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Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Ch 2: S [D01 | 1642hrs] The Spare Tire
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“Data stream coming your way!” The pilot called back, but Talera barely heard her, her mouth falling open in a silent ‘oh’ at the information already populating her console, relayed from the alien convoy through fighter pilot communicating with them.
Forced into the role against her will, the doctor was nonetheless giving temporal physics her best shot, though it was certainly taking her longer to parse than it would have taken any real expert back on the Theurgy. But even the most elementary student of temporal mechanics knew that coming back in time to kill one’s ancestors was a fairly self-explanatory paradox. Something to be avoided at all costs.
But apparently someone had cracked time travel without getting that particular memo.
Aggressive behavior suggests it is intent on disruptive action against current time-line.
Of course, the drone’s ancestors would be the ship that stayed behind. Now that the Friedrich Mohs had three ships to analyze – the aggressor, the ancestor ship identifying itself as Oaarian, and the many identical little drones now exiting it – the shuttle’s onboard computer was running comparative analyses that confirmed similar design aesthetics and components. Fred could see an evolutionary path between them.
“Fred to the Lone Wolves – don’t let the drone destroy that ship! The temporal incursion for the convoy will be massive, and I can’t even begin to predict how it might affect us.”
Well, Talera couldn’t, but the sensors and the computer might be able to help out. “We need to get closer to the temporal drone,” she informed Ava. “We might be able to help if we learn more about it. Or at least we might understand what it’s doing here.”
“We were told to keep out of the AO,” the pilot replied.
“We weren’t given a specific distance, just told to keep out of the Wolves way. That means we can get closer.”
That got a chuckle out of the other blonde. “Alright Lieutenant, let it be on your head then.”
[ Lt Cmdr. Jaru “Janus” Rel | Cockpit | Wolf-01 ]
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Janus wasn’t about to let any ship under his watch get destroyed, mainly because he wasn’t an asshole. But sure, they could sprinkle in a little temporal bullshit too. What was life without a little added drama, just for fun?
“Understood, Fred,” he replied quickly, then cut the communication again. At this point, he was fairly certain that Shadow’s comms were out. Though operational, her ship looked worse for wear, and she hadn’t answered any of his hails. It didn’t really matter. The new information didn’t change his plan, and Shadow was doing excellent work as his wingman even without comms.
Honestly, unless they came back with some concrete weaknesses he could exploit on their bogey, Janus was too busy fighting to care.
Now that the drone was in their sights again, Janus throttled forward into another attack run, diving and reorienting to set an angle that would keep his phasers well off the convoy ship wrapped in its tentacles. But he didn’t get that far before another bright flash of red popped into his HUD. “Abort!” Janus shouted to Shadow – who couldn’t hear him, but habits were habits – before flipping the Valkyrie hard to back off in the face of oncoming torpedo fire.
[Federation vessels, this is the Arosan ship, Xebrek. We are here to assist, let us take some of this work off your hands.]
“Fred, Wolves, be advised, someone else is joining the party.” Arosan sounded vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t a name that Janus could place automatically. But practicality won out. After seeing what getting caught by that thing had done to Javert and Shadow, if someone else wanted to come be the bait, that was fine by him.
“Xebrek, this is Commander Jaru of the Federation Starship Theurgy. We appreciate the help, have at it. My pilots will reengage when you open fire, we need to know where your batteries are for close quarters engagement.”
Taking friendly fire was just embarrassing.
As though mocking him for the thought, there was a small, concentrated explosion on his wing, taking a thruster along with it. “What the—” he began, right as the little drones started to swarm. “Fuck!” Since they’d come out of the convoy ship that was feeding them information before falling prey to the drone, Janus had originally thought the deluge of smaller ships was either a defense mechanism or some sort of escape pods. His Valkyrie had agreed, the onboard computer marking them as friendlies in his display. How wrong they both were. The HUD adjusted quickly – thanks for nothing Thea – a swarm of red gnats filling his vision right as the Xebrek and its torpedoes turned green.
“On second thought, maybe some pest control first.”
[ Lt. Talera Emlott | Passenger Section | Shuttlecraft Friedrich Mohs ]
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Talera remained focused on her console at Fred approached the combat area, letting Ava do her thing and choose the approach she thought best. Before long, they had arrived at the distance the shuttle’s sensors needed for intensive, detailed scans, and data began flowing across the screen at faster and faster rates. Far too fast really, Talera could hardly keep up.
“Oaarian Ark, what are those auxiliary ships? Please advise.” Ava was talking behind her, but Talera wasn’t listening now. Her entire focus was on understanding the difficult science unfolding before her.
“Look at this—” Talera began…
“Brace!” Ava shouted, at the same time….
Talera’s vision went white, the console disappearing from view…
Then she knew nothing at all.
[ Lt Cmdr. Jaru “Janus” Rel | Cockpit | Wolf-01 ]
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The Valkyrie was one of the most maneuverable ships he’d ever flown. But even that couldn’t compare with a two-meter-long drone, especially when it came with a few dozen friends intent on boxing him in.
Skewering them with phasers a few at a time was too slow. He didn't want to waste their limited supply of torpedoes with the other ship still out there, but it was getting to be necessary. He’d take a shot, ducking and weaving as the swarm tried to surround him, but another drone would take it’s place before the dead one was even cold. Janus also considered, then decided against, attacking the mothership. He still didn’t have enough information on why one of the convoy ships, which had been asking for their help a minute before against an obvious aggressor, was attacking them now. If it had changed sides, why was the original bogey still going for it?
He saw Fred fall into the trap, multiple drones self-destructing around the shuttle at once, but was too far away to do anything about it. Then their distress beacon started going off.
“Salvo, Janus. Protect the shuttle. Shadow, if you can hear this, I’m going to get the little bugs’ attention. I’ll lay them out for you. Prep an array of torpedoes for areas with high densities of drones. Let’s see how they like proximity detonations.”
“Sorry Xebrek, we’re going to have to leave you on your own for a minute.”
OOC: Go save your wife Daniel, it’s too late for Talera…
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