Where There Is Smoke...

[Nina]

“I am trying!”

 

The fighter that Seiya's blaster shots had hit rolled away, leaving a trail of debris in its wake. As the Hyperlance began to pull away from the slower fighters, the remaining three pursuers released their missiles.

 

"Course almost laid in and we are approaching FTL," Sori yelled over the blaring alarms as her hands flew over the controls and her feet worked the pedals. "Stop those missiles!"

 

Emi frantically worked the ECM controls, launching decoys in an attempt to confuse and divert the incoming missiles. Through sheer luck or skill, five of the missiles were fooled and either exploded harmlessly or veered off course. But the sixth missile remained locked on, steadily heading towards them with deadly precision. Seiya desperately tried to shoot it down, but his targeting system failed to acquire a lock. And then, with a deafening explosion, the missile made contact.

 

But it wasn't a direct hit; these types of missiles were designed for proximity detonation. The blast sent thousands of super dense pellets and shrapnel hurtling towards their ship, threatening to tear it apart piece by piece.

 

Ivy’s fingers flew over her controls but a glance didn’t show any change in the overall shield output then the missile detonated and Ivy slammed her hand down on the emergency shield Director and her other hand used the track ball to shift the shields energy output to the point the sensors indicated the incoming projectiles would strike!

 

The shield flared to life in a blinding display of power just as the deadly storm of shrapnel descended upon the Hyperlance. The ship rattled and groaned under the relentless assault, but the shield held, absorbing the brunt of the impact with a fierce crackling energy.

 

Ivy's heart pounded in her chest as she poured every ounce of her focus into maintaining the shield's integrity. The barrage seemed endless, but she refused to yield, her hands a blur over the console as she adjusted power levels and distribution with precision.

 

The seconds stretched into eternity the barrage slamming the shield, whittling away until the integrity finally collapsed and the deadly projectiles that were left collided with the hull gouging armor and punching holes in the ship.

 

The whole ship rocked with the impacts. Bulkheads closed and interior force fields activated to keep the air from leaking out. The hull was heavily damaged but thanks to Ivy not as badly as it would have been.

 

Emi looked over her displays, “Mostly Hull damaged, no vital systems affected, But we can’t take another hit like that!”

 

Spoiler

Missile hit with a nat twenty so was a critical. it did 25 dame reduced to 17 by the Directed barrier.  lost 1 structural integrity and the system failure roll was 14 Defense. The ship's AC and maneuver defense are reduced by 2.   

 

[Shameless]

Seiya didn't flinch at the endless barrage, death was part of life, but he wasn't ready for it just yet, he still had far too much left to do.   Gamely he wrestled the targeting controls back and tried to lock in on the ship that had successfully managed to hit them, unleashing another torrent of cannonfire their way.   Sadly, either thanks to the damage or even enthusiasm and anger driven pilot error, the volley of fire missed by a maddeningly large margin.  A string of low guttural curses could be heard coming from him, some at the controls, some at himself for missing what should have been an easy shot.

 

Spoiler

the dice roller hates me
rolling with disadvantage
 

Shameless Request: [1d20+5] Roll: [2] Result: 7

Shameless Request: [1d20+5] Roll: [20] Result: 25

 

[Asarasa]

Ivy sprung up from the textured deck plating where she'd been thrown during the barrage with a groan. Blood welled up in her mouth from where she had bitten her tongue. She horked up the blood from her throat and spit it on the deck as she staggered back to the control console. Under the flashing red of the emergency lights, the blood looked black.

 

One glance at the displays and a stream of spacer's invective spewed from her lips, a small, hard fist pounding on the console. In addition to the hull damage, the shields were borked. Not down, but not nearly close to working at capacity. The directed field module still seemed available though.

"Rerouting power flows to get the shields up over fifty percent," Ivy growled through gritted teeth. She ducked her head, rubbing it against the shoulder of her shirt to get the blood from a small cut on her brow to stop getting in her eye. "Jury-rigging some patches for the hull can wait for later, if we're still in a big enough piece."

 

Spoiler

Action - Shield Boost

Asarasa Request: [1d20+6] Roll: [18] Result: 24 - success! AC increased by 2 until next round

Reaction - keeping it on hand for the Directed Barrier again, if it's available.

 

[Nina]

The Hyperlance shuddered and groaned as Ivy worked frantically to boost the shield power. The ship veered sharply to the side as Sori expertly dodged incoming fire from the remaining enemy fighters. Emi's fingers danced across the console, attempting to bring the damaged systems back online. Seiya gritted his teeth, frustration evident on his face as he continued to fire at the enemy ships, determination burning in his eyes.

 

As Ivy managed to stabilize the shields at just over half capacity, a new threat appeared on their scanners. A massive cruiser loomed in the distance, bristling with weapons and moving in to intercept them. This was bad. Very bad.

 

Emi looked at he Screen in shock, “Where did that come from?”

 

"We need to jump to FTL now!" Sori shouted above the chaos, her voice laced with urgency. “I need all power to the drives!”

 

Ivy was stressing as her hands moving with practiced efficiency. The cruiser fired a volley of blaster shots towards them, but the Hyperlance lurched through the heavy rain of destructive energy Sori jinking the ‘Lance randomly.

 

The lights flickered and dimmed as power surged to the FTL drives. The whine of the engines filled the cabin, drowning out all other noise as the Hyperlance prepared for the jump. Ivy's hands shook on the controls, sweat trickling down her brow as she pushed the ship to its limits.

 

"Jumping in 3... 2... 1," Sori counted down, her knuckles white from the strain of piloting through enemy fire. With a final burst of energy, the Hyperlance vanished from sight just as the enemy cruiser's weapons fire grazed its hull.

 

The sudden transition to FTL sent a jolt through the ship, rattling everything and everyone on board. Lights streaked past in mesmerizing patterns outside the viewport as they hurtled through space faster than light itself. Ivy collapsed back into her seat, panting heavily as adrenaline coursed through her veins.

 

As they traveled through the vast expanse of space, Seiya finally let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His hands were still clenched tight around the control sticks, the adrenaline from the battle still coursing through his veins. The tense atmosphere in the ship began to ease slightly, the immediate danger now behind them.

Emi let out a nervous laugh, her fingers flying over the console to run system diagnostics. "Well, that was a bit too close for comfort, eh?"

 

Sori let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders slumping as she released the controls momentarily. "Great work back there, Ivy. That shield maneuver saved our hides."

 

Ivy nodded, her expression grim but satisfied. "We're not out of the woods yet. That cruiser will likely be hot on our tails once we drop out of FTL. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."

 

Seiya finally loosened his grip on the control sticks, his muscles aching from the tension. "Agreed. We can't let our guard down just yet.”

 

As the Hyperlance continued its journey through the FTL, the crew braced themselves for what lay ahead. Ivy's hands trembled slightly from the lingering adrenaline rush, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. The ship hummed with energy as they traveled through the swirling vortex of light, every passing moment bringing them closer to their destination.

 

Emi continued to monitor the ship's systems, her brow furrowed in concentration as she double-checked the diagnostics. "No major damage detected from the jump," she reported, relief evident in her voice. "Looks like we made it through in one piece."

 

Sori adjusted their course slightly, her eyes scanning the readouts in front of her. "We should be exiting FTL in T-2 minutes," she announced, her voice steady despite the tension that still lingered in the air.

 

Seiya leaned back in his seat, his gaze focused on the viewport that displayed the streaking lights of hyperspace. His jaw clenched, they were fugitives now.

[Shameless]

"This was far from how I expected this journey to go."   it would be dangerous to make contact with anyone he knew, now.   The only ones who could be counted on were those in the ship with him, and that was only inasmuch as they were all in the same circumstances now.   "We need to see about inspecting the damage from the attack  once we drop out of hyperspace.  Where exactly did you take us to?"  He looked at Sori, and while it wasn't a smile, there was no agression in his light blue eyes.   

"We need to take stock of what supplies are on the ship, what equipment we do have.   If it's going to be our ship, we'll have to learn about it quickly."   He knew that his gunnery hadn't been the best, it simply wasn't something he'd trained on.  It would be, going forward though, so that next time, he could properly contribute.

[SalmonMax]

Emi pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes for a second, trying to reboot her brain. Or something. It felt like that sometimes.

 

"Yeah...I can poke through the cargo and storage. I need to hunt down the transponder anyway, and it's probably somewhere over there. Usually is."

 

"But we're going to need a, uh, 'neutral' port to get this damage fixed. We can't just roll up on a law abiding shipyard with a hacked transponder and ask them to fix weapons fire damage. Frontier station, maybe. Far enough out that they aren't getting regular updates from civilization. Or an out and out pirate system..." Emi shrugged at that. "That has risks if we already have a bounty on us though."

[Asarasa]

Hands shaking, Ivy dug through her pack, hoping she had a bottle in it that wasn't empty. That wasn't broken. Slag and shit, she needed a drink. Grey eyes, so dark they were almost black, flicked from looking through her pack to the monitor, watching the readings, then back.

 

"I might know a place or three that could work, depending where we are," Ivy drawled, lackadaisical tone belying her shot nerves. "Isn't the first time I've had to leave a station with someone on my ass... first time in a stolen ship, though" she admitted. "But we can't stop moving yet for an inspection or inventory. That cruiser's still following us. We either got to jump again before they get here to throw off the trace, if we can spool up fast enough, or find something to hide behind or in."

[Nina]

Sori had been listening and spoke up finally. "I didn't have time to program for the Rift I just needed to get into FTL so I set a course for a short jump. We will exit FTL in about six minutes, so we need to make a decision where to go now and get the course programed. That cruiser will be in our wake and won't be far behind."

 

She turned her chair around to face every one. "The good thing is while we can't outrun them with speed, this drive can stay in FTL for two days longer than any other drive and that is an incredible advantage."

[Shameless]

Seiya nodded, and looked to Ivy.  "If you know somewhere that might work, let's head there.  I never had the chance to contact my own people, and now I doubt they'll even take the call.  We find the transponder and clear the ship.  Do what we have to do, now."   He sighed.  They were in too deep now.  They couldn't just return the ship now.

[Asarasa]

Ivy considered their options. Being able to stay in FTL two days longer than anyone who might be following them was a stellar advantage. They could spool up for another jaunt into FLT before their pursuers could catch up, making tracking them that much harder. Also gave them a wider area to find a place to make repairs.

 

"The Marbles system, do you know it?" Ivy asked over comms as she slumped through the passageways, looking for something that passed as a medbay, or even a just a med kit, to clean off the blood and patch up the gash for now. "It's off any of the major travel routes. Closest link up is to the Tessaran Path by way of Sol. Lots of independent miners, and lots of mobile asteroids. Scatter Station does pretty good repairs for what it is. Payment... might be iffy."

 

The Marbles system was mostly a vast asteroid field, believed to have been formed from the collision of at least three planets. Scatter Station was built on a rogue moon that had escaped the destruction. And while the system was full of taciturn, reclusive asteroid miners, the remote location and thick debris was also haunted by those looking not to be found. She'd heard about it plenty on Atlas Station.

 

It was also by no means the only place those following them had to guess they might go to, especially with the range of the drive on the Hyperlance.

 

"But questions are few. Don't ask any. Those miners are a crazy lot, everyone thinking Marbles is ripe for a new Sorium rush, and don't intend on letting anyone getting a jump on their claim."

Edited August 16 by Asarasa

[Nina]

Sori Half turned in her seat to look at Ivy, “I have never heard of that place. Why would they think that?”

 

Ivy moved up into the co-pilots seat and sat. She started working on the course. “One of the rumors or stories from there was about the three world collision, “Supposedly one of the worlds was a crucible. The other two worlds were manipulated by some super weapon and made to crash into it. Who knows but, there has been some Sorium found in the rocks, not a lot and not regularly, but enough to keep the stories alive.” She punched a last button. “There When we come out of FTL, input that course and we will be at Marbles in about three days.”

 

Seiya listened intently to Ivy's explanation, taking in the details about the Marbles system. It was a place filled with mystery and potential dangers, but it seemed like the best option for them at the moment. He trusted Ivy's judgment; after all, she had just saved them with her brilliant shield maneuver.

 

"Marbles it is then," Seiya said, his tone resolute. "Prepare the course for when we drop out of FTL. Emi, start working on that transponder. We need to make sure we can move around undetected once we reach Scatter Station."

 

Emi nodded, already deep in thought about how to locate and reprogram the transponder without raising any red flags. She knew it would be a delicate operation, but she was confident in her skills.

 

Sori turned back to her console, her fingers flying over the controls as she made the final adjustments for their exit from FTL. The countdown began, each second ticking by as they drew closer to their destination. The tension on the ship was palpable, but there was also a sense of unity among the crew. They were in this together, navigating through unknown dangers and challenges as a team.

 

They exited FTL in a space lit by the gaping maw of the Wormhole. A quick scan showed no other ships in the vecinity, but they knew the cruiser would be hot on their tail. Sori entered the new course and drove the ship back into FTL skipping the Rift. With luck the cruiser would think they had gone in and not follow them to Marbles.

 

For three days, the crew worked tirelessly to repair their damaged ship. Emi fiddled with the transponder, trying different codes until she finally disabled it. Seiya spent hours in the gunnery simulator, determined to improve his skills after his poor performance in the last battle. Sori was always at the controls, her fingers dancing over the buttons and switches as she navigated them through space. Meanwhile, Ivy stayed holed up in her cabin, avoiding everyone else. As they approached their destination, Sori's voice crackled over the intercom to announce their descent from FTL travel.

 

As the timer approached zero, Sori's voice cut through the quiet anticipation. "Exiting FTL now," she announced, and with a flash of light, the streaks of hyperspace outside the viewport dissolved into the familiar stars of real space.

 

The Marbles system lay before them, a glittering expanse of asteroids and debris spread out like a cosmic minefield. Ivy's course had brought them to the outer edges of Scatter Station's territory, where the twinkling lights of distant ships could be seen moving amongst the rocks.

 

Seiya took in the sight, his mind already strategizing their next moves. "Prepare for docking procedures," he instructed, his voice carrying authority born from years of command experience. "Let's make contact with Scatter Station and see if they can help.”

 

As they neared Scatter Station, the crew could see the flickering lights of ships darting between asteroids, a sign of the bustling activity in the area. Ivy expertly guided their ship through the debris field, maneuvering with precision to avoid any potential collisions.

 

Once they were within range, Seiya initiated communication with Scatter Station. The response was crackling and filled with static, but they managed to establish a connection. A gruff voice on the other end demanded their identification and purpose for coming to Marbles.

 

Seiya took charge of the conversation, keeping his tone firm but polite. He explained their situation - the damaged ship, the need for repairs, and their desire to remain low-key. The voice on the other end seemed to consider their request before finally granting them permission to dock at Scatter Station.

 

As their ship slowly made its way towards the station, Ivy couldn't shake off a feeling of unease. Scatter Station was known for its rough inhabitants and lawless reputation. The crew braced themselves for whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that they had to stay vigilant in this unfamiliar territory. Ivy kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, scanning the area for any signs of potential danger as they approached the docking bay.

 

Once they were securely docked at Scatter Station, Seiya led the crew out of the ship to meet with the station's representative. The docking bay was dimly lit, with shadows dancing across the walls and the sound of metal clanging echoing in the distance.

 

A burly figure approached them, his face obscured by the shadows of his hood. "Welcome to Scatter Station," he rumbled, his voice low and gruff. "I'm Captain Griggs. You're not from around here, are you?"

 

Seiya stepped forward, his posture confident as he addressed the captain. "No, we're just passing through," he replied carefully. "We're in need of some repairs and supplies before we continue on our journey."

 

Captain Griggs eyed them warily before nodding. "I can see that your ship has taken quite a beating. We can provide the repairs you need, but it won't come cheap," he stated bluntly. "And we don't ask questions about who you are or where you're headed. But keep to yourselves and don't stir up trouble, or you might find yourselves in a tight spot."

 

Seiya nodded in understanding, knowing that they couldn't afford to draw any unnecessary attention to themselves. "We appreciate your help, Captain Griggs. We'll make sure to keep a low profile while we're here," he assured, his tone even.

 

Captain Griggs grunted in response before motioning for his crew to start working on the repairs. As the crew dispersed to carry out their tasks, Sori approached Seiya with a concerned look on her face.

"I have a bad feeling about this place, Seiya," she whispered, her eyes scanning the dark corners of the docking bay. "We need to be on high alert at all times."

 

Seiya nodded, understanding Sori's unease. He too felt a sense of danger lingering in the air of Scatter Station. "I agree, Sori. We'll need to stay vigilant and keep our guard up while we're here," he replied in a low voice.

 

Emi joined them, her expression tense as she glanced around the bustling docking bay. "I don't trust these people, Seiya. Something feels off about this place," she added, her voice filled with apprehension.

 

Seiya placed a reassuring hand on Emi's shoulder. "We'll stick together and watch each other's backs," he said firmly, his gaze sweeping the area for any signs of trouble.

 

Just then, a group of rough-looking individuals approached them, eyeing the crew with suspicion. Their leader, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward with a menacing gleam in his eyes.

 

"You're new here, aren’t you? Newcomers always draw attention, especially those with shiny ships like yours," the scarred man sneered, his voice laced with a threatening edge. "You best watch yourselves if you don't want any trouble."

 

Seiya stood his ground, his expression steely as he faced off against the aggressive group. "We're just passing through, looking to make some repairs and restock before we leave," he stated firmly, his hand subtly inching towards the concealed weapon at his side.

 

The scarred man's cronies shifted uneasily, sensing the tension in the air. "You think you can just waltz into Scatter Station without paying your dues?" he growled, taking a step closer to Seiya.

 

Before things could escalate further, Ivy stepped forward, radiating confidence as she addressed the scarred man. "We have no intention of causing any trouble here. We simply require some repairs and supplies, and then we'll be on our way," she said calmly,her voice steady despite the tension in the air. The scarred man narrowed his eyes at Ivy, sizing her up before letting out a gruff laugh.

 

"You're a bold one, aren't you? You all are," he said, glancing at the rest of the crew with a mix of amusement and disdain. "But Scatter Station is no place for the faint of heart. You best watch yourselves if you want to walk out of here in one piece."

 

Seiya stepped forward, his gaze unwavering as he met the scarred man's stare. "We appreciate the warning," he said evenly. "We'll make sure to keep a low profile and stay out of any trouble while we're here."

 

The scarred man studied Seiya for a moment before grunting in acknowledgment. "Good. Keep your heads down and your mouths shut, and maybe you'll survive your visit," he warned before motioning for his group to move along.

 

As the tension dissipated with the scarred man's departure, the crew exchanged uneasy glances. They knew they had just scraped the surface of the danger that lurked within Scatter Station.

 

As they turned back to the ship, they noticed that the repairs were already underway. The crew's attention was divided between wariness and relief as they watched the workers diligently fix their ship.

 

 

Seiya took this opportunity to inquire about the cost of the repairs. He briefed Sori and Emi on their options, emphasizing the importance of not overspending. They couldn't risk falling into a financial trap, especially with the unpredictable nature of Scatter Station.

 

 

As the repairs progressed, the crew found themselves drawn into the hustle and bustle of the station. They explored the various facilities, each more dubious than the last. Marketplaces brimming with shady merchants, dilapidated bars filled with shady patrons, and abandoned shipwrecks that seemed more like death traps than relics of the past.

 

Spoiler

Thus ends the first adventure. see the discord for instructions. Next post will be a new adventure.