Sun Jun 27 19:45:44 2004-general-Methuslah: Right - everyone ready to go?
Sun Jun 27 19:46:52 2004-general-Kraiger: All set
Sun Jun 27 19:47:51 2004-general-Methuslah: As I recall, you were heading over to the inscription...
Sun Jun 27 19:47:55 2004-general-Kraiger: The play went well - not exactly huge crowds, but everyone found it hilarious
Sun Jun 27 19:48:07 2004-general-Kit: i am back, ready to go
Sun Jun 27 19:48:47 2004-general-Methuslah: As long as it was a comedy, congratulations!
Sun Jun 27 19:49:07 2004-general-Methuslah: As you approach the statue, you seem to find the figure familiar, as if it is someone you know.
Sun Jun 27 19:50:22 2004-general-Kit: someone we know? Here, in some century old ruins?
Sun Jun 27 19:50:32 2004-general-Kraiger: Hey Kit, isn't that.... hmmmm
Sun Jun 27 19:50:46 2004-general-Kit: looks familiar
Sun Jun 27 19:51:00 2004-general-Methuslah: Make a roll for me.
Sun Jun 27 19:51:12 2004-general-Kit: 2D6: 8
Sun Jun 27 19:51:24 2004-general-Methuslah: Kragier needs 5 or more on 2d6, Kit needs 9 or more.
Sun Jun 27 19:51:30 2004-general-Kraiger: 2D6: 9
Sun Jun 27 19:51:44 2004-general-Methuslah: Close.... Kit can't quite make it out. Kraiger, it looks like your father.
Sun Jun 27 19:51:49 2004-general-Kit: missed, barely
Sun Jun 27 19:52:13 2004-general-Kit: hmm.. dunno.. can't quite place the face.
Sun Jun 27 19:52:28 2004-general-Kraiger: Well damn me! This just can't be!!! Kit - this is a statue of my father!
Sun Jun 27 19:53:06 2004-general-Kit: your father? I'm pretty sure I don't know your father. was he famous or why is the face so familiar to me?
Sun Jun 27 19:53:25 2004-general-Kit: besides, what is a statue of your father doin in century old ruins?
Sun Jun 27 19:53:34 2004-general-Kraiger: (Kraiger blinks several times, and rubs the outside of his helmet)
Sun Jun 27 19:54:13 2004-general-Kit: who was your father again? maybe I know him after all?
Sun Jun 27 19:54:42 2004-general-Kit: moving closer to read the inscription.
Sun Jun 27 19:54:45 2004-general-Methuslah: It does looks a lot like KRaiger - but there was a very close family resemblance.
Sun Jun 27 19:55:16 2004-general-Methuslah: The inscription reads, "Dedicated to the memory of the Fighting 11912nd, who gave their lives to the last man in the Battle of Trane, 1141. Lt. General Kraiger, commanding. '
Sun Jun 27 19:56:15 2004-general-Kit: Kraiger, do you have a Lt. General Kraiger among your ancestors?
Sun Jun 27 19:56:41 2004-general-Kraiger: But my father is alive... hang on - 1141???? Kit, what the HELL is going on???
Sun Jun 27 19:56:43 2004-general-Kit: btw. what was the current year again?
Sun Jun 27 19:57:05 2004-general-Kraiger: (With the hairs on the back of his neck standing up) - Kit... thats ME!
Sun Jun 27 19:57:30 2004-general-Methuslah: 1105. And your father is not, and never has been, in the Marines.
Sun Jun 27 19:57:42 2004-general-Kit: Battle of Trane? We are not even AT Trane? .. What do you men it's you?
Sun Jun 27 19:58:22 2004-general-Kraiger: Its me - look at the face. A little older, but thats me!
Sun Jun 27 19:58:23 2004-general-Kit: 1141, darn me. Where did we make a time-jump?
Sun Jun 27 19:58:43 2004-general-Kraiger: (How old does the statue look?)
Sun Jun 27 19:59:03 2004-general-Methuslah: There seem to be a few other figures, lying in the dust. And there is another inscription, a bigger one, face up on the ground with rubble around it.
Sun Jun 27 19:59:23 2004-general-Methuslah: Without an exact reading, you can't be sure - but at least two hundred years.
Sun Jun 27 19:59:28 2004-general-Kraiger: We must have done - that explains why the chronometers didn't match the nav-comp.
Sun Jun 27 20:00:03 2004-general-Kit: OK, I try to pan back to where we noticed the discrepancies in the navigational data, whip ot my computer and try to find out when exactly we somehow diverged from the true timeline by comparing what logged data I have.
Sun Jun 27 20:00:06 2004-general-Kraiger: (Brushing off the other inscriptions) - Hmmm. So know anything about causality Kit?
Sun Jun 27 20:00:53 2004-general-Kit: Well, I have read a thing or two about time travel some years back, but that simply wasn't considered possible.
Sun Jun 27 20:01:00 2004-general-Methuslah: Make a Computer roll.
Sun Jun 27 20:01:10 2004-general-Kit: 2D6: 9
Sun Jun 27 20:01:40 2004-general-Methuslah: Another inscription reads, "Commemorating the loss of the Sixth Fleet at the Battle of Berengaria, 1145."
Sun Jun 27 20:01:44 2004-general-Kit: If what we see is true, we ended up at least 200 to 300 years in the future. Fucking alien artifacts.
Sun Jun 27 20:02:13 2004-general-Methuslah: And another, "Fleet Admiral Moleco, who gave his life that his crew might live. 1142"
Sun Jun 27 20:02:35 2004-general-Kit: (Stepping back to take a few photographs)
Sun Jun 27 20:02:48 2004-general-Methuslah: The inscription on the ground reads, "Memorial Base. 11912nd Reformed Division HQ. Dedicated 1151".
Sun Jun 27 20:03:27 2004-general-Methuslah: Your computer has come up with the answer. According to navigational data, it is 1384. However, that is merely this system. Stellar data confirms at 1105.
Sun Jun 27 20:03:43 2004-general-Kit: This is totally weird. (looking around for more inscriptions, or maybe ahistory record of some kind)
Sun Jun 27 20:04:52 2004-general-Kit: well, according to my computer, this system is at 1384, but the rest of the galaxy is still at 1105.
Sun Jun 27 20:05:46 2004-general-Kit: Maybe we are in a kind of advanced time bubble... that would explain the accelerated deterioration of the material.
Sun Jun 27 20:05:59 2004-general-Kraiger: What? How can a whole system jump in time???
Sun Jun 27 20:06:07 2004-general-Kit: But what about the strange pseudo stasis the people we found were in, and the disappearances?
Sun Jun 27 20:06:38 2004-general-Kit: Frankly, I have nop Idea how anything could jump in time. I'm an engineer, not a chono-scientist.
Sun Jun 27 20:07:05 2004-general-Methuslah: You're reading another power drain on your equipment. Ten minutes to shut down.
Sun Jun 27 20:07:41 2004-general-Kit: See it positively Kraiger, we know that you will be a Lt. general alive and kicking in 1141, so we will find a way out of this, that much is sure. Either that, or this whole thing is just a bad dream.
Sun Jun 27 20:07:46 2004-general-Kraiger: But this is madness.
Sun Jun 27 20:08:22 2004-general-Kraiger: Hmmm, I had planned on living a lot longer than that...
Sun Jun 27 20:08:28 2004-general-Kit: Darn freaking power drain again. (checking the surroundings, full scan. Any indication of where this is coming from?
Sun Jun 27 20:09:09 2004-general-Kit: Kraiger, are you still in your powered suit?
Sun Jun 27 20:09:24 2004-general-Kraiger: Yes...
Sun Jun 27 20:09:56 2004-general-Methuslah: Directly above you, about a mile.
Sun Jun 27 20:10:12 2004-general-Kit: Hm. Maybe... (ok, getting out my "talk to alien lights" beacon again and trying to think of a passage that sends out "power up" instead of the "power off" we send out so far.)
Sun Jun 27 20:10:34 2004-general-Kit: (Getting out binoculars, anything to be seen?)
Sun Jun 27 20:11:09 2004-general-Kraiger: Hmmm - I wonder if this was all caused by that fiddling around you and Vance did back inside the tunnels. I _rold_ you not to fiddle with that thing!
Sun Jun 27 20:11:22 2004-general-Kit: Then maybe you should start moving back to the ship as long as you still can.
Sun Jun 27 20:11:45 2004-general-Kit: Yes, maybe it was that fiddling, but we had to try SOMETHING to save the fleet.
Sun Jun 27 20:12:10 2004-general-Methuslah: Looking back at the shuttle, you see it seeming to glow. Another of the arrows is approaching - and mroe from all sides.
Sun Jun 27 20:12:52 2004-general-Kit: Oh fuck, more of them. Is this in reaction to the beacon?
Sun Jun 27 20:13:29 2004-general-Kit: And why the hell is the shuttle glowing? (Anything on the scanners) Vance, pleasy reply, what is happening there?
Sun Jun 27 20:13:54 2004-general-Kraiger: (How far are we from the shuttle?)
Sun Jun 27 20:14:55 2004-general-Methuslah: About three hundred meters. No reply from Vance - but there is a lot of interference on your channel. You hear a low, oscillaing sound.
Sun Jun 27 20:15:48 2004-general-Kit: Trying to get a beacon on the sound. Can I tell where it is coming from?
Sun Jun 27 20:15:51 2004-general-Kraiger: I'm going back to check it out (Kraiger heads back to the shuttle at a run)
Sun Jun 27 20:16:21 2004-general-Methuslah: You find yourself within ten meters of the shuttle - the glow is very bright now.
Sun Jun 27 20:16:41 2004-general-Methuslah: Kit, the sound is coming from the arrow. It seems to be oscillaing, trying to find youre frequency.
Sun Jun 27 20:16:57 2004-general-Kit: Following along more slowly, eye on the scanners as long as they still work. Can I make out anything straight above where the power drain seems to be originating?
Sun Jun 27 20:17:32 2004-general-Kraiger: Vance? Where are you???
Sun Jun 27 20:17:40 2004-general-Kit: OK, why not. I try to cooperate to gain the same frequence.
Sun Jun 27 20:17:53 2004-general-Kit: Maybe we can find some way of communication after all.
Sun Jun 27 20:17:55 2004-general-Methuslah: In the far distance; another arrow. Bearing on your location.
Sun Jun 27 20:18:54 2004-general-Kit: Trying to metch the arrows frequency, and trying to sent a friendly hello. darn those first contact lessons were a long time ago...
Sun Jun 27 20:19:42 2004-general-Methuslah: Make a Computer roll.
Sun Jun 27 20:20:21 2004-general-Kit: 2D6: 11
Sun Jun 27 20:20:40 2004-general-Methuslah: Got the frequency. What is your message.
Sun Jun 27 20:20:47 2004-general-Methuslah: Still nothing from Vance.
Sun Jun 27 20:21:04 2004-general-Kit: Hello, we come in peace, we want to communicate please respond
Sun Jun 27 20:22:25 2004-general-Methuslah: A deep, yet gentle voice booms in your earphones.
Sun Jun 27 20:22:37 2004-general-Methuslah: "We hear. And we understand you, ones of Terra."
Sun Jun 27 20:23:23 2004-general-Kraiger: (Am I hearing this too?)
Sun Jun 27 20:23:46 2004-general-Methuslah: (Yes)
Sun Jun 27 20:23:48 2004-general-Kit: I apologize for any trouble we may have caused. We were trying to remove what we perceived as a threat to our ships. We did not know there was an intelligent mind here.
Sun Jun 27 20:24:31 2004-general-Kit: We have been very confused by the things that happened on our base on the xth planet of this system.
Sun Jun 27 20:24:49 2004-general-Kit: Who are you?
Sun Jun 27 20:25:46 2004-general-||||||||| Methuslah just entered this channel
Sun Jun 27 20:26:40 2004-general-Methuslah: "Call me...Grandfather. Your people have managed to enter my space; this could not be permitted. I enclosed it an banished those I could into your space; yet you were clever. You eluded me."
Sun Jun 27 20:27:47 2004-general-Kit: I am sorry, .. Grandfather... I do not quite understand. How did we manage to enter your space?
Sun Jun 27 20:28:38 2004-general-Kit: Do you mean that all those we saw dead or who disappeared are actually well and alive somehwhere else?
Sun Jun 27 20:29:35 2004-general-Methuslah: "Your interstellar engines allowed you to jump into the system, bypassing the dead space zone. It is very clever."
Sun Jun 27 20:30:14 2004-general-Methuslah: "All those who vanished are alive in the HomeLine. All who died, are dead in all space. Even my power could not save them. You are the last in this system."
Sun Jun 27 20:30:51 2004-general-Kit: As far as I know our people have been in this system for quite some time. Why did we never hear fo you before?
Sun Jun 27 20:31:44 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather, why are there ruins here which seem to come from our own future?
Sun Jun 27 20:32:07 2004-general-Methuslah: "My attentions have been focused in another place, another time. I came home to find other beings in my home."
Sun Jun 27 20:32:14 2004-general-Methuslah: "What year do you think this is?"
Sun Jun 27 20:32:51 2004-general-Kit: When we last had contact with our own people, it was the year we call 1105
Sun Jun 27 20:34:59 2004-general-Methuslah: "You are from a more distant time than I thought. Suffice to say that I am from a time in your future, and this system is in your future, yet the bubble of reality exists in your present."
Sun Jun 27 20:36:17 2004-general-Kit: Uhm. I am not sure I really understand that. So this system is separated from the rest of the universe that we know not only by space but also by time?
Sun Jun 27 20:37:21 2004-general-Kit: So is tehre another ... version of this system that exists in our time?
Sun Jun 27 20:37:50 2004-general-Methuslah: "That is the limit of your understanding. This is a pocket of space, hewn out of the universe. There are others, throughout time and space."
Sun Jun 27 20:38:37 2004-general-Methuslah: "In a manner of speaking. This system exists then as it does now; this is the future of the system you know in 1105."
Sun Jun 27 20:38:43 2004-general-Kraiger: So there are two Kraigers that exist now?
Sun Jun 27 20:39:09 2004-general-Kit: The fleet of our people that was in this "bubble", where is it now? And is this the only possible future or just one possible version?
Sun Jun 27 20:41:09 2004-general-Methuslah: "That is an interesting question. All futures are equally valid; but as you have come, you can help. YOu have already shown great resourcefulness in evading my pursuers with your primitive technology."
Sun Jun 27 20:41:25 2004-general-Kit: Are you opposed to people being in this system at all or just in this "bubble" of time/space?
Sun Jun 27 20:41:56 2004-general-Methuslah: "There is only one Kraiger; there will only be one Kraiger. The you who was born in 1065, lives in 1105, and may die in 1141 all exist in spacetime together."
Sun Jun 27 20:42:21 2004-general-Methuslah: "You were in the system; you must be in the system. But not in this 'bubble'. It is dangerous, to us all."
Sun Jun 27 20:42:41 2004-general-Kit: If we can somehow be of help to you, we will do what we can. We are interested in peaceful cooperation with all intelligent beings. But I am not sure what it might be that we might do to help one so powerful as you are.
Sun Jun 27 20:43:24 2004-general-Kit: Why is it dangerous to us all? Has our being here somehow destabilazied the system?
Sun Jun 27 20:43:45 2004-general-Kraiger: "_may_ die? So the future is not fixed?"
Sun Jun 27 20:45:00 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather, I have a question if I may. What "species" are you? Where are your people from and how old are you, if such things have meaning for you?
Sun Jun 27 20:45:59 2004-general-Methuslah: "You stand at a nexus, a crossroads between two realities. I am your descendant; and I was born in 1130 on my HomeLine. On that which exists now, I will never be."
Sun Jun 27 20:46:01 2004-general-Kit: (is the power drain still on?)
Sun Jun 27 20:46:53 2004-general-Methuslah: "In my HomeLine, the Empire falls in 1130. There are a thousand years of bloodshed, but they end. And a better Empire, a Fourth Empire, is born. Eventually it transcends all that man can or could have been."
Sun Jun 27 20:47:31 2004-general-Methuslah: "In yours, the Empire weathers a crisis, and staggers on. The collapse comes in 1902. And nothing replaces it. Humanity becomes as the Droyne; a spent race."
Sun Jun 27 20:47:32 2004-general-Kit: The Empire falls? Is that our homeline?
Sun Jun 27 20:47:39 2004-general-Methuslah: The power is holding, albeit at minimum levels.
Sun Jun 27 20:48:27 2004-general-Kit: What Crisis? And why are the Droyne a spent race? I do not understand.
Sun Jun 27 20:48:49 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather, most of our equipment is very low on power. Are you responsible for this?
Sun Jun 27 20:49:29 2004-general-Kit: And what is the crisis you talk about? Can you tell us, or would that be... dangerous?
Sun Jun 27 20:51:56 2004-general-Methuslah: "It can be. It MUST be. The Droyne once ruled an empire that dwarfs your Imperium. They fell, and soon will be no more. The Empire must fall; and you must help it. You will be required to make a choice between two sides. You must make the right choice. I cannot directly interfere; there are others who would watch."
Sun Jun 27 20:52:58 2004-general-Kit: The Empire must fall? Why?
Sun Jun 27 20:53:58 2004-general-Kit: And about which timeline are you talking?
Sun Jun 27 20:54:59 2004-general-Methuslah: "Sometimes sorrow must befall for ultimate good. The Empire became too centralized, too dominant. Man could not survive without it; and it will fall."
Sun Jun 27 20:56:02 2004-general-Kit: But man made the empire so he could survive and prosper. What other alternative could there be?
Sun Jun 27 20:56:02 2004-general-Methuslah: "My HomeLine. YOu are at a nexus point, a point where reality can change. You must choose; I cannot."
Sun Jun 27 20:56:34 2004-general-Methuslah: "Freedom. True freedom. And peace. And the Galaxy for man, nnot just this small thread of stars."
Sun Jun 27 20:56:49 2004-general-Kit: You want the empire in your homeline to fall, am I correct in this?
Sun Jun 27 20:57:20 2004-general-Kit: What will this do for our homeline?
Sun Jun 27 20:59:11 2004-general-Methuslah: "My HomeLine and yours will become one."
Sun Jun 27 21:00:37 2004-general-Kit: Sooo, basically you want us to make a choice of some kind that will make bith homelines into one in which the empire falls and after thouusand yeard of bloodshed maybe ascends again...?
Sun Jun 27 21:01:04 2004-general-Kit: Is the future fixed, once we make a coice? If so, what is so special about our coice that we can make it at all?
Sun Jun 27 21:02:02 2004-general-Kit: Either the future is fixed, then there would never be such a thing a sfree choice, as anything is predetermined, or the future is not fixed, in which case there would be many possible futures, and many possible choices.
Sun Jun 27 21:02:38 2004-general-Kit: In either case I do not quite see what you would need us for?
Sun Jun 27 21:04:55 2004-general-Methuslah: "I will do nothing; such is not permitted. There are many possible futures. I see a future with the collapse of the Empire in 1130; I see another where it lives. One must happen. Which may be your choice. You plan an expedition into the Void; this may be one of the most critical. It forces a choice; expansion or stagnation. And you might lay the seeds for the Fourth Imperium."
Sun Jun 27 21:06:03 2004-general-Kraiger: But we're only human - how can we be made responsible for such choices?
Sun Jun 27 21:07:32 2004-general-Kit: Well Kraiger, Humans have been responsible for their choices ever since they first made one. We may not always realize how far this responsibility goes. But I do not belive that our coice, whatever it may be, will only result in one of only two possible outcomes. Not on such a scale.
Sun Jun 27 21:08:24 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather. What is the Void you are talking about? What expedition. Do you refer to this "bubble"?
Sun Jun 27 21:10:31 2004-general-Methuslah: "Your Outrim Void. You are important. Your decision could swing the course of the War. Now I think you should go. Yes - you have freinds waiting on the far side, and I think thery need your help. I will repair and rearm your ship."
Sun Jun 27 21:10:52 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather, in our timeline we have just been attacked by the Zhodani, who are also humans. What is their role in the future of our and of your timeline? Can you tell us?
Sun Jun 27 21:11:51 2004-general-Kit: Our Outrim Void? I still do not understand what you mean.
Sun Jun 27 21:12:16 2004-general-Methuslah: Testing.
Sun Jun 27 21:12:37 2004-general-Methuslah: (That's odd - two whole sentences of mine have failed to appear.)
Sun Jun 27 21:12:58 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather, is there any chance that we can communicate again some day? And do you want us to stay out of this system for good in our timeline?
Sun Jun 27 21:13:45 2004-general-Methuslah: THe voice fades, and the lights change. You find yourself sitting in the shuttle, Kit at the pilot's chair and Kraiger in the co-pilots. There is no sign of Vance. The shuttle is fully fuelled, repaired, and all your equipment is charged. Your course to orbit is computed.
Sun Jun 27 21:14:01 2004-general-Methuslah: "Stay out of the system. I will watch. We will talk again."
Sun Jun 27 21:14:12 2004-general-Kit: Uhh...
Sun Jun 27 21:14:47 2004-general-Kit: Goodbye Grandfather, it was certainly interesting to talk to you.
Sun Jun 27 21:14:52 2004-general-Kraiger: Well, can you give us any more help? Tell us what numbers will win the Imperial lottery next year or something?
Sun Jun 27 21:15:26 2004-general-Kit: Kraiger, can you think of nothing more important to ask than the fucking lottery numbers?
Sun Jun 27 21:15:50 2004-general-Kit: (checking scanners and communication. Where and when are we, and is there any sign of the fleet?)
Sun Jun 27 21:15:54 2004-general-Kraiger: "Sorry Kit - the future of the entire human race is too much for me to handle - I need to cut it down into something smaller."
Sun Jun 27 21:16:14 2004-general-Kraiger: '0 "Anyway, thats the first question you always have to ask time travellers..."
Sun Jun 27 21:16:54 2004-general-Kit: Ok, mark one difference between us. I've had the "responsibility for all humanity" hammered into my brain from the first day I was born.
Sun Jun 27 21:16:57 2004-general-Methuslah: You are on the surface of the planet. The computer is signalling optimum liftoff time.
Sun Jun 27 21:16:58 2004-general-Kraiger: "Anyway, I've had some preety weird trips eating native fungus behind enemy lines - I'm going to need something to prove to myself that we didn't just imagine all that..."
Sun Jun 27 21:17:41 2004-general-Methuslah: All indications are that time is in sync. Communications are disabled though - jamming. But your sensors do pick up something; three Zhodani cruisers attacking the Imperial Fleet!
Sun Jun 27 21:17:42 2004-general-Kit: OK, so if we are already programmed for liftoff, why not. Still, "when" are we, and is there any sign of the fleet?
Sun Jun 27 21:18:30 2004-general-Kit: Freaking Zhodani. Kraiger, is that something more in your line? We have a super stealth ship at our disposal, ready for some real work?
Sun Jun 27 21:18:59 2004-general-Kit: How are the chances of the fleet against the Zhodani Cruisers?
Sun Jun 27 21:19:44 2004-general-Kit: (checking the data in my camera. Any of the pictures I took still there?)
Sun Jun 27 21:21:17 2004-general-Methuslah: Not brilliant. Your ship's weapons are now fully charged, BTW. And Kraiger has his PGMP.
Sun Jun 27 21:21:35 2004-general-Kit: Hey Kraiger, hand me that canteen. If grandfather fully recharged our ship, maybe he filled up the coffee as well?
Sun Jun 27 21:22:16 2004-general-Kit: I didn't even know this shuttle HAD weapons, OK, so what do we have, besides the stealth equipment?
Sun Jun 27 21:22:36 2004-general-Methuslah: You have a full and boling coffee pot.
Sun Jun 27 21:22:56 2004-general-Kit: Kraiger, how much do you know about space battle tactics?
Sun Jun 27 21:23:21 2004-general-Kit: Thanks Grandfather, you are an ok guy, whover you really are. (taking a deep sip)
Sun Jun 27 21:23:51 2004-general-Kit: Full system chacklist. We have ...
Sun Jun 27 21:23:55 2004-general-Methuslah: A beam laser cannon, mounted forward. That, and your undetectable ship.
Sun Jun 27 21:24:00 2004-general-||||||||| Kraiger just entered this channel
Sun Jun 27 21:24:30 2004-general-Kraiger: Space Battles? How much do you know about field stripping a PGMP?
Sun Jun 27 21:25:17 2004-general-Kit: OK, looks like "sneak in and snipe at critical systems" to me. What do you think Kraiger? And I have never field stripped a PGMP, though I'm pretty sure I could manage it in a pinch.
Sun Jun 27 21:25:55 2004-general-Kraiger: Yup. thats me and space battles then. OK, lets go play Cavalry...
Sun Jun 27 21:26:00 2004-general-Kit: (How maneuverable and fast is this shuttle compared to the Zhodani ships, as far as we can tell?)
Sun Jun 27 21:26:45 2004-general-Methuslah: Their eshuttles are TL14, yours is TL16. Your ship si as fast as their fighters.
Sun Jun 27 21:27:50 2004-general-Kit: OK, considering our options (and Kits usual reckless piloting) I try to determine where we could be of the most use in the battle. I try to take into consideration sniping actions with the laser as well as Kraiger and his PGMP from the hatch as a last resort.
Sun Jun 27 21:28:28 2004-general-Kit: Or just plain sneaking in and sabotaging their ships? Kraiger check your psi shield.
Sun Jun 27 21:29:11 2004-general-Kit: Full stealth mode, quiet approach to the battleground (or battlespace??) while considering the options.
Sun Jun 27 21:33:20 2004-general-Methuslah: Sorry about that.
Sun Jun 27 21:33:34 2004-general-Kit: brb quick bathroom trip required
Sun Jun 27 21:34:19 2004-general-Methuslah: Your shuttle launches smoothly, and enters orbit in full stealth mode, undetected by any ships in the battle. The Imperial flagship looks to be taking some hard hits; and the Zhodani fighters appear to have the advantage. You are coming up behind the rearmost Zhodani ship.
Sun Jun 27 21:36:48 2004-general-Kit: Would it be possible to sneak up to it, take careful aim and hit a vulnerable spot before quickly sneaking off again?
Sun Jun 27 21:37:20 2004-general-Kit: Preferably one that takes the ship out of the battle but does not kill off everyone aboard?
Sun Jun 27 21:38:17 2004-general-Methuslah: Yes. The main communication antenna looks like a good target; or there is the reactor exhaust port.
Sun Jun 27 21:39:24 2004-general-Kit: OK, taking out comm will make them mute and possibly blind, taking out the reactor will cripple tham but may also injure many people. I'll go for the communication antenna.
Sun Jun 27 21:41:08 2004-general-Methuslah: OK. What skill do you want to use; who is taking the shot.
Sun Jun 27 21:41:24 2004-general-Kit: Or what do you suggest Kraiger?
Sun Jun 27 21:42:42 2004-general-Kraiger: You're on your own Kit - I've never been in a space battle before. I'm your man of you want to board them, but I think that might be a little fool-hardy...
Sun Jun 27 21:42:50 2004-general-Kit: I have no ships gunnery, And I think neuther has Kraiger, so I guess I'll have to do a Jack of all Trades check again, and maybe piloting to sneak up and engineering to find the best target.
Sun Jun 27 21:44:01 2004-general-Methuslah: OK. If your succeed at Piloting you can get a 2 modifer to your firing roll. Same for Engineering.
Sun Jun 27 21:44:14 2004-general-Kit: I thin we'll leave the boarding for later. Keep your eye on the sensors and the rest of the battle so I can concentrate on this, and pour me another cup of coffe if you will.
Sun Jun 27 21:44:33 2004-general-Kit: ok, Piloting 2D6: 10
Sun Jun 27 21:44:42 2004-general-Kit: Engineering 2D6: 6
Sun Jun 27 21:45:04 2004-general-Kit: joot fro Gunnery 2D6: 9
Sun Jun 27 21:47:13 2004-general-Methuslah: Good hit! Your laser fire shears the antenna off, and the jamming ceases to be replaced with the confused sounds of battle.
Sun Jun 27 21:48:01 2004-general-Kit: OK, sneaking off as quietly as possible and loking for the next best target.
Sun Jun 27 21:49:00 2004-general-Methuslah: You could go for the control bridge, on a tower at the top of the ship.
Sun Jun 27 21:49:16 2004-general-Kit: Now also listening in on the communication that we can catch to determine where we might be of the most use.
Sun Jun 27 21:49:55 2004-general-Kit: Hmm, take out their command, though that is sure to cost some lives. Fuckin war.
Sun Jun 27 21:50:35 2004-general-Kit: If it looks like the next best target, I'll try to go for it. Is this the flagship of the Zho fleet?
Sun Jun 27 21:50:51 2004-general-Methuslah: There seems to be a major attack on the Zhodani ship; a couple of squadrons are heading to the ship.
Sun Jun 27 21:52:26 2004-general-Kit: Our own squadrons? OK, why not give them a hand. I try to go for the control bridge. Basically the same tactic, Piloting to sneak up, engineering to find the weakest spot and joot to fire.
Sun Jun 27 21:52:59 2004-general-Methuslah: OK. Fire when ready.
Sun Jun 27 21:53:09 2004-general-Kit: Kraiger, keep your eye on these lights. (pointing to stealth controls) if they start to blink or turn red, tell me immediately!
Sun Jun 27 21:53:18 2004-general-Kit: piloting 2D6: 8
Sun Jun 27 21:53:25 2004-general-Kit: engineering 2D6: 10
Sun Jun 27 21:53:36 2004-general-Kit: joot 2D6: 8
Sun Jun 27 21:54:38 2004-general-Methuslah: Good hit! You've shot a hole in the bridge; the ship seems to move off course.
Sun Jun 27 21:54:57 2004-general-Methuslah: Your sensors ring out! Proximity alarm.
Sun Jun 27 21:55:15 2004-general-Kit: OK, sneaking out of the way of incoming traffic as quickly as possible.
Sun Jun 27 21:55:25 2004-general-Kit: What the hell is heading for us?
Sun Jun 27 21:55:43 2004-general-Methuslah: Five Zhodani fighters streaking in!
Sun Jun 27 21:55:50 2004-general-Methuslah: They're launchng missiles.....
Sun Jun 27 21:55:52 2004-general-Methuslah: FADE OUT
Sun Jun 27 21:56:09 2004-general-Kit: Darn, time for some quick maneuvering, they have probably seen our laser fire.
Sun Jun 27 21:56:17 2004-general-Methuslah: More, next week, in the concluding episode of 'The Opening Battles of the Fifth Frontier War: Part One'.
Sun Jun 27 21:57:01 2004-general-Kit: darn... Oh well, at least Zhodani fighters are something ... normal... compared to strange timelines and ... Grandfathers.
Sun Jun 27 21:57:03 2004-general-Kraiger: Hooray! I hope to be here next Sunday as well - two in a row!
Sun Jun 27 21:57:24 2004-general-Methuslah: Great game guys! It's great to be back!
Sun Jun 27 21:57:32 2004-general-Kit: Now that really would be a new thing.
Sun Jun 27 21:57:51 2004-general-Kit: I do hope we will be able to play more regularily again now.
Sun Jun 27 21:58:19 2004-general-Kit: Grandfather indeed..
Sun Jun 27 21:58:24 2004-general-Kraiger: See you...
Sun Jun 27 21:59:01 2004-general-Methuslah: So do I! Bye, guys!
Sun Jun 27 21:59:17 2004-general-Kit: Seee you next week!
Sun Jun 27 21:59:22 2004-general-Kit: bye
Sun Jun 27 21:59:45 2004-general-Methuslah: Bye!
Sun Jun 27 21:59:48 2004-general-||||||||| Methuslah just logged off.
Sun Jun 27 22:00:17 2004-general-||||||||| Kit just logged off.