ic Incursion: Opportunists and Opposition

[Raveled]

Corona frowned and turned to Galvanic, opening her mouth to question the Tempestian, but then the alien turned to a living stormcloud and melted through the ship and was gone. Aya was left opening and closing her mouth dumbly for a few moments; then she remembered that the pirates were watching her. Determined not to show weakness in front of them, she set her jaw firmly and marched out to the hole Galvanic had made in the ship.

Corona stepped out into the void, swallowing the surge of SAS she felt as she flew towards the Nomad. She resolutly kept her gaze on the shuttle, not once venturing to look at the tiny dots that were the approaching Communion fleet. And it wasn't because she felt another panic attack coming on, not at all.

[Thevshi]

Corona was able to make it back over to the Nomad, not seeing any sign of where Galvanic had gone to, but then the Tempestian was quite fast. The small, fast needle ships were closing quickly, the large ships moving at a slower pace.

Over by those larger ships, Galvanic found they seemed to be paying her little mind, as they continued forward toward the pirate and merchant ships. The small needle like spacecraft she had passed by earlier continued forward, none of them turning back to follow her.

The three larger pirate ships began opening fire, bright beams of energy lancing through the darkness of space toward the Communion ships. The small needle ships nimbly arched out of the way of the power blasts, but the larger ships took a number of hits from the pirate ships, although the damage appeared minimal at this range.

The dozen needle ships out in front of the main Communion ships closed with collection of pirate, merchant and Lor law enforcement ships, several opening fire as they did. One of the pirate interceptors exploded in a flash from one of the blasts, and a few shots hit some of the larger pirate vessels, but their heavier armor and shielding took the hits with minimal effect. Two of the needle ships exploded into clouds of silver dust as they were hit by fire some smaller weapon emplacements on the larger pirate ships.

Three of the needle ships dove in toward the Aphelion, dodging some laser fire from the pirate vessels as they went. The ships did not fire at the merchant vessel, and instead crashed headlong into its length, one striking back toward the rear engine section, one towards the middle, and one up closer toward the front and main command section.

Aboard the Aphelion, Mechanized and Memorial's conversation was interrupted by impacts that shook the entire ship. Down either side of the hallway, they saw part of the hull explode outward, as long, thin, needlelike ships of smooth silver metal pierced through. Memorial instantly recognized the Communion ships. Small, iris like hatches opened, on the needle ships, reveling four figures emerging from inside. They were a variety of shapes and races, once, now each had their skin covered with similar silver metal as the needle ship, and as they opened their mouths, shrill, distorted electronic screeching echoed through the long hallway of the merchant vessel.

While the large Communion ships seemed to pay Galvanic little heed directly, that did not mean that they did not act. Another half dozen of the small needle ships launched from the two larger ships. Three turned and started toward the battle around the Aphelion, while three banked around sharply to come towards the Tempestian. Green energy rippled down the length of the fighters before launching from tapered points in angry blasts. All three blasts stuck Galvanic, sending convulsions of pain through her electrical form, but she managed to resist the combined fire.

From one side of the pirate flagship, three more of the small interceptors launched into space, ready to join the fierce battle that had erupted.

[horngeek]

"It'll probably come to a boarding action one was or another, but-"

 

Memorial turned, as the needle ships pierced through the hull, and the figured entered.  "It'll be us first.  My advice?  Don't hold back with these things.  Not one bit."

 

She rocketed forwards, flying towards the closest, her fist flying with lethal force- which the drone managed to avoid the worst of, turning slightly so that the blow hit but glanced off the silvery metal.  "Tough as I remember..."

 

The change in her body language, her face, was obvious. Determination gave way to an almost primal fury.  "Well, let's see what we can do about that!"

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

As the Communion infected aliens emerged from the needle ships, the pirate boarding party Mechanized and Memorial had been fighting with turned to face the four emerging from the closest Communion spacecraft. The two large pirates that had proved so durable before rushed toward the two lead Communion, roaring as they swung their large fists at the zombie like figures. But the Communion proved far quicker than they appeared, both dodging away from the wild swings.

Out in the Void

The five remaining pirate interceptors streaked toward the circling needle ships still around the Aphelion and other pirate ships. Bright beams of energy lanced through the dark of the void, as the pirates opened fire on the Communion fighters. Four of the interceptors scored hits on the agile needle ships, two exploding into silver clouds, while the other two took the hits with no apparent damage.

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

 

The insectoid pirate that had spoken with Memorial drew his sword once more, energy crackling along its blade as he yelled out some instructions in a language Memorial did not recognize.  The he leapt forward towards one of the other Communion claimed, swinging his weapon at the thing.  But once again the computoronium-laced thing dodged agilely away from the blow, its fingers lengthening into long wicked claws.

 

Four of the other pirates were still weighed down by their two unconscious comrades, and they moved further down the hallway away from the Communion with their burdens.  Three others remained behind, drawing their energy weapons once more and taking aim at the last Communion claimed not in melee with the other pirates.  All three opened fire, but the appeared unnerved by the sight of the animated body, their blasts flying well wide or high, striking the smashed wall of the merchant ship instead.

[souffle_girl]

Emily cringed as the needleship breached the Aphelion's hull, deploying its deadly payload. Then she set her eyes for the first time on the infamous Communion. What she saw was extremely disturbing, the empty eyes of the drones staring at them from their metal coated sockets.

 

"Holy.... what are these things?" she screamed out as the drones sprung forward to attack, then she regained her senses and took careful aim at the only one still not engaged in melee. Her force cannon fired, but its beam was harmlessly absorbed by the target.

 

"Wonderful... A cross between Terminator and the Borgs. Keep shooting!" she ordered, more to herself than to the others, considering Memorial was the only one who could understand.

[Raveled]

Corona flew into her shuttle, flying straight into the cockpit and bringing the vessel around to face the Communion fleet, and hesitated. She listened to the feed from inside the Aphelion, to Memorial and Mechanized fighting the Communion boarders. She fingers twitched over the thrust controls, as part of herself screamed to get inside the civilian freighter and start fighting the Communion hand to hand. However, she could see the Communion ships right there in front of her! They were horrible, like solid nightmares taken straight from the destruction of Lor-Vaan.

That decided her. The Lor bared her teeth in hatred and ramped her thrusters up to full. She thumbed off the feed from the Aphelion as her tiny ship accelerated towards the incoming Communion fleet.

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

 

Two of the Communion drones rushed forward toward Mechanized, their long claws lashing out with blinding speed at the suit of powered armor.  Both scored hits on the large mecha, but its plating proved able to withstand the assault, the claws racking across with a shrill scraping noise, but otherwise causing little damage.

 

The other two Communion drones from the forward needle ship attacked Memorial, their claws flashing at her in the dim light.  But Memorial was just a bit quicker, bobbing back from the first slash and then sidestepping the second as she stayed in close to continue her melee with her hated enemy.

 

Further down the corridor, the other four Communion drones were engaged with the pirate boarding party the two heroes had previously been fighting.  Two of the drones lashed out at the hulking horned pirates.  While one of the large pirates managed to block the incoming attack, the other drone slashed the second across its chest, but the pirate's tough, fur covered hide proved more durable than the drone had anticipated, causing only superficial damage and causing the pirate to roar, mainly in annoyance. 

 

Another drone slashed at the insectoid pirate that was in charge of the boarding party, but the alien dodged aside, as he reset his weapon, looking for an opening to make a counterstrike.  The last drone had more success, rushing towards one of the pirates that had shot at is and swiping its claws across the pirates upper torso, sending the alien spinning backward and to the deck with a spray of green blood.

 

In Space

 

Around the Aphelion and the various large pirate ships, the Communion needle fighters gracefully looped back around, darting around some of the larger ships as they went, trying to line up shots at the pirate interceptors.  Green blasts of energy flashed through the void as they opened fire.  Two of the pirate pilots had just begun evasive maneuvers, rolling out of the path of the blasts by inches.  Another two tried to evade as well, but still taking hits that caused minor damaged to their spacecraft.  The last interceptor was struck solidly, the green energy arching across its frame as a section by the engine exploded.  The spacecraft spun out of control as it lost power, momentum carrying it further from the battle as it otherwise become a derelict. 

 

Corona took the Nomad forward, passing three of the needle ships as she went, until she came up near one of the large pirate vessels.  The three needle ships ignored the Nomad, streaking across the void toward the battle taking place around the Aphelion.  As they drew near, they aimed themselves at one of the medium sized pirate ships.  Smaller laser batteries opened fire, managing to destroy one of the approaching needle ships, but the other two rammed into the pirate vessel, piercing the hull as they had with the Aphelion. 

[horngeek]

"Not familiar with the cultural reference, Mechanized..."

 

As Memorial dodged, she turned her focus to the pair of drones.  Just like fighting them all those years before.  "You really don't change, do you.  Some new tactics, but you've still got the same goals, same basic methods."

 

She sighed.  "Who were these two?  Farmers, artists, scientists?  And what you've done to them..."

 

Her fist flew forwards, smashing through the head of one of the drones.  "Go to the Beyond in peace, whoever you were."

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic had powered through space, evading fire from needle fighters as she went under and up, towards the rear of the largest of the ships. The rear would hopefully be less fully armored than a front-on confrontation, and in any case would shield her partially from enemy fire while she tried to slow their advance.

 

The Tempestian solidified, hovering in space as she gathered power in her hands, until redhot sparks blazed and burned from them, ready to shred and mangle metal. With an inward scream of determination and anger, she drove both hands as hard and fast as she could into a section of the hull, hoping to make a hole, or damage something vital. Something to help her stop this fleet.

[Thevshi]

In Space

Galvanic continues to hold her breath and endure the freezing cold of space as she sped away from the spiraling needle like fighters and back toward the rear of one of the large Communion vessels. Focusing her energy, electricity crackling around her and drove her hands into the strange metal that made up the hull. The electricity arched along the surface of the vessel, not appearing to cause any significant damage to any systems that might be present, but the Tempestian did manage to tear open a large hole in the hull to an open space beyond.

But before she could really focus on what was beyond the breech she had created, the strange metal around the edges of the hole peeled back further on their own, widening the hole as four figures leapt out into the void at Galvanic. They were all humanoids, but covered in a silver metal from head to foot. Their mechanical eyes were dull and lifeless and their mouths open in soundless screams as long clawed fingers lashed out at the Tempestian. All four swarmed around her, slashing and stabbing with their claws.

While the lead Communion ship lumbered forward, passing by the Nomad, the three needle ships that had been attacking Galvanic banked sharply to come about as they sped toward the Lor ship. Green energy crackled along their hulls before shooting out at the Nomad, one after the other. But Corona banked and dove, dodging each blast with relative ease.

Back near the Aphelion, the pirate interceptors continued their wild dog fight with the surviving Communion needle ships. The pirates executed tight maneuvers, banking and rolling, to get back into positions to attack one of the Communion fighters. The bright blasts from three of the interceptors flashed in the darkness, but the needle ships which were the targets all nimbly rolled away unharmed. But the fourth interceptor fell into position behind one of the needle ships, banking as it rolled and then opening fire. The blasts struck the needle ship squarely, blasting it apart into a silver cloud as the pirate interceptor streaked past, looking for a new target.

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

The two large pirates continued their melee with two of the Communion drones, swinging powerful fists as they tried to smash the drones into pieces. But they were far more brawn than skill, and the Communion continued to dodge and weave aside with easy, their attentions remaining focused on their targets as green energy began crackling along the lengths of their arms.

The insectoid pirate lunged forward once more, spinning around as he brought his energy weapon down onto the drone he was fighting. The crackling blade struck the drone, but failed to penetrate its metallic hide, instead glancing off with merely a faint scratch along the surface.

As one of their number went down, the other pirates had all drawn their weapons now, the ones holding unconscious comrades firing one handed, as they opened fire at the lone Communion drone not in melee. But between their unsteady hands and the drone's agility, all six blasts flew wide, creating more potmarks in the Aphelion's walls. Glancing away from his fight, the insectoid pirate yelled something at them in their unknown language, clearly irritated with them.

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic threw up her arms as the metal aliens started attacking, ripping at her, powering through her force field to deliver stinging blow after stinging blow, driving her away from the ship and into the cold of space. 

 

After one particularly vicious blow to the forehead, she managed to rally. She had people to protect. She didn't have time for these perversities of humanoid form to stop her from doing that. She started glowing slightly, building from a pale blue glow. In seconds, she was surrounded in flickering blue-white bolts of lightning, which she let explode from her, sending electrifying bolts towards her assailants, the ship, and everything in a radius of around fifty feet.

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

The remaining drone near Mechanized rushed forward toward her once more, its arm crackling with green energy as it slashed its hand at her, the energy crackling along its palm and clawlike fingers. However, this time the power armored human managed to dodged the attack, sidestepping and putting a small bit of space between her and the drone.

The other near the two heroes continued to focus on Memorial, slashing at her with its claws. This time it managed to connect, but Memorial's durable exterior proved able to ward off the attack with no damage.

Further down the hall, the other four Communion drones continued their attacks on the pirates. One of the drones grasped one of the large pirates with a hand crackling with the green energy. The pirate went slightly ridged as pain arched through its body, trying to stun it, but it then shook off the effect, pulling back from the drone as it let out a roar. Another drone went after the other larger pirate, its hand also crackling with energy, but its target managed to take a few steps back and avoid the attack completely.

The drone fighting the insectoid pirate slashed out once more with its claws, racking them across the priate's chitinous hide. The pirate let out a small cry of pain, as he stumbled backward and fell back down onto the ground. The last drone rushed forward toward one of the other pirates that had shot at it, pouncing on the pirate and ripping into it with its wicked claws. The pirate collapse onto the deck, maimed and bloody.

In Space

The four needle ships zooming around the Aphelion and other pirate ship all maneuvered into positions to try to attack the four pirate interceptors still in the battle. As the needle ships lines up their shots, three of them stuck home, while the last missed the dodging interceptor.

One of the interceptors took a hit with no visible damage, the blast glancing off its hull. One of the already damaged fighters took another sharp hit, blasting off chunks of one of its stub wings, but otherwise it still remained in the battle. The third interceptor had an entire wing blasted off, along with significant damage to its thrusters, leaving it dead in space.

Further away from that battle, Galvanic let loose a massive burst of electricity all around her. The four Communion drones that had attacked were all vaporized by the blast. But when the lightning hit the nearby sections of the large Communion ship, it danced along the ship’s hull for a few moments, before dissipating with no apparent effect.

[souffle_girl]

"Oh, yes, I keep forgetting. I'll have to show you some of that stuff sooner or later. When we're not off saving the galaxy. But I can see what's so scary about these things.. they used to be people, right?"

 

At that moment, Emily saw an opening. The  creature she'd been fighting missed with its punch and left its flank open. She jammed her force cannon at the thing's side and fired. The drone was blew back with such force that it was literally torn apart, falliung to the ground, dead.

 

"Now that's more like it!"

Edited December 4, 2014 by souffle_girl

[Raveled]

It wasn't difficult for Corona to find a target; space with growing thick with Communion ships. In fact it would have been harder for her to dodge through the Communion fleet and escape, but she would never consider doing that. Instead she aimed the Nomad's nose for the closet Communion cruiser and set her thrusters at full.

The ship filled her forward window, and there was a horrible crunching and crashing and trembling. The lights cut out, and the Lor was left in darkness, still strapped into her seat, panting heavily. She couldn't hear anything -- not the shuttle's reactor, not the forces of the Communion, just her own heartbeat. And then she screamed into the darkness, banging on the dead, unresponsive console. "Yehaw! How d'ya like it when someone hits back atcha y'all, you !@*($s!!"

[horngeek]

"Yeah."

 

Memorial started to throw another punch at the remaining drone in close combat with her- a punch that was deflected by the drone's own blow, one that slid off her skin.  Mentally, she thanked the people who'd designed the Paladin Implants- they really were a marvel of engineering, enhancing her body so much while being almost unnoticeable.  

 

Now, she just had to use them for the purpose they were made for.  "And I look forward to it, Mechanized."

 

More than the (admittedly, rather cute) battlesuit-wearer knew.  The fact that she took it as granted that there'd be a time they could do that, the fact that Emily didn't even doubt for a second that they'd win...

 

That gave Kyla hope herself.  

 

They could win.  

 

They would win.  

Edited December 5, 2014 by horngeek

[Thevshi]

The Aphelion

The two large pirates again take powerful swings at the Communion drones they were fighting. One once again misses the drone, which dodges aside, moving into position for a counter attack. But the other hulking pirate lands a hit on the drone it is facing, bringing a powerful fist down onto the shoulder of the drone and smashing in the upper half of the drone’s chest and sending it into the deck in a twisted heap.

The other pirates now seem to try to take better aim at the drone that was cutting into them, firing at it in pairs, one trying to help force the drone to dodge into the path of the second one's blast. The first two pairs still fail to land a hit on the agile drone, but the last pair manages to strike the drone in its torso, however its metal skin proves resilient enough to take the blast with no ill effects.

In Space

The three remaining Pirate interceptors still in the fight were starting to face long odds. Two of them were damaged, and they were now outnumbered by the needle fighters. But they continued to maneuver and try to line up their next shots, their bright energy beams cutting through the darkness around the Aphelion and the other pirate ships as they fired after the fast, darting needle ships. Two of the interceptors managed to hit a pair of the Communion fighters, but the blast were deflected off the ships' hulls with no ill effects.

The larger pirate ships continued firing at the advancing Communion capital ships, even as the Nomad smashed into the lead one, crippling it. Bright beams of energy flashed across the darkness of space, blasting into the hulls of the lead ship as it began to list slightly. Fewer shots were fired at the more distance vessel, but a few hits were scored, but damage seemed minimal thus far.

[souffle_girl]

Emily landed a blow on the metallic monster, which fell on the floor just in time for her battlesuit's foot to step over it. The thing was crushed with an admittedly satisfying crack.

 

"Yes! One more down! Hang on, Mem!"

 

She turned to face the remaining drones, taking aim with the force cannon, ready to fire again.

 

"Come on, who's next?"

Edited December 5, 2014 by souffle_girl

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic shivered as the fried remains of the drones drifted away into space. That had been close. No wonder they'd managed to do so much damage, if even a few drones were so formidable. She was also shivering from the cold, and effort of keeping the air in her lungs despite the harsh environment she was in. Had she not been so enhanced by her accident, she'd have died before she even made it to the ship.

 

The Tempestian flew headfirst into the bowels of the ship through the hole she'd punched, sparks flickering around her, particularly on her hands. She didn't pause to land, immediately taking sight of the first of those wretched drones. She flew at it, driving one hand forward with the momentum even as she kept the other up in a boxer's stance.  Even without using her full might, the blow smashed the drone backwards to crash into the wall, falling into a motionless heap on the ground.

[Thevshi]

Aboard one of the Communion ships

As Galvanic smashed one of the Communion drones she found after entering the breach she had made in the ship, another drone came rushing over toward her, even as the ship’s hull began the breach up once again. The drone slashed at the Tempestian with its long claw like fingers, racking them across the back of a shoulder as she tried to dodge aside.

In the badly damaged Nomad

As Corona pried herself out of the damaged cockpit, having to tear out some seats to get free it had been so badly crushed, she heard sounds outside the hull in the darkness. She had moved back into the main body of the Nomad, when two silver covered humanoids forced their way in through a hole in the ship’s side. The two creatures stopped, their cold eyes turning and focusing on the Lor as she stepped into the ship’s lounge.

Aboard the Aphelion

The drone fighting with Memorial reached out towards her once more, its hand once again crackling with green energy. This time it managed to grasp Memorial's upper arm, the green energy erupting up her arm and into her shoulder. But while Memorial could feel it dance across her faintly, it seemed to have no real effect on her.

Down the hallway, the drones continued attacking the pirates that were facing them. One of the drones slashed out at one of the large horned pirates, racking its claws across the pirate’s chest. But like so many other attacks the pirate had taken, it seemed little harmed by the drone, roaring with anger, not pain, as it prepared to try to smash the drone once again.

Another drone tried to press its advantage against the insectoid pirate it had injured previously. But as it slashed out with its sharp claws, the pirate rolled away, coming back up with his weapon at the ready.

The third drone charged another of the pirates that had been shooting at it, its claws sweeping out in front of it, trying to cut down yet another pirate. But this time its target dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the attack, a relieve look visible on its face.

Out in Space

With only three pirate interceptors still even partially functional, eh Communion needle ships now had a slight numerical advantage. Two of the agile needle ships chased after the one interceptor that had thus far avoided any damage, firing the green blasts of energy as they spun after the pirate, who was desperately trying to out maneuver them. Both needle ships managed to land blasts on the interceptor, but neither seemed to cause much in the way of damage, and the pirate fighter streaked off as it looped around Sovereign's flagship, preparing for a counter run against one of the needle ships.

The other two needle ships each chased one of the other interceptors, firing as they went. The pilot of the more heavily damaged interceptor managed to jerk to one side at just the right moment, dodging the blasts meant for it and banking away from the needle ship. The last interceptor took another hit, bits of a wing shearing off, but it otherwise was still in the fight.

The three needle ships that had been attacking the Nomad suddenly no longer had a target. So instead they sped off towards the battle taking place around the Aphelion, quickly covering the distance as they rammed into the pirate ship which had already been hit by three other needle ships.

[horngeek]

Memorial started to grin.  "A very, very good job on the implants."

 

That must've been some kind of stunning shock.  Or something intended to paralyze her, perhaps.  Something that would work perfectly well on an organic target, one that still had pure muscles and flesh and nerves.  

 

None of which exactly applied to Kyla.  And hadn't for a very long while.  Otherwise, she couldn't have lasted for so long, floating in the Black.  

 

Communications ran down augmented pathways, enhanced muscles bolstered her strength as she grabbed onto the hand on her shoulder.  "Go in peace."

 

And a fist, reinforced to be as strong as steel, slammed through the head of the drone.  

 

Now, to help out their new allies.  

[Thevshi]

Aboard the Aphelion

With the Communion it had been facing down, one of the large pirates turned to try to help its fellow hulking pirate. Moving over near the other Communion drone, the massive pirate swung a large fists at the drone, but the drone easily dodged aside. But the other large pirate connected with a powerful swing, which knocked off the drone’s head and half of its upper torso, sending the debris flying back into the needle ship.

The insectoid pirate spun around as it swung its energy weapon at the Communion drone, but the drone easily dodged the somewhat clumsy attack.

The remaining pirates made a bit more space between them and the last drone, opening fire with another barrage of blaster shots. Only one of the blasts managed to hit the drone, but the drone's metal coating easily took the blast.

Out in Space

The pirate interceptors zipped back around the larger vessels, trying to line up shots on the four remaining needle ships. The bright laser beams of the interceptors lanced through the darkness of space. Two of the needle ships exploded in silver clouds, while a third managed to roll out of path of the attack.

[Ecalsneerg]

Galvanic gritted her teeth and growled as yet another drone drew claws across her. Yet, still she didn't buckle or even slow down.

 

She merely spun around furiously, delivering a sparking rabbit punch, the blow crashing into the metal drone like a thunderclap. "<I hate these things,>" she muttered to herself in her native tongue, before taking flight once more and soaring down the corridors at high speed, in search of some kind of vital power coupling or command centre that would help disable the ship from the inside.

[Thevshi]

The Communion Ship

 

Galvanic's punch smashes through the chest armor of the Communion drone, sending the thing flying backward into a wall where it smashes through and into a chamber beyond.  The Tempestian then starts off down the hallway, looking for more damage to cause to the vessel from the inside.  She only goes a short distance before she comes to sealed door across blocking the hallway.  As she pulls up to a stop, the door slides open like an iris, reveling a two more of the Communion drones on the other side, both apparently ready for her.

 

The Aphelion

 

The Communion drone facing the insectoid pirate slashes once more with its claws, scoring a hit that gouged deep cuts along the pirate's left shoulder.  The blow knocked the pirate backward, where it landed on the ground, dazed from the attack, but not quite out of the fight just yet.

 

In Space

 

The remaining two needle ships banked and looped around, trying to bring the odds back in their favor.  Focusing on the already damaged pirate interceptors, the two ships opened fire blast of green energy.  Only one managed to score a hit, the blast ripping apart the rear section of the interceptor, disabling the craft and leaving it drifting powerless in the void.