Thevshi

Paradigm Amara listened to Sphere as he provided some details on the opening of the opera, although much of that information was of minimal use for her in the introduction she needed to provide. However, the suggestions on subjects to address in her speech were helpful, and appreciated. "Thank you Sphere." The Pretorian replied as she looked out at the stage she was soon expected to walk out on. When the time was right, Amara strode out onto the stage confidently, using a slight bit of her flight to keep her full weight off the stage, given she did not know how much weight capacity it was designed for. As she went, her long black cape trailed slightly behind her, but then settled back down once she came to a halt. Looking out over the gathered audience, Amara began to speak in a strong, clear voice. "Distinguished beings, on behalf of our hostess, I bid you good evening and welcome to the exclusive showing of The Night Flower." "In my time I have travelled a great deal of this galaxy, both in this era and an earlier one. In those travels I have seen many wondrous sights, some which have been lost to time for thousands of years. But despite all I have seen and experienced, the galaxy still regularly proves that new marvels are everywhere, even sometimes in the most smallest of places." "The Bloom is just such a wonder." "A unique specimen, when active the Bloom exists as a constant cycle of birth, death and rebirth, constantly evolving and seeking to survive. Its very existence attracts the inquiry of scientists, while its every changing characteristics are an inspiration to artists. For many of us, it is a clear reminder that there is much yet to be learned and discovered about galaxy, and ourselves." "And now, I present, the Night Flower." With that she gave a small bow and started off toward a side exit from the stage.

Okay, the Jaas Bounty Hunter will hit Bliss with a mental blast, so that is a DC 25 Wills save TA (don’t forget to account for your 2 bruises)

GM The Praetorians quickly set to work on their assigned tasks. Rux and Pheydyn were taken back to where the Devotion was waiting on the landing field they had originally landed at and placed into holding cells which nullified their abilities. The unconscious escaped criminals were all gathered up and transported back to the landing field as well, the powered criminals placed in holding cells as well, while the normal criminals were simply disarmed and put under the guard of the surviving crew members of the Sar-Lan. With the powered ringleaders of the escape captured, the remaining escaped prisoners were quickly rounded up and brought to the landing field as well. With everything seemingly under control, Lor citizens began to venture out onto the streets, wanting to get a look at those that had come to help them and join in assisting the crew of the Sar-Lan in holding the escapees that were to be left on the planet until other transport could be arranged. The Praetorians learned that when X'Madi and her crew had taken over the city, they had executed the governor and several other leaders as an example to the rest of the populace. The Lor official that had been forced by X'Madi to meet with the Praetorians when they had arrived was one of the senior most officials until new elections could be held, and he was with the Praetorians at the landing field when all the remaining escapees had been rounded up. "I would like to thank you all on behalf of the people of Dreed III." He stated to the gathered Praetorians, a small crowed of Lor gathered around as well.

GM Starshot and his companions urged their lopers forward, following after the Ul-Mor tribe into the burning lands. The lopers were rather sure-of-foot, handling the rocky and uneven terrain with little difficulty as the tribe moved through the barren landscape. The air quickly became heavy with sulfur and other gases, and while still breathable, it seemed to require a bit more effort to do so than normal. The geysers of flame continued to erupt every so often from the crevices and other gaps in the surface, although they were always proceeded by the popping noises from below, allowing anyone near to guide the lopers away and avoid the flames. For several hours the tribe moved across the burning lands, not stopping as they went, as there were no locations without the intermittent geysers of fire that would allow them to safely stop. It was difficult to tell the exact time of day, as the haze that hung over the landscape hide the sun. But as the shadows of the rocky terrain began to deepen and the horizon became harder to see, Starshot realized that night was approaching. Just when he felt they would be trying to continue on through darkness, the Ul-Mor guided them toward a low mountain range. In the side of one of the first hills in the range was a large cavern that seemed to go underneath the range. The Ul-Mor moved up to the mouth of the cavern and began to dismount from their lopers.

Tsunami Giang's attention was drawn away from the unusual change to the currents near some of the surfers and back to the water near the boat after it felt as if the boat had bumped something. "Sometimes a boat can hit a wave in a way to cause a jolt such as that." She stated in reply to Kat and Mali as she began to focus on the water near and behind them with her extraordinary senses, looking for any signs of something large moving thorough the water. "But that certainly felt as if we bumped into something."

Tsunami "Well, I am confident all of you will be quick studies. You all have excellent balance, which is a big head start." Giang replied to her friends as they all indicated a willingness to give surfing a try. "Although do not be discouraged if the first attempts feel less than successful. It can take a number of attempts to really feel as if you are accomplishing much, even when the waves are good." As she said that, the Asian young woman sensed a slight change in the currents not far from the ferry. Looking back out toward one of the groups of surfers, Giang noted an unusually calm area around two suffers, one whom appeared to be helping the other. It was nothing that would be visible to someone just looking out at the water, but she was able to sense the very flow and currents of the water around them, and knew that was not a natural occurrence. Indeed, she had used her abilities to calm currents in a similar fashion in her work as a lifeguard in Del Mar. She could not immediately detect who or what might have created the pocket of calm water, but given that it seemed that whomever it may have been was doing so to help the surfer that had fallen off his board, she did not feel a need to try to pinpoint the source.

GM "My world has some areas that still has some geothermal activity." Soreen replied as they started forward after the Ul-Mor. "But like most sensible beings, I avoided those areas. And no one was trying to trek across them either. Unfortunately, that does not look like an option we have." "My world had some similar regions as well, but I have only seen them from afar." Laark replied, guiding his Loper along beside Starshot's. The Lopers seemed hesitant to enter the rocky terrain, but did not resist when directed to start forward.

GM "Oh, that just looks wonderful." Soreen commented as she looked over Starshot's shoulder from where she sat behind him on one of the lopers the Ul-Mor had provided them. Laak was grimly quite as he simply stared out toward the barren lands before them, several more jets of flame shooting into the air after more popping noise. The Ul-Mor guided their lopers forward, and the tribe began to cross the desolate landscape, spreading out slightly as they went. The air was rather stifling, humid and heavy with a sulphurous odor. Looking around, Starshot did not note any signs of life other than the Ul-Mor tribe.

Paradigm Amara looked around Munn's empty room for a few moments, noting his collection of images of Lexa. While she did not generally judge someone’s obsession with legal private interests, she had to wonder if his obsession with Lexa went a bit too far. Turning away, she walked back out of the room. "At this point it might take longer than we have to continue a thorough search of the area." She said to Sphere. "Perhaps it would be best to get me to the state so I can act as Lexa's stand in and start the opera. Then you can go find Barrier and get her searching the area around the Bloom-garden. I will rejoin the search once the opera has begun."

GM As the group had approached the council chambers, Lady Tal'gar had looked over at Galvanic as the Tempestian attempted to smooth over the discussion the Zultasian noblewoman was having with Corona. "I can certainly accept that may be the case," she replied with a cool tone, "but if we are going to be judging each other for past crimes they should at least be crimes that were not done by those who had fallen victim to the Communion. After all, I understand a good number of Lor soldiers were converted to drones as well, as were Grue and many other races." Ambassador Raal gave Mater a small nod at her response. "Well spoken Mater Vyrdna, although I would still consider the changes before me a transformation, even if it is yet incomplete. I certainly look forward to what it is yet to be." He replied with a small smile as the group approached the council chambers at the end of the main plaza. Once the group made its way into the main council chambers, Paradigm, Galvanic and the other Praetorians stood alongside the entrance along with the Khanate guards and the station peackeepers that had been part of the procession. Justicar Vor stood a short distance from the entrance as well. Ambassador Raal moved forward toward the center of the large room, Lady Tal'gar following a short distance behind. The Zultasian noblewoman unflinchingly met Th’emme’s steely gaze, fixing her eyes on the Lor noblewoman as well. Tal'gar's lavender eyes seemed to burn with great intensity as the two focused on each other a few moments, but then the eye contact was broken, as Ambassador Raal began to speak. "Members of the Coalition Council, I am most honored by your hospitality and on behalf of Kinan Khan, congratulate you all on the many accomplishments you have achieved since the end of the Incursion." The ambassador began, giving a small bow to the gathered dignitaries. Straightening himself back upright, Raal began to look about the chamber at the various individuals standing on the many platforms. "As you all know, the Stellar Khanate was the Communion’s first target when they began their advance. Caught off guard, many of our forces were quickly consumed and turned into more fodder for the Communion. Even the great Kinan Khan himself fell victim to the Communion's control, little more than a mouthpiece. Following the Communion's defeat, the Khanate continued to suffer, having been severely weakened by the Communion. But now, that is at an end."

APPROVED

GM Once again the night passed uneventfully, and the following morning the Ul-Mor refilled their water containers from the oasis before the troop set off once more. After less than an hour of travel in the ever increasing heat of the morning, Starshot began to not a red haze off in the distance, growing steadily closer. They had only been traveling about an hour when they reached the edge of the burnings lands, which were a barren, rocky terrain the stretched in miles in all directions ahead of them. Small mounds with open holes dotted the land scape, with tendrils of steam rising up from many. Over these rocky lands hung a reddish haze of mist and steam, making the air muggier that the desert, but still just as hot. As Starshot looked out over the bleak landscape, he heard a faint series off pops from somewhere ahead, and then a jet of flame shout out from one of the small mounds. Another series of pops proceeded another jet of flame from another mound a short distance from the first. The Ul-Mor wasted little time, guiding their Lopers into the barren landscape as the tribe began to cross the burning lands.

Hmm, another poor roll, but Paradigm has at least heard the name. (He must be lower on her list of concerns in the galaxy Anyway, Paradigm is not in any sort of romantic relationship at the moment, nor is she particularly looking to start one.

Tsunami Giang Trang stood up on the upper deck of the catamaran ferry that was taking her and her friends back from Magnetic Island to Townsville. While she and Kat both could have provided a means of getting back and forth, the young Asian woman had to keep up appearances considering her research project on the Great Barrier Reef would have her out here for several months. Giang was wearing a pair of cuffed jeans short and a white tank top, over which she had a red lightweight windbreaker with the Del Mar Lifeguard logo on the front. She wore the windbreaker more out of habit than actually feeling the cool ocean breeze that made the morning air seem cooler than it normally would feel. Cold had not bothered the young woman for some time, after all she was able to be perfectly comfortable at the very depths of the ocean. Looking out over the clear waters of the bay as the ferry made its way back toward Townsville, Giang's gaze fell onto the surfers gathered a short distance away, waiting for the swells to begin to form. Since her move to San Diego to attend UC San Diego, the Asian had taken up surfing after some of her fellow lifeguards in Del Mar had offered to teach her. Looking back over at her three friends, she gave a small smile. "If you all are interested, once we are back in town and get our things back to my place, we could see about renting some surfboards and getting back out here ourselves."

Paradigm Somehow Amara was not terribly surprised that President Munn was missing as well, although she hoped that it was not due to something more sinister on Munn's behalf. As Barrier moved over toward the bartender and the bounty hunters, Amara was considering how best to begin looking for Lexa when Sphere suggested her as possible stand in for the artist at the beginning of the opera. "If it becomes necessary I would be willing to act at the master of ceremonies for the opening Sphere." She replied. "But first let us use the time we have to see if we can find Lexa." "I am sorry, but we need to move a bit more quickly," she stated as she reached out to gently grab the robot. Then she took to the air, flying quickly from the reception hall and up into the air above the compound. "Where is President Munn's quarters? That might be a first place to begin looking."

Paradigm Amara focused on Sphere as the small robot approached, apparently in some distress, the reason for which was quickly clear as Sphere spoke. While she would not be particularly surprised if Lexa had intentionally gone missing to add a little flair to her opera, Amara also knew she could not just ignore the situation. She also glanced over at the scene by the bar where the two bounty hunters were questioning the bartender. "Barrier, why don't you go see what is going on with our fellow guests over there and see if you cannot be of some assistance." She stated before focusing fully on Sphere once more. "Please calm down Sphere, we will do all we can to help locate Lexa." Amara began. "Where was the last place you or anyone else saw her?"

Stellar Classification: Nebula, with a Neutron Star and companion Magentar Number of Planets: 0 For millennia, space faring races avoided the Kesteven system, a nebula, neutron star and its magenta companion the remnants of a long-dead supernova. But on the burned out remains of the last planet in the system, Kesteven 1, lay the ruins of the ancient civilization of the Progenitors. During the Incursion, a group of Praetorians travelled to the system, determined to be the next target of the Communion’s wormhole weapon and discovered the last of the Progenitors, Lelak. Both Lelak and the Praetorians fled the world when the Communion arrived, destroying the planet and creating another wormhole that was part of the network they were creating throughout the sector. Following the destruction of the Kesteven 1, the massive Communion mothership controlling the Communion forces in the sector relocated to the system to be near the wormhole that was now in place. When the Coalition forces launched a daring plan to disrupt the Communion forces and strike at the mothership, a small group of heroes traveled to the system and managed to destroy the central processing core of the mothership, rendering it inert and disabling all Communion forces in the sector, bringing the Incursion to an end. Notable Places: Coalition Victory Station (CoVic Station) Status Following Incursion: Since the defeat of the Communion, the system has become an important location within the neutral zone between the major space powers. The derelict Communion mothership has been repurposed as Coalition Victory Station, now home to millions of sentients from hundreds of species. The presence of the central wormhole of the wormhole network being established by the Communion means the system is a central hub of trade and travel within the sector. Threads: Incursion: Meaning in Destruction Incursion: Only Hope

Coalition Victory Station (CoVic Station) Location: Kesteven 79 Following the defeat of the Communion and the end of the Incursion, the massive Communion mothership lay derelict near the wormhole now present in the system. The Coalition of worlds that had fought together against the Communion declared the station a neutral ground, renaming it Coalition Victory Station as a symbol of the cooperation that had stopped the Communion. With so many sentients displaced by the Incursion, many of their worlds destroyed or cyberformed by the Communion, millions made their way to CoVic Station, as it came to be known. Engineers from the Lor Republic and hundreds of other worlds worked to convert sections of the station into habitable zones, along with industrial factories, shipyards and other facilities. Embassies began to sprung up, as the station became the ideal location for the former members of the Coalition to attempt to continue to build on the cooperative spirit that had allowed them to achieve victory. While the Lor Star Navy had a presence at the station, a corps of independent peacekeepers from all the Coalition worlds was established to maintain order on the station. In addition, the Praetorians, who had returned to the galaxy in the early days of the Incursion to help fight the Communion once again, chose to establish their headquarters on the station. Currently several large areas of the station have been converted into city sized habitable zones, with several large archologies dedicated to food production established as well. But the bulk of the former Communion mothership is still uninhabited and deserted. Key Locations: The Main Plaza Located on the upper level of the largest habitable zone, the Main Plaza houses the embassies and other governmental buildings that had been established on the station. Several large open plazas and artificial parks line the center of the Main Plaza, with the various governmental buildings surrounding them. The Council Chambers Located at one end of the Main Plaza, the council chambers of the station was built to house the various members of the Coalition Council to conduct their business and debate important issues. While neither as large nor opulent as the senate chambers of late Lor-Van, the arched ceiling of the chambers is high enough to make the average sentient dizzy. Great round disks of burnished metal were laid into the curving walls, each broad enough for half a dozen humanoids to stand on with room left to move about. The platforms were layered in several rows moving up the walls, spaced so as to afford each of them a view of the empty space in the middle of the chamber. The Praetorian Headquarters The Praetorians selected a section of the station that begins along the edge of the Main Plaza and extends out to the exterior of the station. In addition to living quarters, training areas, laboratories and other amenities, the headquarters includes a separate hanger for the Praetorians’ spacecraft. The Spinal Core Beginning along one edge of the Main Plaza, the Spinal Core is a hundred-meter-wide shaft that descends well over a mile into the lower levels of the largest habitable zone. The engineers had not tried to alter the shaft during conversion of the station, instead setting up artificial gravity generators along the entire interior surface of the Spinal Core. As a result, two or three story buildings had been built down the entire interor of the Core. The Spinal Core had quickly developed as the central market place for the station, nearly every building filled with business, shops and cantinas. While there had been an initial attempt to set out orderly and symmetrical lanes between the buildings, expansion and additions, as well as numerous stalls place wherever possible had created twisting and curing avenues. Brickstown: One of the lower sectors of the main inhabited zone, Brickstown is a manufacturing hub that is home to a large number of the station’s independent Grue. Threads: Uncertain Liberty Revanche: At the Point of a Sword Revanhce: Under the Sword

GM Starshot was able to locate Athru once again, the Ul-Mor reestablishing the mind-link so they could communicate once more. As Starshot's question Athru began to respond, the Ul-Mor make our home on the sea of sands. Remembers tell of a time when the Ul-Mor lived in the sea of salt, but when those waters receded, the Ul-Mor adapted. The Ul-Mor do not travel far beyond the sea of sands or the burning lands. We have seen others such as Star-the-Shot and his companions, flying above the sea of sands on a metallic bird. Where they come from we do not know for certain, but perhaps the Kurabanda who dwell in the trees, know more.

Paradigm Paradigm relaxed her stance slightly, now that immediate hostilities were at an end, although she was still weary of the two conscious escaped criminals. "Seresk, Magnetar, what is your status?" She asked over a communicator. Seresk reported back that the landing field was secured and he had destroyed all the reprogramed police drones in that area. Magnetar similarly reported back that he had managed to eliminate all the police drones that had been rampaging through the city. "Good work." Paradigm responded before she turned toward the others. "Corona, Dragonid, Moon-Moth and Traveler, please secure these two and get them into holding cells on the Devotion. Cavalier, you and I will start gathering up the unconscious escapees and transport them back to the landing field. The rest of you, fan out through the city to ensure it is secure and locate as many of the other escaped convicts as you can."

GM Rux was blasted off her feet by Corona's powerful blast, slamming against the top of the wrecked spacecraft and rolling a short distance away dazed and hurt. Pheydyn glanced over his shoulder at his fellow convict and then took a quick glance around the area, seeing that all the rest were even further out of the fight. Focusing back on the Praetorians in front of him, he held his hands up in front of him. "It would seem there is little point of continuing this, you have clearly prevailed." Dragonid flew over to land next to Rux, who was just pushing herself back upright and trying to get her bearings. "I would listen to Corona and think twice about trying to teleport away." The reptilian Praetorian stated, wisps of smoke escaping from his mouth, promising a jet of flame is she did.

Okay. I think at this point it is time to wrap up the fight, the odds are not good for the last two remaining bad guys.

Tsunami (3) From Beneath You It Devours: Age of the Aquarian (3) Paradigm (16) [MAXED] The Night Flower (15) Praetorians: The Deadly Dozen (1) GM (16) Revanhce: Under the Sword (3) Praetorians: The Deadly Dozen (3) Crash on Volturnus (7) Revanche: At the Point of a Sword (2) Revanche: Engines of Destruction (1) All Paradigm posts to Tsunami, then 6 GM posts (to put her at 25). All remaining GM posts to Synapse (which should be over 25 as well). Ref point to Tsunami.

Paradigm "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Sri Klikk." Amara said in greeting as she and Barrier arrived at where the Star Knight was waiting for them. She listened as his armor translated for him, describing his reason for being on Nocturne. Amara frowned ever so slightly. Since the Incursion, the Grue had been rather quite, having put aside longstanding differences with the Lor and so many others to work against the common threat. Once that threat was gone, there had been a considerable amount of recovery for the Grue, just as there was for all the races and powers that had struggled against the Communion. But now it appeared as if the Grue were starting to move back toward their more traditional means of operating. Amara hoped this might turn out to be some sort of misunderstanding, but still she needed to be prepared for it being exactly what Kit Klikk said it was. "We thank you for the information on your mission." She replied to the Star Knight. "We will certainly be mindful of anything suspicious, and are willing to offer whatever assistance we can if needed."

GM As the glowing energy fields began to go up around the various combatants, many of them tried to start moving clear of the fields Barrier was lowering in place as she came to a halt hovering over the scene of the conflict. Kazzan Suul's reflexes once again proved superb, as he dove to the side and rolled out of the area Barrier was enclosing, coming back up to his feet outside of the main cube. Bliss also was able to move just out of the path of the descending energy barriers, moving more on instinct than planned action, given she was still recovering from the last hit by the insectoid bounty hunter with the large double bladed weapon. The hunter proved unable to match that however, hesitating just a bit too much before the glowing fields descended around her, trapping her inside. Others chose not to try to avoid being confined by the glowing fields, as Roulette remained where he was, willing to see where this latest development led.