[RP]Prelude-Cydonia Rising [IC: 'Dying Embers']

[Yiuel]

Softsapphire was exited, looking forward to meet the humans. But Twilightsaber's questions were more pressing matter.

{No matter how much time we have left, this doesn't matter. More pressing is sending a message to the humaniti ship. I will calculate the frequency of the stream, Malidasaria shall use her knowledge to make a message possible. Now, for the message.

First of all, we will not use the human's language. In this new meeting, we know one thing they do not now. That is, that we know a human and about humanity. So not only will we not speak their language, I'll will make sure that this message does not show any of our knowledge about humanity. So, instead, I will send a message in all the spoken languages that I know except the human's one. Since humanity appears to understand trade, we will use trade as the first language, and use Historian. We will however use their frequency only, to tell them that we are aware that they are there.

Second, we will not say that we are Loroi. We will specify our number and our required environment. We got a lost human; useful to learn about humanity, yet useless to learn about their counsel. We do not know what happened to humanity during this time. But as soon as it is clear no Umiak influence is in their counsel, which we will quickly see I suppose, we should present ourselves as Loroi and gain their trust. So I propose this :

"Mayday to anyone in this system. We are (number) in a small transport who just escaped the destruction of their main ship. We request assistance. We require dioxygen at a partial pressure of (21 kPa), with the rest filled with either diazote or helium, and as free of carbon dioxide as possible, and traces of water, for survival. We will not last much longer. I repeat. Mayday to anyone in this system. We are (number) in a small transport who just escaped the destruction of their main ship. We request assistance. We require dioxygen at a partial pressure of (21 kPa), with the rest filled with either diazote or helium, and as free of carbon dioxide as possible, and traces of water, for survival. We will not last long. (Repeat in the Historian language, then again in Trade etc.)"

Oh, and finally,...}

[We should try to speak with voices from now on. My sister told me how the human understood we were loroi: through seeing us sanzaing. And we should use the few minutes that we have to get used to speech in our communication even on a personal level. We may revert to sanzai as soon as we say we are Loroi.

Oh, and now I shall devot myself to check how much time we have left.]

1. Check to get the frequency of the stream : 20 (Mind 8 + Physical Sciences 4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3873582/

2. Check to express the message skillfully : 16 (Mind 8 + Performing Arts (Spec. Public Speech) 4)
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3873584/

3. Check to get the time we have left : 17 (Mind 8 + Physical Sciences/Biological Sciences (Spec. Biochemistry/Physiology) 5 + Heightened Awareness 2). Because I am equal ranks in both, I will only do a simple check for both. They are at the same level.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3873587/

[OOC: You've got to be kidding me. I utterly failed with a double 1 on that last one. I gotta be getting tired.]

[VonWolffe]

Meanwhile aboard the Cydonia -

SpoilerShow

Amid the incoming reports and the Bridge staff eagerly watching their instruments Wolffe listened to the Captain's revised instructions. Taking along the Lt. Commander was unusual, but it was understandable given the gravity of the situation they were now in. From what he could understand a pair of alien vessels had just fought it out with one another and killed each other. Lt. Cmdr. Ferox had noted the presence of an object moving intelligently among the debris, that meant survivors were out there. The Captain was cautious, inclined not to take risks that might endanger his ship but the appearance of the Aliens on the probe's monitor meant that hiding was no longer an option. Whoever was out there knew the Cydonia was watching, and the human vessel was likely their only chance of survival.

"Sir, I recognize that you are in command of this vessel and as a Marine officer I have no authority to determine your ship's course of action, but those people out there just had the stuffing kicked out of them and they need help. I don't know who they are or what they are doing here but we are close enough to make a real difference. Chances are it's either the Umiak or the Loroi out there, and since the Scouts failed to make contact with either side it might be up to us to make first contact. It'd be damn good form Sir to make our first contact be Humanity coming to their rescue. First impressions mean a lot Sir, at least they do to me."

"My men are already good to go Sir, Lt. Commander we'll be waiting for you on the shuttle so get kitted up as quickly as you can please. I'll have the QM issue you a weapon as well." Wolffe made a few clipped instructions over his wireless before turning to leave.

Wolffe stormed purposefully off the Bridge with his fire-team partner Corporal Arty 'Bomber' Harris trailing just behind him. Bomber carried the Marine's long distance wireless and receiver device, designed to amplify incoming and outgoing signals in order to keep the Marines in contact with the Cydonia even when they boarded enemy vessels. It worked in practice, but that was all they had so far leading up to this; Practice. Most of his men had seen real combat before, but Wolffe was very aware that what happened today would be a first for them. The pair reached the elevator and thumbed the indicator for the mid-deck. Bomber spoke up after a moment of tense silence.

"You handled that pretty well Sir."

Wolffe took the free moment to vent. "That's the problem with working with the Navy, too many pointy-heads* that think they know best. If the Navy wants to start kicking in doors themselves then why the hell are we even here? What the hell was all that training for?"

"You do know that you are a pointy-head too Sir?"

"Don't remind me Bomber." Wolffe replied with a slight smile.

The Marines hopped off of the descending platform before it hit the ground, their hard soled boots clattering loudly on the deck. Wolffe cued his short-range wireless to communicate with the channel that the other Marines were using, the same one that he had been using on the Bridge to keep his men informed. He had been giving them updates under his breath as the situation developed.

"Roland, grab Irish and meet me in the shuttle at the double. Irish, bring all the medical supplies and amenities you can get your hands on. We're going with a half team as I expect we will be taking on company... survivors from whatever just happened out there. We don't know who they are but they are armed, have no place to go, and they know we are coming. Big Two will be coming with us as well so Popski I want you to keep an eye on him. We leave in two so move it boys, pilot's waiting."

Bomber and Wolffe headed straight for the shuttle. The Marines had already been ready as soon as the first alert was called. All they needed to do now was wait for Ferox to step aboard and the shuttle would be on it's way.

---

* 'Pointy-head' - Derogatory term for officers commonly used by non-commissioned members when they are not around.

'Irish' - A 6'4" musclebound African-American Marine and also the team's medic. Irish is a medical specialist and experienced in the ER and on the battlefield.

'Popski' - 6' Russian with an unpronounceable name, everyone just calls him Popski. Sniper qualified and holding a degree in physics, easily the best shot in the unit.

'Big Two' - Lt. Commander Ferox as he is referred to by the Marines

[sunphoenix]

Stormrage made no reply once back onboard the "Slipper"... her head was literally killing her. She, in silence, stowed her maneuver pack but turned off her amplifier and that helped a little. But her recent use of her psionic powers and her still mostly untreated head trauma was taking a heavy toll on her. However, duty came first... regardless of the consequences.

Silently she made her way to the pilot's seat and strapped herself back in pausing briefly to gather her thoughts and focus through the haze of painful dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her.

Powering up the "Slipper's" helm and drives, she spoke softly back the Twilightsaber, "..I will concede, without any further solid evidence to the contrary, that for now all hostiles in the immediate vicinity have been neutralized Mizol Twilightsaber. If there is a humanity vessel in this system.. it is now a diplomatic mission and I defer to your authority in these matters. What course should I pilot the shuttle on and what are your directions Mizol?"

[Suederwind]

[OOC: This is the last post in the prelude. Thanks Beliskner for his lines, I modified them a bit, I hope thats ok. I will try to start the real IC thread tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for this funny prelude! Music was a bit of a problem, but I think this one fits to the mood nicely (although the movie was rubbish): Link ]

For the Loroi side:
Parat Twilightsaber thought about Softsapphires proposal, going through possible scenarios that might follow and any information about humaniti. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to block out any kind of disturbance for a while. She took a deep breath, aware that her decision was crucial for this mission and their survival. After all this had raced trough her mind, she opened her eyes again and answered Softsapphire, using her voice:

[Softsapphire, this is a wise proposal. Send that message and take care that you do not give them more information than necessary. Try to hide our identity, for now.]

After a short pause, she spoke to Stormrage:

[Very well. Can you still pilot our shuttle? For the moment, rest for a moment, as we should wait what kind of answer we receive from the humans. We should not draw any more attention to ourself than necessary, as we do not know what they know about us and we do not know what kind of presence they have in that system. So its better to be careful and not make any mistakes.]

Then she turned around and spoke to the rest of Argent Fires crew:

[Sisters! We will try to contact those humans. We will use spoken words from now on, to keep the humans unsure about who we are. Try to make yourself familiar with the use of spoken words instead of sanzai and use sanzai again only after we told them who we are. Understood?]

The sisters had understood, and a message for the humans was on its way...

And now for the humans:

SpoilerShow

After a few last words from the Captain, Ferox left the bridge after Wolffe and went firstly to his room where he took his revolver and quickly carried on to the armory where he suit up in to medium EVA armor and took a standard issued rifle.
In 10 minutes he was ready for action outside armory when the Captain's voice spoken via coms:

[This is the Captain, Cmdr Ferox report to bridge ASAP! Away team, start the shuttle immediately without Cmdr Ferox, get to the position of the probe as fast as you can. Await further orders on your way. --- I repeat: Cmdr Ferox report to bridge...]

{what a..} Hadrid turned toward elevator and quickly move back to bridge.

Entering the bridge he saw a big commotion going on.

[Sir? Something wrong?]

[Hadrid.. good, we picked up a transmission, not far from our sensor probe...]

Hadrid sat at his console placing his rifle next to it.

[Do we know what's in it?]

[Not yet, lets hope that they do not want to call in their friends.]

Blake now turned towards the com officer:

[Cho, have you finally deciphered the message?]

The young female officer answered in a low voice that sounded somehow absent, while constantly typing and gazing at her console. Her long, almost pitch black hair preventing a clear look on her face:

[Its... not that easy sir... The message is corrupted... perhaps due to radiation but there... seems to be audio on a... TCA emergency frequency?]

Finally the young officer looked up and showed her troubled, but pretty asian face, covered partially by streaks from her long hair.

[Emergency frequency? Are you sure?]

Ferox answered in disbelieve.

[Play what you can, Ensign Cho. Let's hear it...]

The sound of static noise filled the bridge for a moment, as everyone else was quite at an instance and waited for whatever was player afterwards...

"Mayday to -//*/*/ this system. We are (number) in a sm*/-/ transport who just escaped the dest/-/-tion of their main *-+ip. We request assistance. /-+require dioxygen at a partial pres//--/-***, with the rest filled with either diazote or helium, and as free of carbon /*/*/-/-/-/*-*--/*water, for survival. We will not last much longer. I repeat. /*/-/-o anyone in this system. /-/*/-/-/- in a small transport who just escaped the destruct*/*-/-*/-*/-/*/-. We request assistance."


Meanwhile, the shuttle with Wolffe and his marines took of from Cydonias shuttle bay and set a course at full speed to the position of that probe. Finally, no more drills. This was the real deal...

[Dragoon]

Sgt Roland Steen

SpoilerShow

As the order came in Roland grabbed his tactical pack and shrugged into it. "Irish, full kit we may be needing some band-aids." Everyone, not going on the mission, stay where you are, and await orders."
Slinging his rifle, after checking the magazine and safety He waited just long enough for the medic to grab his medical kit and broke into a jog, heading for the shuttle bay doing a quick mental check on the procedures they had been drilled on for hours on end.

" Thirty seconds out sir, Irish in tow." Roland radioed ahead as he made his way down tot he launch bay. The adrenaline of action making short work of the pre-mission tension. Even if they were heading into a bad situation it was always better to be doing something.