunch all you want, we'll make more[tm].' Until
> you get bored with that. )
The "Charles Xavier" re-enters the upper layer of the furball.
Dhyrclhanc grins, seeing how many of the Eddorian captial ships his
initial psi-blast took out.
"PIXAR, prepare for evasive manuvers on my mark and release telepathic
control of the weapons' sytems to me."
#Working, Command recieved and executed. all weapons' systems on-line,
including Death Cloud cannon.#
#Initiate Full Combat Mode now#
Several sliding doors on the exterior of the craft slide open; one
each on the top and the bottom of the nose, two each on the top and
the bottom of the warp nacelles. Each reveals a weapon turret of some
kind. It is at this point that some of the Ploorian fighters and the
several of the remainder of the Captiol ships reconize the presence of
the newcomer pseuo-Defiant ship and change their courses to intercept.
The battle, however, becomes rather one-sided as Dhyrclhanc uses his
psi-abilities to send the various "helmsmen's" sensory systems into a
fugue state, thereby allowing him to fire and depart in their blind
spots.
Between the "Xavier's" missle batteries and photon and quantum
torpedoes, and particle beam batteries the fighters are made short
work of; their engines and weapons systems dissabled but the ships
themselves are left whole. The crews left in psychic stasis.
The Capital ships, end up being a slightly different matter;
Dhyrclhanc's sensory "slight-of-hand" trick ends up being less
effective against the crews of the soap-bubbles. Even with the craft's
evasive manuvers several shots from the captial ships land on the
craft, most of them being delt with by either the "Xavier's" shields
or ablative armor, but many of them having to be taken care of by the
ship's regenerative repair systems.
#Activate Death-Cloud cannon.#
In a seemingly suicidal manuver, the "Xavier" begins a head-on charge
with three of the soap-bubbles. At the last minute it Rifts out but
not before another static pulse/Rift from the main deflector/sensor
grid brings several million gallons of water into the space around
where the capital ships now resided. The water instantly froze around
the ships causing havok with the ships' systems, notably sensory and
weapons.
Appearing back in normal space directly behind the, now, floating
icebergs, the "Xavier" realeases a volley of quantum torpedoes that
make short work of the capital ships.
"Something tells me that this particular trick may not work twice.
PIXAR, open hailing frequencies and set frequencies to those identical
to those used by EarthForce ships."
#Frequcies open and set#
{This is the OTC-NX "Charles Xavier" requesting aid from any
EarthForce vessels in the area. Are in combat with the forces of the
Thirdspace aliens but require asistance, please respond.}
===========================
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 22:05:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 21:38:15
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005573
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 16:15:31 EDT
>Dane Said As CAoL Message # 00005567
>
>^Despero, I think you're going to want to be absent. Have Amazo
>wormhole to the other side of this galaxy, and attack him with the
>energy drain beams through shifting wormholes. Otherwise you might
>end up as toast. Oh, and I don't think that you want to stay in one
>place very long, since the wormholes can be traced.^ Aurora
^Gone!^ Despero replies, and there is a flicker of energy from
within Amazo.
*No,* Amazo sends, and Starbreaker is blocked by that android's
vast powers. *You removed too many of Ivo's blocks, Despero. I am
self-aware. I understand what I am. And I have the memories of the
Justice Legion.
*And I must make amends for my service to Professor Ivo and the
Legion of Doom.*
Despero vanishes, and the two most powerful foes the Justice Legion
has ever faced are locked in a battle that few can even see, but
wielding powers that could shatter galaxies.
>sends to Despero. She reduces the spiritual attack to a more
>maintainable level, but keeps it up. *Galactus, Why are you
>protecting that cowardly scum?*
Galactus watches the battle impassively, though a Boskonian vessel
comes too close...and vanishes into his gaze. *Forgive me, noble
starchild. But the architect of this strange gambit has cured me of my
hunger, and this service I must give in return. Fear not; continue
your attack, and Starbreaker will be forced to quit the field. Then
this...rabble...will be no more threat to you.*
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 02:36:31 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE4: And now, the Robin Goodfellow Orchestra...
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 04:07:47 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005574
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 11:57:50
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005563
>
> {Curse you, Blaze!} Sinestro snarls, hitting only void as the
>lightning-fast electric form evades him with ease.
> A crimson comet rockets past, taking Zoom with it. All that can be
>heard from Zoom: "not again!"
Puck smiles and turns to the Cylon band. "That's why we have concert
security."
"Gee," Puck said, "You'd think they didn't want me to go down there."
Puck stuffs his hands in his pockets. "I know when I'm not wanted."
Puck sniffles and blows his nose on a huge polka-dotted handkerchief.
"I know what to do when I've worn out my welcome," he blubbers.
"Make a BIGGER nuisance of myself!" Puck says cheerfully, striking a
dramatic pose.
Puck leapt astride a golden stallion with an insanely long mane and
tail. Sitting tall in the saddle in a costume identical to the
clownish cowboy costume the 1950's Doc Brown dressed Marty McFly in in
_Back to the Future III_, Puck held up his hat and shouted, "Hi ho,
Tin Foil! AWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!" as Tin Foil, mane and
tail flowing just like in the Daffy Duck Western, ran straight for the
planet.
Straight down toward the ground the horse and rider galloped. Puck's
eyes bugged out as he pulled franticly on the reigns as they got
dangeroudsly close to the ground.
"Whoa, Tin Foil, whoa, whoa. Horse, when I says, 'whoa' I means whoa!
Aw c'mon, WHOA!"
Tin Foil finally seemed to recognize the peril as he tried to dig into
the non-existant dirt beneath his feet like a cat trying to brake from
a dead run across waxed linoleum. Finally, the screech of brakes was
heard as they stopped mere feet from the ground. Horse and rider
rotated 90 degrees and landed lightly on hooved feet.
"Air brakes," the horse said.
Tin Foil galloped off in a cloud of dust toward the dome as the
William Tell Overture played in the background.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 05:08:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Reunions and Departures (2)
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 06:38:16 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005575
: On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:29:15
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005571
: Roland snarls. "NASS! What the grife are they _up_ to in there?"
/Already gave you my best guess on that. Although from the sound of
things, I am missing some data about Atlantis.Or more likely, the one
I know of is not the same one./ Zia answers. /Do me a favor, Roland.
IF the question is rheotorical, don't echo it to me, please?/
: Morgan stared at the spot the men had been for a moment, thinking.
: Then she snapped out of it. /Hey Zia,/ she sent over the link,
: /What's the last known location of that ugly echinoderm (1)?/
/It was detected by James through scanning on all the live video feeds
in the station in Loading Bay 28 Beta in Gray Sector. That is a trap
now, I'm sure. Garibaldi wouldn't have missed that. As B5 is exiting
the battle ground courtesy of Hal's efforts, I predict that Starro has
already relocated itself to a separate ship. Garibaldi's next attempt
should be at C&C to allow take off of this escape ship, and prevent
firing on it as it leaves./
/Let me see if Nemo can spare the capacity to do a respiration load
calculation versus number of human life signs. That should give us the
locale of the highest concentration of controlled humans. Or if you
can find a computer console, I'll fix clearance for you to run the
test yourself. If you can get a hand monitor, I can pipe the
programming to it, to track continuously. That has the additionl
bennie of an alarm when they near you. Although they're fighting much
smarter since Garibaldi was subborned./
/I suggest the use of a taser - effects should be temporary on humans,
but will cause the slaver stars to die. Either that, or the lime
again, or the heightening of... oh, drat. I should tell Command to
rise the CO2 levels until all humans drop. The Gnarns can clean up,
and if we do it right, it won't kill anyone. Cabin by cabin should be
possible./
There is a second's pause as Zia relays an urgent suggestion to C&C
B5; she even programs the console to go off with an attention getting
alarm.
*Hal Jordan of the Ring. Watch for an exiting ship; we suspect that
Starro might try an escape. I predict a 63.4% probability of a
covering fighter screen of controlled pilots. And a 38.2% chance that
Garibaldi will gain control of the B5 mounted guns long enough to give
you a problem. So, keep your head up out there, things could get
unfriendly. The beams are normally amber, but if Starro knows you,
Garibaldi is likely to adjust their radiative spectra. Should I
schedule you some backup, sir?*
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 05:08:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Thirdspace Mission (was: Arrivals & Reunions
(Long))
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 06:47:16 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005576
: On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 20:25:43 -0400
: Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005572
James grimaces as the Lensdragon literally wades into the midst of the
enemy ships, creating destruction in all directions at a massive pace
and scale.
: {This is the OTC-NX "Charles Xavier" requesting aid from any
: EarthForce vessels in the area. Are in combat with the forces of the
: Thirdspace aliens but require asistance, please respond.}
[He CAN'T be serious.] James exclaims, keeping even that startlement
strictly in his own mind. *Zia, check that - does he really require
assistance? He hasn't even been nudged yet. And he came in guns
blazing, he HAD to know what sort of reaction he'd draw. All this
noise of his fight is a wonderful distraction for the rest of my teams
to proceed as we had _planned_ to sabotage the stations one by one.*
Zia follows up with a message to DC: /Do you really need assistance,
and if so, back up onto THIS side of the gate again - you'll draw
forces James needs for his plan, if you are truly that vulnerable./
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:14:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAEIV: Awakening
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:06:27 -0400
Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005577
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:07:26 -0400
>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005564
>In the medlab, Natalia sat up with a wordless scream, throwing the
>ice packs off of what had been Legion's body. Her temperature dropped
>down towards normal, the convulsions stopped, as she looked around
>the medlab without really seeing it.
>
>Marcus was dead.
>
>And it was her fault.
Natalia could hear the voices inside her head, pressing at her,
distracting her. Without hesitation she threw up a shield against
them.
Legion's voice came over the CaoL link /We have a problem... there's a
new persona, and she's.../ The rest was cut off suddenly.
In the medlab, Natalia glanced down at the lens on her wrist... and it
fell to the ground. Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed, she
moved to stand, only vaguely aware of her surroundings.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:28:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005579
> On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:53:10 EDT
> Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005565
> Aurora keeps the pressure up, but those in contact with her, can
> tell it is a tremendous strain. *More...energy* she sends. An
> instant later Dragon's Bane blasts out a message to every "friendly"
> mind in the area, *this is Dragon's Bane, hit me with everything you
> can. My shields will absorb the energy, and I can then route it to
> Aurora.* At the same time the CAoL members who have sigils, can feel
> an enormous drain on the energy pool.
A Nemisis Split arrives next to the hull of Dragon's Bane,
Locking herself in place with a Q-Type Helix force tube,
^Let me know when you have enough.^
The Interior of the Tube lights up...
She has opened a pinhole gateway,
To a point in space less than a meter from
the 'surface' of a Quasar,
The Gate Diameter will increase slowly from 1 mm towards 1 m,
Until she is told the energy rate is adequate.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:28:35 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Thirdspace Mission (was: Arrivals & Reunions
(Long))
Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005581
>: Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005572
>: {This is the OTC-NX "Charles Xavier" requesting aid from any
>: EarthForce vessels in the area. Are in combat with the forces of
>: the Thirdspace aliens but require asistance, please respond.}
Three much smaller ships of the same shape,
Fly in from various directions and take up flight wing positions
the main body of Each of these is a Charged Power Battery,
The rest of the Mass is a Nemisis Split...
{Ready for Tactical Linkup.}
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:42:20 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 16:30:20 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005582
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 11:38:14
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005561
>
> John doesn't sink anywhere. The dome doesn't even budge. A 'force
>lock' forms near the Zodaii, and Darkseid rises from the dome,
>holding a burning seed. The outer 'lock' opens.
> "You," Darkseid says tonelessly, "are trespassing."
"What was you're first clue."
>He tosses the seed to one side and the forcelock swallows him. (OOC:
>If John actually _attacks_ Dark-
OOC: Next time...
> The seed explodes, and a 20-foot tall flaming humanoid appears
>behind of John and bellows:
> "You, who dare to defy mighty Darkseid, prepare to die before the
>sword of BRIMSTONE!" He raises a hand, and a bright fusion blade
>appears in it as he brings it crashing down at John...
John raises his right hand over his head and catches the sword with a
grunt. He slowly turns until he faces Brimstone. A fey smile crosses
his face, then he jumps straight at Brimstone, energy drain on maximum
and a set of Saphire claws covering his hands.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:41:27 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Thirdspace Mission
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 17:02:00 -0400 (EDT)
Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00005583
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 06:47:16 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005576
>
>:>>Dhyrclhanc Said
>:{This is the OTC-NX "Charles Xavier" requesting aid from any
>:EarthForce vessels in the area. Are in combat with the forces of
>:the Thirdspace aliens but require asistance, please respond.}
John, /You big baby. Help is on the way. I stopped transmitting awhile
ago so they've probably been doing a tactical analysis./
>Zia follows up with a message to DC: /Do you really need assistance,
>and if so, back up onto THIS side of the gate again - you'll draw
>forces James needs for his plan, if you are truly that vulnerable./
OOC: Martin/DC says that he is on the B5 side of the gate, in front of
the gate between it and B5. Moot point...
On the Eddorian side of the gate, a large jump point opens right in
the middle of a group of Eddorian ships and the Spoiler flows through.
Three miles of beweaponed death, it immediately opens fire while
expelling it's contingent of roughly 800 single man fighters drawn
from everywhere John's been in his journeys. They take up position
practically in front of the gate, daring the Eddorians to bull their
way through.
Rhia's voice comes over the link, /Kisses, all. We finished up a
little early and decided to drop by for a visit./
John, /If I'm not careful the men will all end up more loyal to her
than to me./ Pride rings in his voice. /Status?/
Rhia, /Previous missions completed satisfactorily, sir. Crew for
Spoiler only, ships under the direction of Sherman. Conditions
indicated that manned ships would be an extreme waste of life./
John, /Sigh. There goes my equipment budget... Hey, anyone want a
cigarette lighter? I might be able to fit this guy inside one if I
push hard enough./
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 18:50:26 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:45:17 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005584
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005573
> Galactus watches the battle impassively, though a Boskonian
> vessel comes too close...and vanishes into his gaze. *Forgive me,
> noble starchild. But the architect of this strange gambit has cured
> me of my hunger, and this service I must give in return. Fear not;
> continue your attack, and Starbreaker will be forced to quit the
> field. Then this...rabble...will be no more threat to you.*
*If that's the way it has to be, then so be it. I do rejoice in the
curing of your hunger, by the way.* Aurora sends. With that, and
increased energy sources (see other posts) Aurora renews her attack on
Starbreaker, at it's previous high level.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 18:50:37 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:51:35 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005585
Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005579
> A Nemisis Split arrives next to the hull of Dragon's Bane,
> Locking herself in place with a Q-Type Helix force tube,
>
> ^Let me know when you have enough.^
>
> The Interior of the Tube lights up...
> She has opened a pinhole gateway,
> To a point in space less than a meter from
> the 'surface' of a Quasar,
> The Gate Diameter will increase slowly from 1 mm towards 1 m,
> Until she is told the energy rate is adequate.
Dragon's Bane responds ^My ability to store energy, is infinite,
though I can absorb from any one source, only about ten times what you
are supplying right now (OOC: when the diameter is at 1 m). Keep it
up, please. We'll be done, when Starbreaker goes down for the long
count. Thanks!^
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 19:41:08 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 19:18:12 -0700 (PDT)
Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005586
> On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:51:35 EDT
> Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005585
> Dragon's Bane responds ^My ability to store energy, is infinite,
> though I can absorb from any one source, only about ten times what
> you are supplying right now (OOC: when the diameter is at 1 m). Keep
> it up, please. We'll be done, when Starbreaker goes down for the
> long count. Thanks!^
^reconfiguring to triple Tube Diameter.^
A second Q-Type Helix tube forms outside the original,
then the inner tube shuts down,
and gate Diameter expands to 3 m.
^That should increase input to nine times previous level,
Leaving an adequete safety margin.^
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:02:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:33:11 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005587
> Nemisis Said
> Three much smaller ships of the same shape,
> Fly in from various directions and take up flight wing positions
> the main body of Each of these is a Charged Power Battery,
> The rest of the Mass is a Nemisis Split...
>
> {Ready for Tactical Linkup.}
It might be a moot point right now, but, as Paul has already
said Dhyrclhanc and the "Xavier" are in the the midst of interdition
of the Ploorian/Eddorian craft that have already come through the
Thirdspace Artifact before John and Rhia's blockade of the gate.
#Greetings "Grandmother"! These are frequencies for comunication with
the "Xavier's" systems including PIXAR {}. Please indicate the exact
positioning that your ships are going to attain and maintain around
the Xavier. Also these {} are the mental frequencies I've been using
to strobe/fugue the sensory perceptions of the Ploorian fighter
pilots. Please note that this tactic is extremely less effective
against the crews of the Capitiol Ships.#
Dhyrclhanc swings the "Xavier" and its accompanying Nemisis/psuedo-
Defiant corvettes back into the thick of the battle. Utilizing
similar, but not identical tactics against the Ploorian/Eddorian fleet
on the B5 side of the Thirdspace gate.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:03:01 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Thirdspace Mission
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:39:40 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005588
> On Mon, 24 Aug '98 Shadow Said
> John, /Sigh. There goes my equipment budget... Hey, anyone want a
> cigarette lighter? I might be able to fit this guy inside one if I
> push hard enough./
Even from their respective places on either side of the Thirdspace
gate, both Riannon and John can plainly "hear" Dhyrclhanc, from his
command of the mini-psudo-Defiant task force, transmit, /Showoffs!/
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:09:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:22:06 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005589
: On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:51:35 EDT
: Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005585
: Dragon's Bane responds ^My ability to store energy, is infinite,
: though I can absorb from any one source, only about ten times what
: you are supplying right now (OOC: when the diameter is at 1 m). Keep
: it up, please. We'll be done, when Starbreaker goes down for the
: long count. Thanks!^
/Uhmmm.... is it completely necessary to murder this entity? Or, more
hopefully, I have mistaken your intentions?/
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 21:22:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE IV: Rising to Apotheosis
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:38:01
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005590
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 06:38:16 -0500
>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005575
>
>: On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 15:29:15
>: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005571
>: Roland snarls. "NASS! What the grife are they _up_ to in there?"
>
>/Already gave you my best guess on that. Although from the sound of
>things, I am missing some data about Atlantis.Or more likely, the one
>I know of is not the same one./ Zia answers. /Do me a favor, Roland.
>IF the question is rheotorical, don't echo it to me, please?/
Roland blinks. /OOps. Sorry, Zia, I hadn't thought that I _had._
I'm responding to my sib's distress call; let me know if I can be of
more use elsewhere. Just for now, though, I feel a need to crunch lots
o' space orcs./ Blaze veers towards the furball.
>/It was detected by James through scanning on all the live video
>feeds in the station in Loading Bay 28 Beta in Gray Sector. That is a
>trap now, I'm sure. Garibaldi wouldn't have missed that. As B5 is
>exiting the battle ground courtesy of Hal's efforts, I predict that
>Starro has already relocated itself to a separate ship. Garibaldi's
>next attempt should be at C&C to allow take off of this escape ship,
>and prevent firing on it as it leaves./
Garibaldi hovers over C&C, frowning. [Damn. Ivanova's expecting
me.] Then that same, creepy smile, that was somehow not _quite_
Garibaldi's, spreads under the Starro on his face. [Well, I can't very
well disappoint her, now can I?] He presses a stud on his commlink,
and the entire station...shakes. Hard.
"WHOA!" Ivanova falls to one knee, and everyone else in C&C slams
into something metallic...hard. "What the hell? Since when can the
stabilizers do _that?_"
Garibaldi jumps down and tackles Ivanova before she can rise.
"Since about ten minutes ago, when our 'upgrades' went on-line. How ya
doin', Susan?"
"Garibaldi!"
The single Starro eye blinks. "Almost." He reaches into a pouch at
his side, and pulls out a starfish. "Time to join the seafood brigade,
Captain."
Susan stops fighting. "I don't think so."
Michael stops. "Huh?"
"You're not the plot exposition type. Well, not until afterward,
when you're showing off for the audience." Susan smiles slightly. "In
about twenty seconds, you're going to pull that stupid thing off your
face."
"Why should I?" Garibaldi snarls. "I was never more than a grunt
with a degree to any of you! Now, I'm the best damn agent Thirdspace
has ever seen!"
Susan's smile vanishes. "Wrong. You're the best damn agent the
Alliance has, and I think the Thirdspace telepaths are stretched too
thin. I trust you, Michael." She closes her eyes. (And quietly reaches
for the blaster in the small of her back.)
[Take her...help her...nnn...]
*Listen to me, Garibaldi. I, Starro, command you...REMOVE YOUR
STAR!*
*NO! DO NOT!*
"NNNNRRRAAGH!" In one quick motion, Garibaldi grabs the starfish on
his face and pulls.
Susan pulls out her blaster and turns the Starro to charcoal.
Garibaldi collapses, then looks up and smiles faintly. "...so...you
trust me...huh?"
Ivanova smiles as she holsters the PPG. "You, I trust. Starro is
another story."
Everyone else starts shakily rising. "Yeah, well, Starro's actually
on our side now. If it hadn't been saving up its resistance to help me
get loose, one of us would be very unhappy right now," Garibaldi
replies. "But we've got to get to it either way. So I'd better-"
The station shakes again.
>*Hal Jordan of the Ring. Watch for an exiting ship; we suspect that
>Starro might try an escape. I predict a 63.4% probability of a
>covering fighter screen of controlled pilots. And a 38.2% chance that
>Garibaldi will gain control of the B5 mounted guns long enough to
>give you a problem. So, keep your head up out there, things could get
>unfriendly. The beams are normally amber, but if Starro knows you,
>Garibaldi is likely to adjust their radiative spectra. Should I
>schedule you some backup, sir?*
Hal smiles. *Everyone falls for that one...that's not my weakness
any more. It's the 11 column of the periodic table, including gold, so
I _do_ have a weakness to something yellow. But just having light at
that frequency doesn't 'cut it' any more.* Zia gets the feeling of a
wicked grin. *Backup isn't likely to be necessary.* He frowns as the
station turns gracefully on its own. *Unless it's for someone to keep
me updated...*
C&C.
"She ought to steer like a pig, sir, but the station handles better
than a StarFury," Corwin says.
"Don't brag," Garibaldi quips. "I've seen your simulator reports."
"That will do, Michael," Ivanova replies, but she can't help a
smile. [The rascal. Heh. He's even more of a hard luck case than I am-
maybe that's why we have the sharpest tongues in Earthspace. Heh. I
won-]
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:06:27 -0400
>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005577
>
>Natalia could hear the voices inside her head, pressing at her,
>distracting her. Without hesitation she threw up a shield against
>them.
>
>Legion's voice came over the CaoL link /We have a problem... there's
>a new persona, and she's.../ The rest was cut off suddenly.
/Legion?/ Sil asks. /Legion, come in./
>In the medlab, Natalia glanced down at the lens on her wrist... and
>it fell to the ground. Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed,
>she moved to stand, only vaguely aware of her surroundings.
"NATALIA!" Susan's eyes go wide, and she runs for the door.
"Who's Natalia?" Michael asks.
"My sister!"
Garibaldi blinks. "You don't have a sister."
"I know!" Susan vanishes around a corner.
Michael sighs and looks around. "Huh. Guess that means I'm in
charge." He looks around some more. "Uh, keep doing whatever it is you
were doing before." He sits heavily. "What's next, Duck Dodgers?"
At that moment, a bright, 50s style rocketship (that to all
scanners registers as being constructed entirely of ink and paint)
zooms up to the viewport. In the ship's porthole, a galaxy-famous face
appears.
"You mean..." a bright, multi-colored light shimmers behind him.
"DUCK DODGERTH, IN THE 24TH and a HALF...THEN-TURY!" Dodgerth...uh,
Dodgers zooms off and starts shooting anvils at the Thirdspace
fighters, to impressive effect.
Garibaldi blinks. He holds out his hand, to check for shaking.
None.
"Waiter, check please, table one."
And the overstressed head of Alliance Covert Ops collapses over a
console.
Medlab.
"Uhnnn..." Franklin is slowly helped to his feet. "Ah,
thanks-Susan?"
Susan nods. "Where's Natalia?"
Franklin blinks. "Who?"
(OOC: There's your opening, Legion...)
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:25:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: Waiting...
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 00:51:15 EDT
Driscoll Said As GR.CAoL Message # 00001638
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 09:34:30 -0700 (PDT) Morgan writes:
>> {Sorry, Sinestro,} Roland says sarcastically, {but I don't have
>>time to play with you right now.} Shaking off a golden elephant that
>>stomped him a moment before, he winds up, and hits a home run with
>>Sinestro's head. The anti-Lantern flies past the Harlequin (OOC: Go
>>for it, Driss! ) and slams into the edge of the artificial
>>atmosphere provided by Z'On'Dar. Roland then 'ports to the surface.
Harlequin noting that trying to help stop Starbreaker is libel to end
up in a freindly fire situation instead has been looking for a new
playmate and smiles. The 10 meter tall form vanishes a moment and a
normal sized Harlequin appears floating in Sinestro's path.
The two bodies crash together and there seems to be an explosion as
tiny objects seem to fly out in every direction and float there in
space. Harlequin quickly slips Sinestro's ring inside his cloak
depositing it in the pocket dimention therein and begins gathering up
the object arounmd him.
"Now look what you've done? You've scattered my rings everywhere!" he
shouts despite the void of space as he begins gathering up the plastic
power ring replicas.
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:31:54 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:09:53 -0700 (PDT)
Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005592
> On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:33:11 -0400
> Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005587
> It might be a moot point right now, but, as Paul has already
> said Dhyrclhanc and the "Xavier" are in the the midst of interdition
> of the Ploorian/Eddorian craft that have already come through the
> Thirdspace Artifact before John and Rhia's blockade of the gate.
>
> #Greetings "Grandmother"! These are frequencies for comunication
> with the "Xavier's" systems including PIXAR {}. Please indicate the
> exact positioning that your ships are going to attain and maintain
> around the Xavier. Also these {} are the mental frequencies I've
> been using to strobe/fugue the sensory perceptions of the Ploorian
> fighter pilots. Please note that this tactic is extremely less
> effective against the crews of the Capitiol Ships.#
# Aft Left and Right
and Below, (Seems to be a weak spot)
Initial positioning,
As I am about to try someing amost a crazy as some of Lord Fuzzy's
Stunts they will be set to take Primary Tactical Feed from you at
need.#
> Dhyrclhanc swings the "Xavier" and its accompanying Nemisis/psuedo-
> Defiant corvettes back into the thick of the battle. Utilizing
> similar, but not identical tactics against the Ploorian/Eddorian
> fleet on the B5 side of the Thirdspace gate.
Effectively these things are over-powered GL type tools,
Various Force Matterialization are their main weapons,
but they can relay projectiles from the New Mass Drivers on B5...
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:32:00 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:14:25 -0700 (PDT)
Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005593
> On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:22:06 -0500
> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005589
> /Uhmmm.... is it completely necessary to murder this entity? Or,
> more hopefully, I have mistaken your intentions?/
/I don't know,
Is that what "long count" means?/
===========================
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 23:07:56 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:57:39
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005594
>On Sun, 23 Aug 1998 20:25:43 -0400
>Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005572
>{This is the OTC-NX "Charles Xavier" requesting aid from any
>EarthForce vessels in the area. Are in combat with the forces of the
>Thirdspace aliens but require asistance, please respond.}
/Like you've gotta ask twice? YEE-HAH!/
Blaze returns with a vengeance.
The few Cylon Raiders remaining in the furball are turned into
scrap metal by Blaze's initial PK attack as the psion plows into the
fighter craft, though he avoids the (manned) capitol ships. Dozens of
fighters are impaled on his energy form as he flits through the battle
with (literally) lightning speed. And while he doesn't _blast_ the
soap-bubble starships, judicious use of EK plays havoc with their
controls.
/Oh, MAN, this is fun! *Hey, Kal-El, come on in, the crunchies are
fine!* I've been wanting to do this since we _got_ to this turkey
shoot!/
(OOC: GMing duties and all, y'know...)
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 05:05:41 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Rising to Apotheosis
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 07:00:33 -0500
Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005595
: On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:38:01
: Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005590
:>Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005575
:>/Already gave you my best guess on that. Although from the sound of
:>things, I am missing some data about Atlantis.Or more likely, the
:>one I know of is not the same one./ Zia answers. /Do me a favor,
:>Roland. IF the question is rheotorical, don't echo it to me,
:>please?/
:
: Roland blinks. /OOps. Sorry, Zia, I hadn't thought that I _had._
: I'm responding to my sib's distress call; let me know if I can be of
: more use elsewhere. Just for now, though, I feel a need to crunch
: lots o' space orcs./ Blaze veers towards the furball.
/Sure will. The question thing is a personal idiosyncracy; don't worry
about it too much in the heat of battle. Have fun with the scro./ Zia
grins, and turns her attentions to B5 in the distance, with it's
problems. The Eddore fusions are working harder, now separated from
their target by a significant distance...
:>/It was detected by James through scanning on all the live video
:>feeds in the station in Loading Bay 28 Beta in Gray Sector. That is
:>a trap now, I'm sure. Garibaldi wouldn't have missed that. As B5 is
:>exiting the battle ground courtesy of Hal's efforts, I predict that
:>Starro has already relocated itself to a separate ship. Garibaldi's
:>next attempt should be at C&C to allow take off of this escape ship,
:>and prevent firing on it as it leaves./
Ack! It was up to date when I said it.... sigh! Giggle.
: Hal smiles. *Everyone falls for that one...that's not my weakness
: any more. It's the 11 column of the periodic table, including gold,
: so I _do_ have a weakness to something yellow. But just having light
: at that frequency doesn't 'cut it' any more.* Zia gets the feeling
: of a wicked grin. *Backup isn't likely to be necessary.* He frowns
: as the station turns gracefully on its own. *Unless it's for someone
: to keep me updated...*
*Something borrowed, something blue/ something yellow, but only gold
will do?* Zia quips. *Ooops. The Eddore mind-force just lost their
grip on Garibaldi. The stations engines are now online. I'd say they
are capable of defending themselves as of now. If you like, choose a
new target or I may suggest that we use this momentary lull to train
you as well as possible with telepathy so you might augment the
Babylon fusion with protective one-way shielding. Or rejoin the fray,
and I can work with the B5 command staff through the computer links.*
Meanwhile, she update said computers and all links with a station
security code AT or near Zack's own level with the current tactical
layout. To the telepath fusion, she'll display a color coded by
intensity of placement map of red (enemy) v. blue (her side) with
purple in the zones of contention. The "inside" of Thirdspace, oddly
enough, is also shown.There are small purple dots in a sea of red,
there. Any telepath wanting the image relayed realtime has only to
ask; Zia sets up pyschotronic nano circuits to handle that, so it
doesn't actually require her concentration.
/Calling all Lensmen not engaged currently - is it possible for my
mind to handle the stress involved in bringing a Lens designed for
another into existance? James has need of such knowledge, but I'm not
sure that I can handle the Third Level of Stress that would, I
estimate, be a side-effect of the process. Can anyone please advise
me?/ Zia sends.
:>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:06:27 -0400
:>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005577
:>Legion's voice came over the CaoL link /We have a problem... there's
:>a new persona, and she's.../ The rest was cut off suddenly.
: /Legion?/ Sil asks. /Legion, come in./
/She is suppressed, or at least sublimated, at the moment, I guess,
Sil./ Zia says, much more hesitant than normal.
:>In the medlab, Natalia glanced down at the lens on her wrist... and
:>it fell to the ground. Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed,
:>she moved to stand, only vaguely aware of her surroundings.
*That is a very dangerous to leave lying around.* Zia attempts but if
Natalia is blocking, it never reaches her mind.
: And the overstressed head of Alliance Covert Ops collapses over a
: console.
/Byron, you'll need this link to President Sinclair. He was just
updated on tactical, and should be able to help you. That young man
there ... is current highest rank. [A lieutenant. HE must be
having a GREAT time.] Here is a zip on the controls. Everything else
Nemesis installed will activate deep triggers for learning it when
touched. I will try to get an offical chain of command cadre officer
to the bridge as soon as possible./
: Medlab.
: "Uhnnn..." Franklin is slowly helped to his feet. "Ah, thanks-
: Susan?"
: Susan nods. "Where's Natalia?"
: Franklin blinks. "Who?"
: (OOC: There's your opening, Legion...)
Simultaneously, Dr. Franklin's link goes off. "Medic needed in C&C.
Garibaldi just collapsed - from his links biosymbols, I believe he is
allergic to telepathy?? Ah, no, an ingrained resistance increased by
his experiences. Doctor, if you could send someone to aid him.
Additionally, without Ivanova, who has left the con without assigning
relief, you are currently the next officer, if you are considered line
of command in B5? If not, would you mind informing me whom I should
deal with now?" Zia's extremely deep tenor (for a woman, anyway) comes
slowly and calmly, with her somewhat Brit accent being made
understandable despite stress with careful and obviously thespian
trained speech.
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 05:36:07 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Rising to Apotheosis (repost & expanded)
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 08:22:06 -0400
Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005596
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:38:01
>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005590
>>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:06:27 -0400
>>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005577
>
>>Legion's voice came over the CaoL link /We have a problem... there's
>>a new persona, and she's.../ The rest was cut off suddenly.
>
> /Legion?/ Sil asks. /Legion, come in./
Legion, however, made no reply. The gesault had been damaged... now it
was all her scattered personas could do to hold themselves together
and continue their quest to support the pilots.
> Medlab.
> "Uhnnn..." Franklin is slowly helped to his feet. "Ah, thanks-
> Susan?"
> Susan nods. "Where's Natalia?"
> Franklin blinks. "Who?"
Natalia hesitated at the sound of that voice, focusing for a bit.
Susan.... here? Without her realizing it, her clothing shifted,
becoming a replica of the Ranger's outfit she always wore. Susan was
here.... but...
This Susan never knew her... wouldn't know her.... except, perhaps, to
recognize some features she normally saw in a mirror... her sister did
not know her... Natalia could feel her heart breaking.
Silently she turned towards the exit of the medlab, hoping to get out
before she was spotted. Once loose on the station, she could
vanish.... better.... better for everyone that way... She tried for a
moment to see if she could hate her sister for Marcus's death... but
she couldn't. It had been Marcus's choice, and she would have done the
same thing, sacrificed her life without hesitation to save Susan's.
Except... she hadn't been here to share the burden. The only one she
could hate was herself.
Natalia hesitated before the exit to the medlab. This would probably
be the last time she'd ever see her sister. She turned, looking back
at where Susan stood beside Dr. Franklin, and gave her sister a small
smile that belied the pain tearing her up inside.
Their eyes met.
[OOC: Posted the first one far too late in the evening... this should
give our beloved GMs something to work with. Natalia is shielded
telepathically now, but in that alternate reality her sister has
always been able to get through her shields... and vice versa.]
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 09:07:10 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 11:41:30 -0400
Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005597
> On Mon, 24 Aug '98 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said
>> Dhyrclhanc Said
>> It might be a moot point right now, but, as Paul has already
>> said Dhyrclhanc and the "Xavier" are in the the midst of
>> interdition of the Ploorian/Eddorian craft that have already come
>> through the Thirdspace Artifact before John and Rhia's blockade of
>> the gate.
>
> different color than the three already seem on the Eddorian side.>
And what is the significance of the differences in color?
>> Dhyrclhanc swings the "Xavier" and its accompanying Nemisis/psuedo-
>> Defiant corvettes back into the thick of the battle. Utilizing
>> similar, but not identical tactics against the Ploorian/Eddorian
>> fleet on the B5 side of the Thirdspace gate.
With Dhyrclhanc's "Xavier" being accompained by both Roland and
the"Nemisis Task Force" the Ploorian "squid-fighters" begin droping
like flies and the three of them begin to actually be able to make a
serious dent in the soap-bubble capitiol ships.
/Now, as long as these things do not decide to start to ganging up on
me, we might be able to acomplish something here./
> Effectively these things are over-powered GL type tools,
> Various Force Matterialization are their main weapons,
> but they can relay projectiles from the New Mass Drivers on B5...
Ah yes, but can't they also be used as alternate launching
platforms for for the more conventional projectile weaponry of the
"Charles Xavier"? Not to mention the "Death-Cloud Cannon"?
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 10:07:09 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE: The evils that Chaosi Groo
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 12:53:33 EDT
Driscoll Said As CAoL Message # 00005600
By now the vial was getting crowded even with its expansion factor.
Over a billion Chaosi now inhabited it and more were still flocking to
Chaos' call for himselves. There were at least 19 different armies of
himselves bound together in battle oh wait it was a free for alll
again nevermind.
Chaos smiled as he watched the tiny nuclear explosions as Chaosi
launched attacks at each other. One was just sucked into a black hole
only to be shot out a white hole nearby into the Chaos that created
the black hole.
But Chaos could see what was going on outside the vial as well. As
Chaos became more inactive in the rest of the universe, Order was
being forced to take the place, making Chaos the norm. Randomitnity
was going wild and becoming hte norm. Once all of the Chaosi were in
the vial they would be freed by the changes forced on them by the
Balance. But there might be a way to be freed first.
Chaos began gathering together himselves filling them in on his
place. Only about 20 million agreed to help him, the rest thinking he
was up to something else because they knew they would be and they were
the samer person weren't they?
From inside the vial and single Chaosi could not affect the outside
world, but 20 million combined could hardly be stopped. Chaos acted
fast before his helpers changed their minds and combined all their
power to bring a force to help them from across a billion dimentions.
On the surface of E-3 appears a short smelly ugly man with an empty
look to his eyes. He is dressed simply in an orange tunic with no
pants or shoes. A pair of katanas hang on his back from a
strangelooking blue thing on his chest, and his long dirty black hair
is tied back by a headband. Following him closely with a look of
adoration in its eyes in a small light brown dog with black spots and
a beautiful jewel encrusted collar.
"There was something I was supposed to remember Rufferto, what was
it? I am the Prince of Chichester? no that is not it? Wait! I
remember! I am on a secret mission. But I forget what it is. Look!
There is a beautiful castle! Maybe they know what my secret mission
was. Or maybe they have food. That is good too."
Groo walks straight towards the castle until he runs smack into the
dome. "Hey!! I have run into the wall that you forgot to build! Move
ti so I may pass!"
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 11:08:06 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Rising to Apotheosis (repost & expanded)
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 12:39:11 -0500
Mike Knight Said As CAoL Message # 00005601
>On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 08:22:06 -0400
>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005596
>
>>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 20:38:01
>>Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00005590
>>
>>>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 14:06:27 -0400
>>>Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00005577
>>>Legion's voice came over the CaoL link /We have a problem...
>>>there's a new persona, and she's.../ The rest was cut off suddenly.
>>
>> /Legion?/ Sil asks. /Legion, come in./
Puck glanced skyward then continued on his journey to the dome.
>>>In the medlab, Natalia glanced down at the lens on her wrist... and
>>>it fell to the ground. Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed,
>>>she moved to stand, only vaguely aware of her surroundings.
As Natalia's attention left the lens, the small crystalline structure
was swept up by a red-headed janitor into a dustpan. From there, the
dustpan was dumped into a waste disposal unit. An auburn haired woman
took the disposal unit to the recycling plant. The lens was dumped
onto a conveyer belt where a small man plucked it out with a pair of
foot long chopsticks and dropped it into a small medicine bag satchel.
The medicine bag satchel was then slung around the small man's neck.
Puck the Garbage Man smiled.
"Never burn bridges behind you." Puck said with a manic grin as he
disappeared in a puff of pixie dust.
On the planet, Puck patted the small satchel that appeared around his
neck under his shirt as he rode on. "Legion Bo Peep has lost her Teep,
and doesn't know where to find it. Well, don't fret, dear, Puck is
here, your lens, he will mind it."
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 15:04:18 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Arrivals & Reunions (Long)
Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005604
> On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 11:41:30 -0400
> Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00005597
>
>> On Mon, 24 Aug '98 Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said
>> > different color than the three already seem on the Eddorian side.>
>
> And what is the significance of the differences in color?
>
> With Dhyrclhanc's "Xavier" being accompained by both Roland and
> the"Nemisis Task Force" the Ploorian "squid-fighters" begin droping
> like flies and the three of them begin to actually be able to make a
> serious dent in the soap-bubble capitiol ships.
>
> /Now, as long as these things do not decide to start to ganging up
> on me, we might be able to acomplish something here./
^This Device ## pattern,
if appended to the Muzzle of a projectile launcher,
will, on command, gate individual projectiles,
point to point, to the Muzzle end on the specified,
Strike Force member.^
>> Effectively these things are over-powered GL type tools,
>> Various Force Matterialization are their main weapons,
>> but they can relay projectiles from the New Mass Drivers on B5...
>
> Ah yes, but can't they also be used as alternate launching
> platforms for for the more conventional projectile weaponry of the
> "Charles Xavier"? Not to mention the "Death-Cloud Cannon"?
===========================
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1998 18:38:12 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Breaking the Stalemate
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998 21:33:04 EDT
Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00005605
Fuzzy and/or Nemisis Said As CAoL Message # 00005593
>
>> On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 22:22:06 -0500
>> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00005589
>>
>> /Uhmmm.... is it completely necessary to murder this entity? Or,
>> more hopefully, I have mistaken your intentions?/
>
> /I don't know,
> Is that what "long count" means?/
>
> self aware yet.>
/Starbreaker would murder all of us without a second thought. If we
could think of anything else that would prevent that, we would use it.
I do not know for sure if Aurora's attack will kill him, or simply
return him to stassis. Either way, this is the only form of attack
that has met with any kind of sustained success. If you can think of
another form that would leave him alive, and permanently consious,
without risking all this (impression of a gesture that encompasses
this entire universe), please share it. As for him dieing, well I see
no functional differance between being unconsious, or in stassis, for
all eternity and being dead. At least dead, his spirit (what is left
of it after Aurora finishes with it) can move on to the next life.
Maybe he will do better in the next one./ Dragon's Bane Answers. (OOC:
Aurora doesn't "intend" that Starbreaker die, but she has no intention
of letting him loose on this universe either, and if he has to die to
stop him, so be it.)
===========================