Imperial Fringe Online Game Chat Session Log December 7th 2003
20:30:16 - Kit: I hope that today we can get to some part of the story, where Vance and Kraiger are up again and can do their stuff, I'm somewhat tired after spending mostof last night debugging a script.
20:30:55 - Kit: So GM, is there a chance we can get the two would be heroes fixed and up and running?
20:30:59 - Methuslah: I think that'll be on the cards.
20:31:25 - Methuslah: There should be no problem - a little time will elapse - you're all about to collapse from exhaustion.
20:31:54 - Kit: I hope the Fleet made some good use of the data we brought from the planet while I was operating on the admiral.
20:32:12 - Kit: so that they can deal with the lights or whatever
20:32:30 - vance just entered this channel
20:32:54 - vance: (hey, good day)
20:33:16 - Methuslah: Hello!
20:33:21 - Methuslah: Shall we get started?
20:33:21 - Kit: collapse from exhaustion is true, next to no sleep in almost three days (if I count the unconsciousness during the hig-acceleration as sleep) and no coffee except the small canteen in quarantine.
20:33:35 - Kit: Fine with me!
20:33:48 - vance: (sure)
20:34:40 - Kit: I think I still have to make two rolls for emergency measures on Kariger and the traitor guy I shot?
20:34:58 - Kit: Kraiger: 2D6: 5
20:35:10 - Kit: traitor 2D6: 10
20:35:19 - Methuslah: OK. Eight hours have passed since the confrontation over the Admiral. He is still in critical condition, but is now out of danger - but the Fleet Captain remains in temporary command. You have all been undergoing emergency medical treatment for the past few hours, and have been healed up to your prior levels. YOu are woken up by a knock on the door of your combined quarters.
20:35:28 - Kit: (I'd have preferred that the other wa round 
)
20:35:51 - vance: "ah. room service."
20:36:28 - Kit: rmmbrlmm, If it's not an emergency, lemme sleep.
20:36:31 - Kraiger: Sorry, I'm back
20:36:56 - Kit: unless it's the guy with the coffee
20:37:00 - vance: vance opens the door.
20:37:31 - Kraiger: (Kraiger is still in nervous mode - makes a reach for his sidearm)
20:37:43 - Kraiger: (And *winces*)
20:37:55 - Methuslah: The door opens to reveal a Naval Officer, a Lieutenant.
20:38:09 - Methuslah: "Captains' honours, and will you join him on the command deck?"
20:38:55 - vance: "that would be an honor. this minute, or shortly?"
20:39:25 - Kit: Lieutnant, is it possible to get some coffee around here?
20:39:41 - Methuslah: "Right away, if you please. I understand that a situation is developing."
20:40:17 - Kit: sigh, ok, I'm coming (getting dressed) rmblrmbl
20:40:30 - vance: vance makes sure he is wearing something decent. "can you all make it?"
20:40:37 - Kraiger: OK, we'll be right there (Kraiger stands and eases himself back into his jacket)
20:40:40 - Methuslah: "I've have some brought to be Deck, maam."
20:41:06 - Kit: good, with coffe I should be fine.
20:41:31 - Kit: Vance, Kraiger, how are you two feeling?
20:42:04 - Methuslah: The corridors look deserted - you noitce that the ship is running on high alert.
20:42:25 - Kit: Kraiger, uhmm, wasn't it supposed to be your part to take out the bad guys? Why did I end up doing that again?
20:42:32 - vance: "I've faced psychic lights, drawn weapons, and space-walking accidents. I'm great. let's go."
20:43:51 - Kraiger: I took a bullet for the Admiral Kit... what do you think?
20:44:36 - Kit: Hmm.. that is an acceptable excuse.
20:44:53 - Methuslah: The elevator is waiting for you, open. Two marines flank the doors - they stand to attention as you approach.
20:45:09 - Kit: (smiles at Kraiger) But next time, try to take out the baddies before they take out you ok!
20:46:00 - Kraiger: Which reminds me - I gotta get my snub-pistol back. This damned auto pistol pulls to the right...
20:46:34 - Kit: I'm sure they'll be able to find a gun to your liking somewhere on this ship.
20:47:11 - Kit: (nodding to the marines and entering the elevator)
20:47:22 - vance: "I doubt they'll let either of you have a pgmp again, though."
20:47:23 - Kraiger: (Speaking of which meth - I've completely lost track of my gear - somewhere I have a big trunk packed with goodies, did that make it with us?)
20:48:01 - Methuslah: I think that got left behind at the Marine Base on the planet.
20:48:03 - Kit: (most of your gear should be in quarantine)
20:48:50 - Kit: (I do remember taking my bag along into the shuttle and later quarantine, where I probably left it.)
20:49:07 - vance: (you weren't carrying it when we first boarded the lab shuttle.)
20:49:49 - Kraiger: OK - well I'll try to remember to pick it up should we ever get down there again. I think my combat armour is in quarantine though, right?
20:49:50 - Kit: (but then its a lagre bag, not a trunk, I don't carry around that much luggage)
20:50:09 - Kit: (you had that one aboard the shuttle, so it should be there)
20:50:11 - vance: when entering the command deck vance enters last, after the baronness and kraiger.
20:50:40 - Kit: (I have to pick my bag up, henry is in there!)
20:52:47 - Methuslah: Yes - you hangi t up in the airlock, because it was rather too conspicous.
20:53:31 - Methuslah: The command deck is a ive of activity. Double normel staff are on duty, and every station is filled, even those ordinarily left empty. A cluster of brass are gathered around the fleet tactical display monitor on the far wall.
20:54:03 - Kit: (looking around for the coffee)
20:54:15 - Kraiger: "Scrambled eggs ho" (Kraiger pulls himself up into his best military bearing)
20:54:30 - Kit: Captain, what is the situation?
20:54:53 - Kit: (heading for the cluster of brass as I assume the acting commander will be there)
20:57:06 - Methuslah: "Ah, gentlemen. Welcome to the command deck. We have a little situation. W maanged to sort out the mutionous personnel on thsi ship, and most of the others, but two of our Criusers have tailed off - they appear to be heading for the outser system. I ahve scouts following them. More worryingly, the Fleet Carrier Bellerophon has...vanished. From all detctors, even visually. The commander reported a strange light heading towards the ship, and then nothing. We're trying to get the fighter squadrons berthed.
20:57:52 - Kit: Have you had a chance to analyze the data about the lights we brought from the planet?
20:59:49 - Methuslah: "Main Computer's been trying to analyze it for the past five hours - no luck so..."
21:00:05 - Methuslah: A Commander waves over to him, and he hurris away.
21:00:30 - Kit: Hmm, you don't happen to have a scientific team aboard?
21:00:44 - Kraiger: "This was really out of the frying pan into the fire, wasn't it?"
21:01:37 - Kit: So, what did you expect after our encounter with thelight phenomena? That the Fleet would be able to stop it easily by waving a big gun at it?
21:02:17 - Kit: They tried that tactic planetside with little success. We have to figure out what we are dealing here before we can solve this problem, I'm afraid.
21:02:26 - vance: vance watches all the bridge crew and their activities carefully. he has never been on a ship like this.
21:03:04 - Kit: But I'm not a scientist, analyzing strange phenomena is really not my field of expertize.
21:03:06 - Methuslah: "The Empress Anthera has just reported a light heading towards it. It's a fleet recon vessel, so we should get some good sensor data. I've ordered a full fleet dispersal - but we will stick with the Emperor."
21:03:15 - Methuslah: "Any suggestions?"
21:04:15 - Kit: Well, be very careful. We were able to distract the "lights" with an explostion. They seem to be attracted to energy output, they may not be very visible to normal scanners.
21:04:17 - vance: "we found that when we deenergized it stopped tracking us. it also followed decoys."
21:04:36 - Kraiger: The lights were definately attracted to energy sources - just don't let them catch up, or else the Anthera will be another dead hulk....
21:04:42 - Kit: Maybe you should try to send an unmanned probe to the light for data readings and stay away with manned ships.
21:05:43 - vance: ("ma'am, if you will recall, when we told captain langtree(?) about this phenomenon, he acted unconcerned. perhaps he knows something about it.")
21:05:57 - Methuslah: "I'll order a brace launched. Listen, I haev an offer for you. You three seem like a good work team - how would you like a specail assignment?"
21:06:06 - Kit: Do you happen to have psi shields aboard? The lights may be accompanied by psychic phenomena, and it might be helpful to discover if soemeone who is shielded experiences them the same way.
21:07:03 - Kit: (to vance) Maybe (to captain) have you interrogetde Lagtree about this?
21:07:17 - Kraiger: (Did we already tell them about the Zho?)\
21:07:27 - Methuslah: "Not enough for the whole crew - just for marine boarding parties."
21:07:38 - Kit: What kind of special assignement? (still looking around for the guy with the coffee).
21:08:07 - Kit: (If they read my report, they should know about the Zho as well as the lights)
21:08:39 - Methuslah: A yeoman enteres the bridge holding a tray - he looks around, and then heads for you.
21:08:47 - Kit: It might be worth a try, just to see if shielded people react differently.
21:08:57 - Kit: Ah, my coffee.
21:09:37 - Kraiger: "Special assignment? Well, I guess our last one is done now we've told you about the Zho... and that (whatever the name of the trade consortium) were helping them...
21:11:23 - vance: vance thinks a moment. "if the baroness is comfortable with me, yes. ma'am?"
21:12:04 - Kit: Well, I have found you quite reliable, especially considering the circumstances under which we met.
21:13:16 - Methuslah: "We are carrying a new experiment Scoutship - the Cygnet. It has been specially designed as a 'stealth' craft - to be invisible to sensors, and to conceal its power signatures. It carries a crew of three, but I fear is rather...unreilable. I'd like to send it out to investigate that light. Are you interested?"
21:14:21 - Kit: An new type of scout ship? Count me in. (is the coffe acceptable?)
21:14:36 - Kit: But what exactly do you mean by "rather unreliable"?
21:15:11 - Methuslah: The coffee tastes - like navy coffee always does. Like there is a drop of oil in he bottom of the plastic cup.
21:15:18 - Kraiger: (Kraiger looks sideways at Kit) Another tub to mother - Kit will be in heaven!
21:15:31 - Methuslah: "SOme problems with the computers, engines, various ship systems. Here - the probe telemetery is coming in."
21:15:51 - Methuslah: One of the consoles goes blank, then starts to spew out scientific data. The surrounding officers watch anxiously.
21:16:22 - Methuslah: "Mr. Vance, I understand you were a prospetor. This ship was bult around a Seeker-class design."
21:16:24 - Kit: Hmm, can I get some technical specs on the Cygnet to get familiar with the systems?
21:17:45 - vance: "ah, yes, I'm familiar with that layout."
21:19:21 - Kit: I've spend most of my life on some variant of a scout design, If there is one ship I am really familair with, it's the buddies of my Bucephalos.
21:19:35 - Methuslah: "I'll have some run down....look at that."
21:20:10 - Methuslah: The probe has just vanished - but the last recording indicated a trace - a trail leading back to the point of origin of the light - which leads back to the inner planet of the system.
21:20:17 - Kit: Can we gat a few, hmm, energy explosiosn causing mines aboard to drop as distractions just in case the light should get interested in us?
21:20:47 - Kit: Is thet the planet with the base or another one?
21:21:30 - Kit: Is that thing some knid of projection or is that it's fuel trace?
21:22:57 - Methuslah: "No data - that was the last reading. The planet, I believe, is Thalcos - I'll get a data read on it. The scout is fully armed - I suppose I could Equip it with proton mines.
21:23:49 - Kit: Thalcos. Any settlements or lifeforms on there?
21:24:29 - Kit: (looking more closely at the data. the trail, does it follow the route of the lights 8with several curves etc) or does it form more of a straight line?)
21:24:51 - Kraiger: OK, we'll need a set of psi-shields each - and I'll need to talk to your master armourer...
21:24:53 - Kit: (The latter would indicate some kind of projection, the former some kind of vessel)
21:25:24 - Methuslah: "Very little data on the readout. Surveyed by Baltar Mining, back in 753 - no follow up visits, no minerals worth exploiting, nothing at all. This is odd - no notation of any landing. In fact, no notation of any proper survey at all."
21:26:12 - Kit: Captain, I suggest whatever happens you try to keep your ships out of reach of that light until we figure out what it is. It can be distracted with energy decoys, so maybe you can make use of that.
21:27:44 - Kit: hmm, which brings us back to the possibility of psychic invilvement. I think this might merit some checking out.
21:28:10 - Methuslah: "All fleet ships are on the move. But that will mean I can't send a ship for the Marines on Trane."
21:29:37 - Kit: hmm. we don't know if the Trane atmosphere is still corrosive. Any ship sent there might suffer the same fate we did. Could you send an unmanned probe or two?
21:30:25 - Kit: (Meth, what about the shape of the trail from the light to Thalcos?)
21:30:33 - vance: vance frowns. "prospectors are usually more thorough than that. may I look at what you have?"
21:30:59 - Methuslah: "I'll get some on the way. Here is the data, Mr. Vance."
21:31:50 - Methuslah: The datalist indicates little more than a brief survey, that merely gives percentages of minerals, and a listing of the date of survey and various planetary parameters - size, mass, and so on. In short, nothing that could not be detected from millions of miles away useing a spectrometer and a telescope!
21:32:34 - Kit: Strange that no one ever took a closer look.
21:33:40 - Kit: I think we may actually find out more if we go to Thalcos, thán if we tried to sneak up to the light, which an unmanned probe can do just as well. What do you think?
21:33:55 - vance: "it is short, yes." vance is prospector 3; he compares the thalcos data with the other system data, looking for clues. does anything seem to have been deleted?
21:34:37 - Kraiger: (Making a list) Need a powered battle-dress, with special corrosion-proofing on all exposed parts. FGMP, my PGMP is getting a little beat up. A pair of new auto-snub pistols with (list of ammo). Standard assault rifle - that ought to do it.
21:35:55 - Methuslah: There is an interesting missing section - a heading reading 'Energy Survey'. This is somewhat unusual, only given when there is a civilization detected. There is nothing under the heading.
21:36:57 - Kit: (looking at Kraiger) Hmm, I think a full medical pack should come in handy. Also I could us ea new power pack for my laser rifle, should we need another decoy for some lights. Do you have any special survey equipment aboard? Computers specialized on language analysis? Scanners, etc?
21:38:37 - Kit: Have you analyzed the data from the science station log? I dimly recall an entry stating something in the line of "we have doomed us all", indicating thet the scientists may have done something to trigger this agression?
21:39:39 - Kit: (Kraiger, can I get an answer to my question about the trail's shape? track or projection beam?)
21:40:29 - Kit: Does the planet have an atmosphere and if yes, what is it made of?)
21:41:00 - vance: when the baroness is free for a moment vance points out the seemingly missing paragraph. "this isn't right. by itself it indicates sloppy work, but given what we see now it appears something has been deleted."
21:41:01 - Methuslah: "I'll see that all your equipment is ready at the ship. Here, I'll set up a direct voice link with Computer. Ask it what you wish - I need to co-ordinate the fleet dispersal."
21:41:14 - Methuslah: The captian taps in a sequnce of buttons, then walks over to the flight board.
21:41:17 - Kit: Is Thalcos currebtly unsusually close to the planet with the base, or are they ratehr far apart?
21:42:18 - vance: (going off-line for a moment)
21:42:20 - Kit: maybe there is someone there who doesn't want to be found. And if he really has psychic abilities, maybe he go the surveyor t delete it?
21:43:41 - Methuslah: "DISTANCE BETWEEN SPECIFIED LOCATION 1.6 MILLION MILES. ORBITAL TRACKS INDICATE CLOSEST APPROACH FOR 5,134 STANDARD SOLAR YEARS."
21:44:13 - Kit: Inputting my equipment into the comp: Standard scout basic equipment (tools, scanners, survival gear) as well as the "possible first contact"-package (translation computer etc..) if they have something like that on the fleet. Also psi shields, tools and spare parts for the ship and a good selection of medical equipment.
21:45:06 - Kit: Hmm, that might explain why they get into conflict now. They are very close for the first time in many, many years.
21:45:40 - Kraiger: What is the UPP of the planet we are heading to?
21:46:08 - Kit: Guys, we may be facing a first contact scenario here (seems all excited) too bad it has already come to agressions.
21:46:12 - Methuslah: X200000-0
21:47:48 - vance: (back)
21:47:53 - Kraiger: OK, I'll also ask for a vaccum survival kit ( emergency shelter etc).
21:48:24 - Kit: Looks like a barren piece of rock. One that spews forth psychic lights. Hmm.
21:49:02 - vance: vance thinks a moment. "it may not be hostile."
21:49:53 - Kit: Can I get (or rig up) a computer interface that can scan and emit light patterns and that can be hooked up to a languaga analysis program? we may be dealing with something that communicates optically, so such a gadget might come in handy?
21:50:16 - Kraiger: (Doo doo doo - doo dooooooo)
21:50:23 - Kit: True, It may not realize that it's contact is causing us harm. But we will have to find out about that.
21:50:47 - Kit: (turning to Kraiger)Huh?
21:52:30 - Kraiger: "Sorry - an old hollo-vid I used to watch. You need a big set of lights, hooked up to a musical keyboard..."
21:52:42 - Methuslah: The ship's computer can be programmed to accept all kinds of data. That should be no problem.
21:53:09 - Kit: (Kraiger, can I get an answer to my question about the trail's shape? track or projection beam?)
21:54:26 - Kraiger: "Why are you asking me?"
21:54:50 - Kit: (uh, meth I meant? [bg
21:55:29 - Kit: (sorry, I thought you were the gm for a moment )
21:55:43 - Methuslah: INDICATIONS WERE OF A PROJECTED BEAM. ENERGY TYPE UNKNOWN. CROSSREFERENCE : BLACK GLOBE PROJECT. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OMEGA REQUIRED FOR ACCESS>
21:55:56 - Kit: (Meth, can I get an answer to my question about the trail's shape? track or projection beam?)
21:56:04 - Kraiger: (Nah, there'd be more things to shoot at if I was! 
)
21:56:36 - Kit: Hmm, anybody here with enough security classification to access this data?
21:57:11 - Kraiger: Lets ask the captain...
21:57:19 - Kit: Well, if the lights are a projected beam, we will certeinly find out more about them at the source.
21:59:43 - Methuslah: The Captain is standing over by the main control board.
22:00:06 - Kit: (considering planetary rotation, were the navy station and the science station on the planet's side facing towards Thalcos when the problems started?
22:00:29 - Kit: Kraiger, why don't you ask the captain?
22:00:41 - Methuslah: AFFIRMATIVE
22:01:24 - Kraiger: (To Captain) Sir? We ran into a security block lookin into the planetary data - do you have clearance?
22:01:38 - Kit: Aha, and the navy station war facing towards Thalcos earlier than the science station? The time difference between the traoubles conforming to planetary rotation periods?
22:01:43 - vance: "looks like a good time to retrieve the groundside marines will be when the planet faces away from thalcos."
22:02:33 - Kit: Yup, it may even be possible to avoid the light alltogether if we can keep a planet between tHalcos and us as long as possible.
22:02:58 - Methuslah: AFFIRMATIVE
22:03:43 - Kit: (to comp) Projection beam as tracked was a straight line? Could it be blocked by an object large enough, like a planet?
22:03:52 - Methuslah: PLOTTED COURSE WILL REQUIRE TRAJECTORY COMPUTATION. ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL FIFTEEN HOURS, NINETEEN MINUTES. DIRECT FLIGHT FOUR HOURS, TEN MINUTES.
22:04:35 - Kit: Captain, we may have fornt something that might help you keep your fleet safe (head over to captain and inform him about the Beam and the possibility of taking shelter from it behind a planet)
22:04:40 - Methuslah: BEAM TRACK ONLY FOLLOWED FOR HALF A MILLION MILES BEFORE DESTRUCTION OF PROBE RENDERED FURTHER DATA TRANSMISSION IMPOSSIBLE. THALCOS IS ESTMIATED POINT OF ORIGIN, BASED ON DATA RECEIEVED.
22:05:14 - Kit: OK, but I recon it is a good guess as any.
22:06:03 - Kit: Can we plot a course to Thalcos that will keep some other planet between Thalcos and us as long as possible?
22:07:55 - Kit: I Run all data we currently have on the light projections into the computer and get a language analysis program on it. maybe it will find out something, though I assume we need yet more data.
22:08:05 - Methuslah: COURSE AS STATED PLOTTED. DATATAPE AVALIABLE.
22:08:34 - vance: "ma'am, I'll go check over the Cygnet and see that our requested gear is arriving." vance will ask directions to the boat and whether he needs any clearances before boarding it. he also asks if this vessel has any ship's chaple.
22:09:04 - Kit: OK, upload all data to the Cygnets Computer and maka a hardcopy on a data crystal, just in case the computer get's a hickup.
22:10:45 - Kit: I'll also get the technical specs of the Cygnet, especially where they vary from the standard scout design (which I should know by heart). I then take a good lokk at it and try to determine what might get broken most easily, so that I can speciafy the required spare parts and tools to stock up.
22:11:31 - Kit: Does the Cygnet have a small shuttle aboard?
22:12:19 - Kit: Kraigerm anything new about the security clearance Omega?
22:12:41 - Methuslah: The ship looks like a hodge-podge of parts to you. It is essentailly a test-bed - the hyperdrive looks as if it might break down any minute, the main drive looks as if it will haev diffucltiy - but the main problem is the computer. So much computing power is taken up with the stealth programs that almsot every system will require manual operation - but the stealth equipment takes up so much space in the lifesystem that only three people can fit on board - and they only have two small compartments. The 'armament' is one forward pulse laser and a proton mine layer.
22:13:14 - Kit: Vance, could you get someone to collect our stuff from quarantine? Especially my bag and Henry?
22:13:52 - vance: "yes, I'll ask or get it myself."
22:14:22 - vance: "by the way ma'am, I am not an engineer. I can fix most things, but I don't always know how they operate."
22:14:56 - Kit: Hmm, looks like the Cygnet should take two engineers aboard. (I try to optimize the tools required/space available ratio as good as possible, but the medical equipment definitely has to go aboard)
22:15:28 - Kit: Well Vance, donÄt worry, I'll keep the baby running, but I can probably use your assistance.
22:16:18 - Kraiger: Is there a grav-car aboard?
22:16:28 - Kit: Let's hope we don't have to use the hyperdrive.
22:16:36 - Methuslah: No. No cargo space at all.
22:16:49 - Kit: (with so little room, I don't think they have the space for a shuttle of gravcar)
22:17:44 - Kit: The flight behaviour should not be much different from a standard scout (or is it meth?) so I see little problem in steering this baby manually.
22:19:00 - Kit: Uhm, captain, as an aside, can I compile a few messages to be send away via xboat as soon as possible?
22:19:28 - Kit: meaning accompanying your next regular communication run?
22:19:54 - vance: vance gathers kit's and kraiger's gear, gets henry, and gets his own or replacements. he stops by the ship's chaple and lights two candles, stands quietly for a minute, then heads back to
22:20:03 - vance: Cygnet.
22:20:33 - Kraiger just entered this channel
22:21:41 - Kit: Kraiger, add some spray on corrosion resistant coating to our gear.
22:22:03 - Methuslah: The Captain comes walking over.
22:22:40 - Methuslah: "Well, the Empress has escaped the light. I don't think we will, though. Intercept course - in 8 hours we will be overtaken. I'd like you to launch immediately."
22:22:53 - Kit: Captain! ( I give him a short report about the projection beam and that we think ships can take cover from it behind planets).
22:23:12 - Kit: Can you take cover soemwhere?
22:23:44 - Kit: You may also be able to distract it with energy decoys.
22:24:29 - Kit: We are ready to start as soon as our equipment is aboard. Can I insert a few messages to be send through your next communictaion run?
22:24:41 - Methuslah just entered this channel
22:25:26 - Methuslah: "We'll of course make the attempt, but this isn't a scout. A ship this size takes time to manouver. Besides - if the light is persuing us, then the rest of the fleet has time to disperse to safety."
22:26:54 - vance: "if they have eight hours, and we can get there in four, perhaps we should take the direct route."
22:27:25 - Kit: OK, I wish you success. We'll see if we can turn off the problem at the source. We will head for Thalcos on the fastest route possible.
22:28:12 - Kit: Let's just hope the stealth equipment is good enough. We must not forget the psi shields though.
22:29:27 - Methuslah: "They are waiting for you."
22:29:51 - Kit: Good, Kraiger, vance, ready to go?
22:30:01 - vance: "psi shields, check. water, check. food, check. toilet paper, check."
22:30:26 - Kit: Captain, good luck.
22:30:30 - vance: "here's henry."
22:30:42 - Kit: Spacesuits ceck. We are talking about a scout here.
22:30:51 - Kraiger: (Kraiger does a weaqpons check - admiring the combat armour, and puts it on..) "ready in a minute"
22:31:20 - Kit: OK, let's take a look at the Cygnet.
22:31:33 - vance: "vacc suits, check." all sorts of other checks, including vance's weapon and some ammo.
22:32:08 - Kit: I'# just cekc if all the requested equipment is aboard, then add some coffee.
22:33:01 - Kit: I'll give the Cygnet a quick once over as sooin as we get tehre, patting the ship affectionately. "Hi baby, ready for a little action?"
22:33:45 - Methuslah: It sits ready in the launch bay - all fuelled up. The airlock is open, and your requisitioned equipment is inside.
22:34:00 - Methuslah: "Bridge to Cygnet. Come in."
22:34:34 - Kit: Suiting up. The Cygnet actually has an airlock? Thats rare for a scout design.
22:34:52 - Kit: Cygnet to bridge, we hear you loud and clear.
22:35:46 - Kit: (running the checklist for the start, warming up engines etc.)
22:36:04 - Kit: Vance, Kraiger, all ready?
22:36:28 - Methuslah: All systems go.
22:36:27 - Kraiger: (Strapping in) I guess...
22:36:46 - vance: "yes."
22:36:47 - Kit: Vance, I want you to keep an eye on the snesors and the computer. I'll have my handy full with steering this baby.
22:37:13 - vance: "got it."
22:37:21 - Kit: Cygnet to Bridge. We are ready to go
22:37:32 - Methuslah: "You are Number One to launch. Comm silence once you take off - but contact us in seven hours. That's your deadline. I plan to reomve all but a skeleton crew from the ship - and I will scuttle her before I let her be captured."
22:38:46 - Kit: Acknowledged. Ready for takeoff, engaging stealth mode as soon as we clear the bay. Good lick Captain.
22:39:01 - Kit: You'll hear from us in seven hours.
22:39:35 - Kit: (setting my watch to countdown to 7 hours)
22:40:12 - Kit: Takeoff in 3... 2... 1... go
22:40:45 - Kit: (engaging engines, maneuvering out of the dock, engeging stealth mode as soon as we are outside. Plotting course for Thalcos.
22:41:08 - Kit: (If you want a roll 2D6: 9)
22:42:09 - Methuslah: You have successful takeoff, and glide smoothly out of the battleship. You immedaitely notice dififculties, though - the handling of the ship is difficult - sluggish.
22:43:15 - Kit: Ah, Cygnet, you are one of the touchy ones eh? (trying to compensate and adjusting to the handling of the ship) Let's see if we can get you to run with me.
22:43:48 - Kit: 2D6: 10
22:44:27 - Methuslah: You begin to get the hang of things - the controls begin to ease out at higher acceleration.
22:45:16 - Methuslah: You are on course, and flying for the planet. ETA Four hours. Looking behind, you can see wave after wave of small ships leaving the battleship, heading n all directions.
22:45:27 - Kit: See baby, this isn't too hard is it. (setting course for Thalcos, direct route)
22:46:26 - Kit: (can we head for the obligatory cliffhanger slowly? I am running on very little sleep and getting rather tired here?)
22:47:09 - Kraiger: (I'm about done here too...)
22:47:47 - Methuslah: I must admit to getting rather tired myself. Shall we call a halt for the night?
22:48:12 - Kit: (I'm even willing to do without a cliffhanger for a change)
22:48:42 - vance: (alright)
22:49:07 - Kit: full team next week?
22:49:23 - Methuslah: Sounds good - I've got some big things planned...
22:49:23 - Kraiger: OK. Thanks, nice change of pace - feel like we're almost back in control again!
22:49:35 - vance: (yep)
22:49:41 - Kraiger: I'll be here
22:50:04 - vance: (thanks again ref. signing off.)
22:50:05 - Kit: Hey, we are aboard a scoutship heading for a possible first contact situation. What more could a scout ask?
22:50:18 - Kit: and I even ahve coffee along!
22:50:41 - vance: (laugh)