World of Darkness: The Darkness of Space - [Darkness of Space] Comming Online

[z-Tejah Ebadi]

Originally Posted By: Pilgrim

Central: Ebonardo

Ebonardo looked up at the pretty young woman, somewhat surprised at being approached during his meal.

"This is the Sunken Treasure..."

Ebonardo hesitated for a second, as a conflict suddenly stemmed in his mind. Part of him wanted to be alone, but the young lady was practically crying out for a rescue from the annoyed looking man standing behind her.

"...and there is far too much here for me to eat by myself. Why don't you and your friend eat with me?"

Stevens didn't even bother trying to say no; he saw where this was going. "I'd love to," Tejah typed and AVIS spoke. It was odd watching her speak with no movement of her lips.

Sitting down with him, they shifted and rearranged plates until everyone was getting to try a bit of everything. "Thank you," Tejah said between bites. "This was quite kind of you. I've not seen you before - are you part of the one of the new groups arriving?"

[Grimm]

Grimm felt the ripples in the Weave as an immense amount of Quintessential energy was expended. As Workings went, it was powerful in the extreme, and he was not as surprised as the others when the large purple face appeared in the air and began talking.

An immense pool of power was being drawn on by the mage responsible for the Working, a Node such as Grimm had never felt before, or even been told were feasible. If it had been gold and himself a thief, his fingers would have twitched - it was that intriguing.

With that power... he didn't finish the thought, instead listening to the magical transmission along with 'Chickadee', who was apparently known as Dove to the old mage. Another interesting matter, though he knew the girl had hidden depths from what he'd spied in her aura.

Quote:

Chickadee blinked once, then turned to Grimm and Miu. "Forget trinkets for now, I need your help if you're willing . . ."

"Of course." Grimm said, meeting her gaze calmly. "After the kindness you've shown it would be a nithling's deed to refuse, even if lives weren't at stake. I will assist however you wish me to."

[LydaLynn]

Chickadee/Dove nodded at Grimm's quick acceptance [[ooc: since Miu is out of contact - we'll just gloss over her for the moment]]. Pulling a small metal card from her pocket, she pricked a finger and smeared a drop of her blood on its surface. Handing it to Grimm, "This will get you into my office. Follow the signs to the Command dome. From there, I should have someone from security waiting for you who can lead you to the office. If not, follow the signs to Base Command Office. In the top right drawer of the desk are three watches like this one," Dove holds up her wrist with an anachronistic digital watch face above a red plastic button on a plastic strap. "I need all three of them brought back here as quickly as you are able. Don't press any of the buttons. Think you can manage that?"

Dove barely waited for an acknowledgement before she had a small headset out of her bag and hooked over one ear. Broadcasting on the Command channel, Dove spoke, "Commander Hawke here, authorization Couatle Zebra Harris, this is not a drill. The base will be getting its first shake down the hard way. I need security to clear a conference room in the Main Concourse yesterday, no people, no furniture and let me know which room you are clearing. Someone from medical needs to bring me the Emergency Z box from the Head Medic's bookcase, top shelf. Mik, I need you to bring the watch Sam gave you. Someone from security needs to be posted at the entrance to Command dome, a young man will be coming with my pass card and needs to be directed to my office and sent back. Medbay needs to be ready for incoming wounded and power drained, possibly paradox ridden mages. And I need a couple squadron of fighters sent to the Epsilon warp gate to fly escort, discourage pirates, and assist repairs of the incoming transport. Hop to it folks, we've got our first emergency."

[Wyrd]

Responding to the orders coming in, Wyrd rushed to the nearest comm panel and hit the all-call button. "Attention all staff. We have an Allcome emergency. Get the receiving area ready for an unknown number of patients in unknown conditions. We are expecting, at the least, seriously drained mages, possibly suffering from paradox. As such, all magical doctors with code green clearance and above are authorized to access tass reserves as needed. Don't be wasteful, but don't waste lives either. I need emergency crews to the main concourse stat. I will be on site for initial triage. I want Doctor's Strom, Pierce, and Delay there to assist. Move it people. I know we were supposed to have two more days before full operations, but crisis wait for nobody."

Finished with her initial orders, she rushed to her room to grab the z box, calling to Si'lialit` as she passed her desk, "Coordinate with the rest of the administrative staff. We need records and authorizations for everyone we can get them from. Time to prove I made a good choice in hiring you." She finished her comment with a smile, knowing that her assistant was almost as well qualified in her fields as Wyrd was in her's.

Grabbing the box, she hurried towards the main concourse, calling ahead on her personal communicator to alert Dove that the box was on its way and that Medical was ready and waiting.

[Pilgrim]

Central: Ebonardo

Ebonardo shook his head in response to Tejah's question.

"No, I came alone. An old friend invited me here to help with the archeological research being conducted on the nearby planet. I have had a great deal of experience with...unusual ruins."

The old mage bowed his head respectfully, opening his hands in a sign of welcome.

"My name is Ebonardo La'Kindy. Don't worry if you don't recognize the name. I have been out of practice as a scholar for...a while."

Ebonardo made a sweeping gesture, indicating Tejah with a broad wave of his hand.

"Now, a bit about you, perhaps? From your earlier question, I can safely assume that you were here before the other groups arrived. Are you from an earlier arrival, or..."

Ebonardo's voice trailed off as he felt a ripple of arcane power roll through the ship. It was incredibly powerful, and very familiar.

"Sam..."

The old mage rose to his feet, fire burning in his eyes.

"My apologies, but I have to go. Dove may need my help. It was nice meeting you."

Ebonardo placed his hand upon his wristwatch, and focused upon the energies of time. He willed the flow of time around himself to move faster, so that he could reach Dove before she moved away from the Main Concourse.

Dice pool for ST:

Click to reveal..

Dice Pool: Time 3, Arete 3, Wonder 3

[Thomas Froit]

Glitch hissed an intake of breath and ignored his growling stomach. So shit was getting real again. As head of C&C, he had to get the fighters moving. So he switched programs rapidly and darted off for the main concourse, delivering orders into the appropriate command code for the pilots.

"Attention, Alpha and Delta Squadrons. You heard the Commander, report immediately to the hangar bay, this is an emergency. I repeat, Alpha and Delta Squadrons report to the hangar for duty immediately."

Then as an aside to his staff currently on duty: "Carpenter, you're on control duty, deploy the fighters to the Epsilon warp gate, coordinates 0288352.1. Emphasize that the mission is escort and repairs, potential hostile engagement!"

[Vortican]

Electrical Ducts Under Sci/Med

As the brightness of the welding torch dimmed Mik looked up raising the welding goggles sure something was wrong he scanned around. The hairs on the back of his neck were up and that was never a good sign.

"Commander Hawke here, authorization Couatle Zebra Harris, this is not a drill. The base will be getting its first shake down the hard way. I need security to clear a conference room in the Main Concourse yesterday, no people, no furniture and let me know which room you are clearing. Someone from medical needs to bring me the Emergency Z box from the Head Medic's bookcase, top shelf. Mik, I need you to bring the watch Sam gave you. Someone from security needs to be posted at the entrance to Command dome, a young man will be coming with my pass card and needs to be directed to my office and sent back. Medbay needs to be ready for incoming wounded and power drained, possibly paradox ridden mages. And I need a couple squadron of fighters sent to the Epsilon warp gate to fly escort, discourage pirates, and assist repairs of the incoming transport. Hop to it folks, we've got our first emergency."

Without hesitation Mik was moving, crawling along the ducts as if built for them. Reaching a ladder he stopped a moment to press a button on his neck device. The com light lit up and the one on Dove's ear did also.

"I am in rooot, the auxiliary hangarr bay that needed worrk is 90% ready and contanin atmosphere just fin, it has an 400' cube space free no need for moving anythin. Tiss off the main doom and close to med bay, it may work better for the in commin. I'll bring the hover carts, they may be dirty but they kan moove tha wounded."

While in conversation Mik is up the ladder grabbing his hover bike and in quick movement to MS. He ends the convo with Dove to push a different button on his collar device this time lighting up Tejah's ear.

"We're up to ourr asses in trouble lass am Im sure ya herd, get yours in gear and bring all the hover carts that are nae covered in parts er tools ta the main dome. We got ta help any way we ken, no dallyin aboot girlly!"

Mik gets to MS to dive in to a small pile of parts, papers, and pieces on his desk to pull out an old looking wooden box to stuff into a pocket. He then puts his fingers to his lips and whistles loud only to have a hover cart full of tool zip up to him like a lost puppy seeking it's owner. He tapped it once nodding to it and himself then heading back for his hover bike.

[LydaLynn]

Wyrd hadn't met the base commander yet, but with hearing the emergency, she did what doctors do best. Her staff quickly rushing to their tasks, ready to take up the unexpected emergency. One nurse doing nothing but opening boxes, trying to find rolls of gauze showed just how much an early emergency was going to put a strain on a system not yet ready for this kind of influx. They had been prepared for one or two emergency patients, but this was rather more than that. But medbay staff quickly took up the task, and a few of the biologists and zoologists from the science side of the building rushed over to lend a hand.

Ebonardo, feeling the ripple of recognizable magic didn't need to hear the announcement over the command channel. Having just seen Dove moments before, he knew where trouble was likely to be. Focusing time around himself, he moved with a speed few could perceive. In moments La'Kindy was back in the Main Concourse. Now the girl from earlier could not be mistaken for anyone but Dove. The way she stood, full of authority and purpose, could not be mistaken.

Click to reveal..

Ebonardo La'Kindy

9d10 → [10,6,2,9,1,2,7,8,9] = (54)

Glitch watched as the pilots rushed to their fighters. A few of them were still green and it showed as they tripped over an air lead or fumbled with helmet fastenings. But they didn't hesitate in getting into their ships, engines already warming under the direction of the support crew. Carpenter, both honored and anxious to be the first one to direct the fighters, quickly immersed himself in the program. Gena, a mousy young programer who was making sure all the communications were routing correctly, took a moment to pass Glitch a granola bar.

As Mik relayed his message, Dove patched him through to security so they moved to secure the appropriate area. Knowing that he would do everything needed on his end without hearing from her again, Dove didn't bother with verbal acknowledgement of his message.

Chickadee/Dove, not forgetting her young charge, picked Bradan up and swung him onto her hip. A move that looked decidedly wrong for her slight, short body, that hadn't developed any further after her death at age 14. At two years old, the toddler was almost half her size, but that didn't seem to matter to the young woman who had almost no hips to speak of. Bradan, for his part, seemed to recognize that something odd was happening, and remained quiet. Leaving her bag behind, Dove moved towards the auxiliary hangar bay, its entrance not far from where she had just been having a picnic. A bit surprised to see La'Kindy there, she only nodded to him to follow her.

[z-Tejah Ebadi]

Tejah barely had time to register the departure of their host before the all-call rang throughout the base. As one, she and Stevens each grabbed a handful of food and were turning away from the counter when Mik called her. It was the flip of a switch to toggle AVIS through the intercom. “Roger,” she said, “we’ll be there a-sap.”

Together, she and Stevens hightailed it to the equipment room, hunting for hover carts.

[Pilgrim]

Main Concourse: Ebonardo

Ebonardo returned Dove's nod and fell into step beside her. He smiled at her and chuckled.

"Why so surprised? You did call me here to help, after all. I will stay nearby, and if there is any way I can be of service, just ask."

[Thomas Froit]

Glitch nodded thankfully as Genna gave him a bar and he wolfed it down with hunger. Now if there were another dozen of these high-protein items, he wouldn't need to have lunch. But right now, he ran through with the team, making sure everyone was on a task and keeping information running smoothly.

[Vortican]

Main Concourse Dome: Auxiliary Hangar

Within 45 minutes of the alarm the hangar was flooded with emergency lights and the doors open wide enough for a small army to get through. Mik had set up the beacons he gotten already in a semi-circle t'words the rear of the empty area making sure there was still room for medical to get in with any equipment they would have. He noted that Tejah had arrived with the hover carts and was working on cleaning and covering them to use as gurneys or transport. She was making sure to arrange them so that they would be easy access and close to the entrance to the hangar.

Nodding to security to make sure that the ways were clear of main traffic to the med bay, and from the hangar entrance Mik pushed the com on his collar device ringing Dove.

"The hangar is as ready as I ken make it lass, I still a'waitin yer beacon from yer office. I have area set aside for medical and thur equipment. Other than that we're ready to proceed on yer mark commander."

Clicking the com off Mik looks to Tejah and her tag along with a slight grunt at Stevens

"Just do yer best girlie ta lend a hand, it'll be mass panic in here vera soon. If yer friend there is ta help make sure'n he has his head about him. Tha last thin we'll be need'n is more chaos added to it all"

[LydaLynn]

Tejah and Stevens quickly gather the requested hover carts and make their way to the hangar. There they met up with Miu and security and discovered that what should have been an empty hangar had been used as quick and easy storage by some lazy supply sergeant. They were already hard at work clearing the boxes to the sides of the room when Mik got there.

Ebonardo knew Dove well enough to wince when she smiled at his offer. Handing him first the bag over her shoulder, then the two year old in her arms, "This is Bradan. Keep him safe. I promise, I'll talk to you after all this, but for now, if you'd watch him, that would be great." The emphasis she placed on his safety was impossible to miss.

Dove quickly fell in with the others in clearing the hangar, muttering under her breath about demotions and punishments for whoever was foolish enough to leave the pallets here instead of getting them put up.

Glitch watched the monitors as the fighters took off and made their way through the first gate. Gate travel made the distances of space traverseable. A combination of magic and technology, gates bridged great distances. No one understood why it always took thirty two minutes and eighteen seconds to get from one side of a gate to the other. But whether it was one light year's travel or fifty, that's how long it took to go through a gate. For those traveling through the gate, most found the journey to be nearly instantaneous. A rare few experienced the time as floating in a void of white light. For those waiting in a control room, the time seemed even longer, particularly in a case like this, an emergency on the other end of not one, but two gate jumps.

The instrument panels lit up as the fighters again entered real space, showing all the ships arriving on the other side of the first gate. The next gate was a quick ten minute flight from where they had exited. Five minutes into their travel to the second gate, Communications received the following, "Alpha Leader to Base, strange vessel spotted. Appears to be in distress, no engine power but faint life support detected. Ship is of unknown make and origin floating 20 clicks from our current course. Please advise."

Mik had joined the others in the hangar bay and between them, the area was cleared quickly, the first two beacons placed. As Wyrd joined them with the emergency medical personnel, Dove took the box she carried and pulled another beacon from it to place in the circle. Soon everything was ready, only waiting Grimm's return with the last three beacons, the run between the domes taking the longest time and a large part of why Dove had chosen the young man. Soon there would be chaos as the refugees were pulled through from the wounded ship to the hangar bay by sheer will and magic. The waiting for that moment was full of tension and nervous energy.

[Justin OOC]

Aiding security in clearing out the hangar made sense, especially for Miu. While she retained her human guise, she was still strong enough to move things and did all that was asked of her to help clear things out of the hold where the refugees would soon be housed.

The entire moment was tense, but the young asian woman betrayed no anxiety or excitement. She waited quietly, doing as she was bid, Those around her knew far better what needed to be done, and she trusted them to not endanger anyone unescessarily.

Things were very different up here, and while a part of her wished to be in control, she was smart enough to know that now wasn't the time for it.

[Grimm]

The patterns of seemingly random motion in the crowds resolved themselves as Grimm, newly energised from his meal, fled in the direction of Dove's office. Nobody really noticed the short, slender running figure with the dirty face and dark blue woven cloak, and if they did they thought nothing of it. But whether they noticed him or not, the young magus moved through the bustle and fuss like a random neutron in a particle reactor, never once having to check his step or bump into anyone else despite running flat out.

It was a long run, but from the urgency of the distress call and the need of the one who had done him a kindness, Grimm resolved not to spare himself what was necessary. One hand gripped the strange amulet of interlinked triangles hard enough to draw blood on a corner of the metal and Grimm reached out, working a temporary weaving the pattern of his own vital energies as he smeared the blood over the amulet.

Life with life; kindness with gratitude the words of the old chant flowed through his mind and soul, not needing to be uttered out loud. Debts are always repaid in a threefold manner.

Fresh vitality flowed through his muscles as the working took hold, his slender frame taking on a baresark's strength and stamina as he sprinted faster than most grown men could run. He whisked past the security guard without sparing the man a glance, following the signs as Dove had instructed and skidding to a stop. Swiping the card over the lock, he plunged into the office and grabbed the three archaic-looking devices, feeling the tingle of locus magic in his hands but setting his curiousity to one side as he tore off once more.

Sprinting flat-out still, feeling the strain in his undeveloped muscles and knowing he would suffer for it later, he surged back into the Main Concourse and through the crowd once more, seeking out the not-really-a-girl with the child and zeroing in on her. He released the spell on himself and came to a stop by Dove/Chickadee, his bloody right hand outstretched with the three beacons in it.

"Here." he gasped, his slender shoulders trembling as he took another deep breath, his mismatched eyes even in his exhaustion studying the work that was going on before looking at Dove. "As you asked."

Click to reveal..

For any vampire-types in the area, Grimm's blood smells delightful, almost werecreature strength but sweeter, with none of the animalistic side-effects. (Touch of Life merit)

[LydaLynn]

Dove gave Grimm a smile in passing with a quick, "Thank you." Before turning to place the last of the beacons into place, pressing the buttons as she did so. "Stay back!" she called as the last button was depressed, glowing red.

The pressure in the room slowly increased and a distant humming could be felt through the floor as a shimmering purple haze began to cloud the area inside the beacons. There was something inside the haze, a feeling of immense power washed over the room as the something slowly became less ephemeral and more substantial.

Then there were people, pressed closely together around four stasis pods. Around the outside of the group, connected by ropes held between them, were eight chanting mages. The effort and strain evident in their faces, skin pallid and damp with sweat. Buzzing around them were paradox spirits, flickering in and out of sight, and chasing the spirits, a ghostly white dragon that flitted in and out of being as it swallowed whole a paradox spirit.

With a crash of sound and a snapping of the air, the haze disappeared and the people were solid. The air with them heavy with smoke that poured into the rest of the room, the ventilation system's warning lights in the hangar suddenly coming to life as the heavy carbon dioxide content was registered.

The mages around the outside of the group collapsed like broken dolls. Coughing and moaning, many of the people inside the circle sat down once the transport was completed. Most of the people seemed to have no external injuries, suffering only from smoke inhalation and shock. But others showed evidence of electrical burns and cuts one could expect after an explosion. Most of them were still in their sleeping wear, one couple had nothing but blankets wrapped around them.

Dove didn't hesitate once the spell was complete, rushing to the side of one of the mages. The white dragon flickering into existence over his head for a moment to acknowledge her before disappearing again. Her voice strong and loud, "Move it folks, there's no time to waste. Requisition whatever you need from stores and get them settled and cared for quickly. We'll house those who don't need extensive medical in quadrant D in residential."

One man in a medical coat stood by the stasis units, obviously in shock but watching the monitors of three of the pods with a singular focus. When the Base's medical staff approach he will relay that those in the pods were pulled from space after an explosive decompression during the battle and placed into the stasis pods directly by one of the mages. One of the occupants died despite his efforts, the others need extensive care. Until one of the base's nurses points it out, he seems unaware of the burn on his left hand, the last two fingers of which seemed fused together with seared flesh.

[Wyrd]

Wyrd immediately directs a couple of techs to check out the stasis pods. If they are working properly, they can be transported to the med bay first, otherwise they will have to be stabilized here.

While they are checking that, I do a quick triage check, issuing orders as needed while waiting on the pod information:

Click to reveal..

Wyrd *rolls* 7d10: 10+9+5+1+1+6+6: 38 so 5 scuccesses on a triage roll, rolling wits plus medicine

[Grimm]

Grimm straightened up after having caught his breath, tired muscles aching from a level of exertion that a child should not be subjected to. The EMTs and medical staff were moving through the crowd of crying, moaning and babbling people, but there were close to 200 souls in the auxiliary hangar bay and they would need help.

I cannot turn away.

*No. We cannot.* answered his higher soul-self.

No need to cut himself again - blood still oozed from the wound in his hand. This was a sight-working, so no other tools were necessary. Grimm pictured the runes, dancing in their circular pattern over his head, then arranged the envisioned bone carvings so that they formed, when connected, a large branching expanse - the branches of a huge tree, with himself as the trunk and the roots.

"*Life within me, Fate above me, spirit supporting me.*" he chanted under his breath in Norse, dabbing a spot of blood onto each eyelid before opening them once more. He moved amongst the crowd, not worrying about being detained, for few would notice him unless he wished it. That one there, and the girl barely past her womanhood, and the old man... The list was long, the tally grim, and the pain and suffering of dozens were all around the young boy with timeless eyes. It was not that the hurt didn't touch him, it was that right now, there was no time for his own grief and suffering. He could forget that, and concentrate on those who needed him. There was another willworker here, a beautiful woman with green hair, but she was one and the task was large.

He returned to the triage station and approached two medics who were talking, their attention drawn to the pale face and intense gaze looking up at them as he let Reality acknowledge his presence so that they could notice him.

"You okay, kid?" asked one in a friendly way, believing that the bedraggled urchin was one of the rescued people.

"I'm fine." Grimm replied. "But there's people out there with internal injuries - one of them thinks he's fine and is moving around, but he'll die soon if you don't help him." The EMT's exchanged a look.

"Look, kid, I appreciate it, but we're busy enough without the playtime." Grimm's eyes narrowed a little, and he sighed. He was used to this from pretty much everyone, even back home he always had to remind people that he wasn't just a boy. He snapped his fingers.

A ball of blue-white light appeared in his hand and rose drifting on an etheric breeze, throwing the grey of his right eye and the blue of his left into sharp relief. The two medics stared.

"I am Grimm of the Verbena." he told them with dignity beyond his years. "And I am not wasting your time - you are wasting theirs." He gestured with a bloody hand at the crowd. "I advise you to listen if you wish to save lives that would otherwise be lost."

[batsibf]

Seeing the Multipe small ship on shi ship's sensors. he enters the code to start bordcasting !@# !@# $%^ $%^ &*( &*( )!@ )!@ repeating.........

,,

Click to reveal..

S.O.S. in 4 different launges Droyne, Binary, Merchant guild, and the ship's computer's home lauange

then he heads back to the engine room to see why his ship is not at the power lvl it should be. and thinking to him self "i'm glade I'm not hauling perishables this run"

[Justin OOC]

Miu drew herself up and her calm quiet manner served her well as she began to shepherd some of the refugees to the Residential area. "Those of you not needing immediate medical attention, please follow me. I will show you to your lodgings for the time being." Her voice was clear and strong, and she nodded. "we'll do what can be done to make you comfortable, and everyone will be seen to, but please let the medical staff see to those most in need.

[Pilgrim]

Ebonardo raised his eyebrow at Dove's retreating back.

"...how typical."

He decided to move the child away from the chaos and to a quite corner, keeping his young eyes away from the horror and tragedy. He tried out a comforting smile.

"Come along, Bradan. My name is Ebonardo, and...I am a friend."

The old mage lifted a finger, and allowed the energies of the One and the Prime to travel along his hand, creating a soft, gentle light that shimmered a soft blue.

"We'll play a game. Tell me a color, and I will change the light to that color."

[Vortican]

Mik moves without hesitation dashing to a near by wall to press a few buttons putting the ventilation of the area on high. Noting that the harmful gases were already beginning to dissipate he nods and moves. Getting hover-carts to those most injured leaning to seemingly converse with each cart as if it were a small child. His fingers traced small symbols along the hard metal/plastic surfaces of the carts in his whispering. Then reaching up to press several buttons on his collar device Mik stands tall and speaks, his voice seeming to come from the speakers all around.

"Doctors treating those most injured, note the hover carts shall'n move with ya, no assistance needed, three taps ta start it follow'n, an three ta stop 'em. All non injured who ken move please be follow'n tha well spoken Asian lady as rapid as yer able."

The speakers click off and Mik moves at the request by the green haired DR to the pods to check on the stasis of the equipment there. He glances over his shoulder once at the raising voice of what looks to be a young boy making note of the face and mannerisms. A small wrench appears in Mik's hand as if it had always been there as he adjusts a hose on the stasis pod then nodding to the medics around them that they are safe to move.

Moving himself over to Dove he nods to her knowing what was cost to bring these people here. As he supports another mage lending him strength in more than just the physical sense.

[Wyrd]

During a brief break in the chaos, Wyrd closes her eyes, humming a gentle melody to herself and centering her mind. Opening her eyes, she sees a couple of people near her blinking their eyes as if they had seen something for just a second. Her teacher claimed that she was too attuned to the spirits, so people could sometimes catch glimpses of them around her.

Adding life and spirit sight made things... interesting to look at, but it would let her ascertain any unusual problems and reassess where needed. She first turned her attention to the pod with the 'deceased' inhabitant.

Click to reveal..

Wyrd *rolls* 7d10: 4+2+1+4+1+10+8: 30 Intelligence plus Life or Spirit, whichever fits better

It wasn't that she doubted that the person seemed dead, but there were so many races that could appear dead and still be revivable.

She then turned her attention to each of the other pods in turn, examining the patterns of their lives to determine what would need to be done and calling ahead to prep the proper rooms.

Click to reveal..

Wyrd *rolls* 7d10: 6+1+6+3+3+8+7: 34 for the first pod

Wyrd *rolls* 7d10: 3+8+6+1+8+5+9: 40 For the second.

I know that you generally aren't making us make rolls at this point, but I thought the three pods might be plot-important enough to warrant them. If anything big comes up from those scans, I'll edit it into this post at this point

Still waiting on the tech's evaluation of the pods' stability and suitability for transport, she turned her attention back out to the rest of the crowd.

The sight was nearly overwhelming. Only years of practice let her sort the deluge of information she was getting from all of the injured bodies and the spirits stirred up from their turmoil--why she hadn't done this sooner.

Spotting a problem in someone heading to residential, she sent a runner to bring him back for a full exam. Adrenaline made people do such stupid things sometimes.

Over there she saw a mage having a paradox attack. She directed an orderly to bring him to her while she continued to scan.

It seemed, she determined, that things were pretty well handled at this time. The biggest problems right now were being caused by panic, disorientation, and the agitated spirits. Focusing her Spirit into her voice, she began to Sing.

It seemed a little silly to those around her for the first few notes, until they felt themselves unconsciously relaxing. It was like all of their worries became a little less urgent, a little more manageable. It didn't change anything, merely the perception of it. Anyone who could see spirits could see the effect her voice was having on them much more clearly. Even the paradox spirits became less agitated.

As the paradox ridden mage was brought to her, she focused her voice on him, calming the paradox that riddled him and bringing him around. She couldn't actually get rid of paradox this way, but she could calm it down, convince it to wait a bit, and give the mage time to deal with it.

[z-Tejah Ebadi]

Tejah had tried to mostly stay out of the way. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t be useful; it was that the first seriously injured person she saw made her feel faint. Machines didn’t bleed, or cry, or groan in pain. It was a very different task for Teej, and she was not up for it.

She finally found a corner and stayed there, watching helplessly. She hated that she felt so puny but she also couldn’t make herself push past that weakness. She was an engineer, not a doctor! But there were others who weren't doctors, like Stevens, and they were helping. She was... trying not to throw up.

Her shifting eyes landed on Mik; she looked away before he could see her. She’d felt a kinship with her boss when she’d seen his augmentations. It had seemed like he’d be more like her than others: someone who understood what it was to rely on a machine for something that everyone else could just do. But watching him rise to the occasion while she faltered, she never felt further away or more ill-suited for her job.

Why would anyone want me? she asked herself, sinking to the floor and drawing her arms around her folded knees. Why would anyone select me for this job? She didn’t know; she was nothing special: just an engineer, just a mom. What am I doing here?

[LydaLynn]

As staff rushes to help, Wyrd and Grimm wade into the mass of people and begin assessing damage. Between the two of them, they manage to ensure that those who need immediate medical attention are headed to medbay. Of course, Grimm has to spend a moment convincing a few of the medical personnel to listen, but they find new respect for him once they see how accurate his assessment is of the wounded. Wyrd, busy as she is coordinating her staff on top doing of triage, finally manages to make her way to the stasis pods.

Communications receives the relayed message from the ship at the first jump gate. The message is in no known language.

Miu gets a smile of thanks from Dove as she begins shepherding the refugees towards the Residential dome. Security quickly falls in to lend a hand. It takes a little work to get them all up and moving in the right direction, but between her calm and personable manner, and the silent feel of suppressed rage that surrounds her, everyone seems willing to follow.

Ebonardo, having had ample experience with Dove in the admittedly distant past, resigns himself with a sigh to watching over the child. Bradan struggles for a few moments, wanting to stay with Dove, but at the promise of a new game, quickly warms to his new friend. The giggling of the toddler as he yells out colors brightens the mood in the hangar.

Mik quickly bustles about, getting the air normalized and readying the hover pads to carry wounded. Once he is waved over to the stasis pods, he takes a few minutes to stabilize their functions. Not understanding any of the information about their inhabitants, he has an innate understanding of the machines themselves and is able to get them into shape for transport to medbay. Given that these pods were never designed to leave the ship they had been installed in, it takes a bit of doing but he manages it as quickly as possible.

Once Mik is done with the pods, Wyrd is able to get in to check their inhabitants. The individual identified as dead is beyond hope. She must have been closest to the blast that tore open a hole into space. Between the large pieces of shrapnel still embedded in what is left of the body and the extensive burns, Wyrd doesn't think she survived the initial blast, let alone the exposure to the void of space. One of the other pods holds a werewolf, half shifted. In the strange mix of forms, his body seems to be healing itself, though the process is extremely slowed by the stasis pod. Most of the damage is from burns, though there is some shrapnel that will need to be removed, he seems to be more or less stable. The other two inhabitants have also suffered burns and have bits of the ship they had been crewing imbedded in them by the force of the explosion. One will likely be blind, eyes don't react well to space. All three are likely to need the pressurized dome as well, to help bring their bodies back to temperature and pressure without extreme consequences.

In the bustle, no one seems to notice Tejah faltering and sinking into herself. But once the mages were on their way to medbay, there was one person with nothing to do but watch the proceedings. One person who knew the pink haired woman had been there. Looking around, Dove finally spots Tejah in a corner. Not sure if her cover had been blown, she resumes the aura of Chickadee. Dove knows that there is nothing further for her to do, and having the base commander there could keep people from doing what needs to be done as they worry about what she is thinking. It's strange, as Dove, with the aura of confident authority and ageless command that sits on her shoulders, no one notices she looks like a fourteen year old girl. Once she makes the mental shift to Chickadee, her youth is evident. The few crew Chickadee passes on the way to Tejah's corner don't seem to notice their commander in the young girl walking by.

Chickadee plops herself down next to the woman who's child she's been watching over while the base was built. "Hey." Simple as it is, the greeting manages to be both cheerful and supportive.

[Justin OOC]

No one got particularly close to Miu, something seemed to tell them it was best not to. Beneath the beautiful smiling young woman's features lurked a sense that she was far more predatory than she looked, but for now the well-being of others seemed to be her focus.

Security didn't give her any issues, the orders from the others seemed to be enough, so long as she was aiding in making them happen.

For Miu, it was unnerving, and part of her railed against being surrounded so long. Still she was needed, and she kept her temper, and the beat within in check. These people were already tired and afraid, having suffered an ordeal already this day. Her losing her cool would only exacerbate things, and she really didn't wish to call attention to herself.

[Pilgrim]

Ebonardo noticed Chickadee/Dove walking past as he continued the color game with Bradan, and the visible shift in her countenance as she resumed her younger identity.

Bradan noticed as well, and seemed to want to join her. Seeing that she was not giving any more orders, Ebonardo gently took the child's hand and followed her. The old mage smiled when he saw Tejah, and looked down as he felt Bradan tugging on his sleeve.

"That mommy." The little boy pointed at Tejah. "Mommy sad."

Ebonardo nodded. "She is indeed, little one. Why don't you give her a hug? I'm sure seeing you will make her feel better."

The old mage walked the child over to Dove/Chickadee and Tejah.

[z-Tejah Ebadi]

Tejah just looked at Chickadee, sideways rather than full-on. The young woman was deeply ashamed of her reaction; she wasn’t aware that such presence of self came from long experience dealing with trauma.

“Mommy!” The cry pulled her out of her funk, somewhat. Teej put out her arms and pulled Bradan to her, breathing in his scent as a comfort. Just holding him was enough to bring her comfort. Bradan tolerated this for a moment, perhaps sensing his mother’s need. “Hi, Mommy,” he said.

~Hi,~ Tejah signed to him, smiling now despite her funk. She gave him another hug; this one was tolerated with less grace than the others, mostly because her son was two. ~Thank you for watching him,~ she signed to the elder man. She shifted just enough to type, “Thank you” into AVIS in case he didn’t know USL.

[Vortican]

The hangar was still a bustle, though things were beginning to calm down. People finding there way to where they needed to be, and calm starting to fall over the area. Through all the mayhem Mik noticed, he tended not to miss much. And while he didn't speak volumes his eyes caught far more than most including Tejah in her corner.

As if it were planned, perhaps that it was meant to happen but his line of sight caught Tejah's eye. They noted one another with clarity, more so for what they had in common. Mik nodded but once to her, it was slow and intended, followed by a slight turn of a grin at the corner of his mouth. What Mik lacked in vocabulary was more than made up by the body language he used, as all who had been around him long enough knew.

That body language said simply this: "I'm proud of ya lass, know ye did yer best, am honored to call ye friend, and when your ready, will be here ta talk."

With that Mik was gone from line of sight, most likely back to attending things that needed handled with quiet steady resolve.

[LydaLynn]

The look Chickadee gave Ebonardo wasn't exactly gratitude. A few moments speaking with Tejah would have been nice. But, she had to admit, if only to herself, Ebonardo had done pretty well for the sudden responsibility.

Figuring the best place to start would be introductions, Chickadee turned to the pink haired mother, "Tejah, this is Ebonardo, a friend of mine. He's joining us to help explore the planet below us. He's really good at archeology and stuff. Prof, this is Tejah, Bradan's mom. Tejah is awesome with all things mechanical, she's been here helping get all the wiring in for the last bit."

Chickadee shoots a quick smile Mik's way, noticing the look he gave his young protege. Watching the last of the refugees follow Miu from the room, Chickadee is rather pleased with the responses of the station. Everyone fell in and worked together quickly and were able to overcome what could otherwise have been a great tragedy. She would have to think up appropriate rewards for everyone, particularly for Grimm and Miu who pitched in even though they weren't staff.

What Dove didn't know was that somewhere out in space, her fighters were waiting for orders about a strange ship, floating powerless in space. The odd languages it broadcast a distress signal in being analyzed by the C&C computers.

[Grimm]

Grimm had paused for a moment during the bustle to let one of the medics bandage his hand, but since then had worked tirelessly in the triage area of the hangar bay, making sure the wounded were fit to move to the med-bay. He had stitched and staunched, cut and bandaged, a wraithlike boy in a dark blue cloak with grave eyes. The young Verbena had the healer's gift - his very touch seemed to lessen pain and soothe fevered brows, somehow without Weavery imparting some of the immense vital force that burned within his fragile body to those he aided.

Now, though, he sat with his back to the wall of the hangar as the last of the wounded were transferred out, his knees drawn up to his chest as he watched with sunken, exhausted eyes. His hands were bloody once more, but not with his own vital fluids, and the boy could scarce move to clean them. Only willpower and need had kept him on his feet his long - the earlier boost of berserk strength for the run to Dove's office had drained him of the calories the single sandwich he'd consumed beforehand had supplied, plus more from a body that didn't have much surplus fat to begin with. Magick always demanded a price - a healthy adult might have the reserves to pay it, but the already half-starved boy did not.

I'll need food... Don't want to move right... now though. Tired. I'll rest, then get... food.

His eyes shut slowly, the child having just enough presence of mind to wrap his cloak around him to ward off the chill of the hangar bay as he curled up. Without his conscious will to tell it otherwise, his natural tendency to fade into the background of Reality asserted itself, and the medics who'd come looking to see where the serious-eyed youngster had gotten to looked straight past the sleeping figure curled up between two pieces of machinery against the far wall.

Click to reveal..

Arcane 5 in operation. Oh, and Grimm's healing skills were augmented by the Touch of Life Merit (Verbena revised book)

[Pilgrim]

Ebonardo raised his eyebrow at the look Chickadee gave him, and then smiled broadly. Part of him was pleased at giving Dove a little irritation for a change. He bowed politely to Tejah.

"It is nice to formally meet you, Tejah. Your son was just giving me a lesson in color theory. He was yelling out colors I never knew existed."

[batsibf]

Making a few adjustment, he is able to get auxiliary power to stabilize life support and hopeful his nav computer is online so he can figure out where he is and maybe get a better look at the small ships that have not responded to his automated message.

Click to reveal.. (repair)

1d10=6, 1d10=10

1d10=10, 1d10=9

Once he is back on the bridge, he hails the lead ship:

!@#$%^ !@#$%, !@#$ !@ !@# !@#$%^ !@#$ <!@#$%, ! !@#$ !@#$% !@#$% !@#$%^ !@#$ !@ !@# !@#$ !@# !@#$$%^ !@#$ !@# !@ !@#$ !@#$%^&*

Click to reveal.. (message)

Unidentified ships, this is the Droyne ship Tsoede, I have taken severe damage from an ion storm mid stellar jump and am in need assistance.

Click to reveal.. ( what the small ships see)

[Thomas Froit]

Glitch rubbed his eyes, before deciding to pass the matter on to a higher authority. "Alpha and Delta Squadrons, continue on your rescue mission as you were. Message the Droyne ship and state help will arrive soon." He then opened a link to Dove, using the channel she'd used to link into the whole system. "Commander, Alpha and Delta Squadrons are reporting an unidentified ship hailing for assistance. Alpha and Delta are still enroute to the second warp gate, orders about the other vessel?"

[z-Tejah Ebadi]

Tejah nodded, then shifted around Bradan so she could type into AVIS. “Thank you for watching him, Ebonardo. We’re still working on colors.” She kissed her son’s head as he pointed to her hair and said, “Mommy ‘ink.”

“I am pink,” Tejah agreed, smiling. Her smile faded and she looked at Chickadee. “I should get back to work.” She started to hand Bradan over and he clung to her.

“Chiky bye-bye,” he said, sounding distraught. He was trying to tell Chickadee to leave but Tejah gently persisted. When her son was transferred, she rose to her feet, gave him one more kiss and got back to work. The first thing was to check to be sure that the machinery hadn’t been damaged and it was between two of the consoles that she found Grimm.

Tejah froze for a second as she saw the boy; he didn’t appear to be hurt. Biting her lip, she leaned down and touched his shoulder. After a moment, she typed, “Are you alright?” She added a slightly stronger shake.

Click to reveal..

I’m assuming that Tej’s supernatural thingie could pierce Grimm’s Arcane – if not, I’ll edit that bit out.

[Grimm]

Click to reveal..

I'm happy to go with it regardless of the rules, for narrative purposes.

He was running through misty, metal-panelled corridors that were slick with condensation, the pursuers getting closer behind him despite his best attempts to get away. They wanted something from him, something he wasn't ready to give. They promised enlightenment in return for a sacrifice... a sacrifice... a sacrifice...

"Haven't you taken enough? What more is there? I have no parents, no family, no-one!" he screamed in his dream as he stood at bay, teeth bared in a tearful snarl as a figure looming over him grabbed his shoulders. "I have paid for my gift with loneliness upon loneliness, and now you want more? You shall not have it! You won't..."

"..you won't have it!" Grimm screamed as he came awake and sat bolt upright, dirt-smudged features pale and tears starting from his mismatched eyes as he lifted his blood-stained hands, one still bandaged, to ward away whatever it was he'd seen, calling out to the runes that blazed in his minds-eye. "Thurisaz sowilo ti-" Tejah recoiled and sat down with a bump, alarmed at the look of rage that glittered in the child's exhaustion-bruised eyes, the dark shadows under them contrasting starkly with his pale skin, and under the frailty the sense of terrible primordial strength that seemed too large for the skinny raw-boned frame.

Grimm stopped his galdr as who and where he was came back to him, blinking back tears as he stared into the face of the woman who he'd just alarmed. He relaxed, the terrible force around him fading away substantially.

"I'm... I'm sorry." he said, lowering his hands and drawing up his knees, hugging them to steady himself as he rocked slightly, peering out from under his hood at Tejah. "I was having a bad dream." Don't cry don't cry don't cry. Only children cry.

[Wyrd]

Wyrd slumped in the comfy chair in her office, resting after the excitement of that... morning? afternoon? Eh, whatever. It's not like it really mattered in a space station, or would matter until the planet had been terraformed enough to go outside.

Treating the injured from the pods was the most challenging part, and most challenging amongst them was the werewolf, so she had, of course, insisted on doing that one herself. Operating on any creature with rapid regeneration was a tricky business, especially when they were badly injured. The only way to cut the flesh away from the shrapnel without the body healing too fast for its removal was to use silver scalpels, yet every touch of silver weakened the already injured and volatile therianthrope.

Click to reveal..

For any who didn't know, therianthrope is the term for any shapechanger. Lycanthrope specifically refers only to werewolves. It just seemed more doctorish to have her use the more generic term.

This meant that half of the work of treating her patient had been deciding which bits of shrapnel could safely be left in until a later surgery, and which would cause further damage as his body tried to incorporate or reject the foreign matter.

Still she managed to get him healthy enough to let his own body do most of the work of recovering until he was strong enough to have the last bits of shrapnel removed. Given what she knew of the wolves, though, she expected him to tough it out for at least a week before admitting that he needed to have the subsequent surgery. It probably wouldn't be fear of the silver scalpels, merely the conviction that he should be able to tough it out until he healed, only he wouldn't heal as long as there were bits of metal embedded in him.

[LydaLynn]

Chickadee knew what Bradan was really saying. She had become Dove while holding him. Where he normally was happy to come to her and didn't fuss, now she was a stranger to him. The sorrow she felt at his fear was deep and she couldn't manage to speak as Tejah transferred the boy.

Watching the toddler's mother head back to work, Dove sighed as the command channel opened again and another potential emergency beckoned. There was a reason she hadn't planned on 'arriving' until tomorrow. But there was nothing for it, duty necessitated action.

Turning to Bradan, the boy's eyes wide and perceptive. He can see the difference between Chickadee and Dove and sits quietly trying not to draw the powerful stranger's attention. "Bradan, I'm sorry, luv. I know you don't understand what's happening, but right now, I need you to be good, okay? I'm Dove and I'm going to be taking care of you today. Chickadee with be back to play later."

Turning to Ebonardo, Dove again took forefront, "Thank you for the help. Sounds like there's still more to do. Want to tag along? Bradan seems to like you and the day care doesn't open until tomorrow. Not to say that's the only reason to bring you along. There's actually an unidentified ship broadcasting a distress signal apparently. You might be able to help identify it, or just enjoy watching the chaos."

Without really waiting for a response from her old friend, Dove again raises a finger to the comm in her ear, "Acknowledged. Send Rescue Transport Epsilon with Gamma squadron to check it out. See if one of the salvage ships is up to spec and can be routed that way too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As everyone starts to get settled in medbay, doctors, nurses, patients and assorted rescue personnel, a problem emerges with one of the patients. Though the rest of the refugees are undergoing treatment, one human male, bald and unconscious, can not be treated. A large white dragon seems to be keeping guard over him, much like a faithful dog. Only, the dragon is rather larger than any dog and keeps fading in and out of sight. Though the dragon seems to have let them bring the man to medbay, he didn't even allow monitoring equipment to be set up near his protectee. And the equipment imbedded in the walls around the bed seems to be malfunctioning.

[Justin OOC]

Once the last of the group of refugees was seen to, Miu stretched, and then made her way back to the Main Concourse, quickly running into Dove/Chickadee before she got back there and walking up. "The last of the refugees that can be seen to has been, Is there something else you'd have me do?"

The young Asian woman didn't seem tired at all, or even winded. It was clear she didn't understand everything that was going on, but still her offer was good.

[Wyrd]

Wyrd was interrupted from her rest and contemplation by a knock on the door. Sighing, she called, "Come in."

A nurse opened the door a little and poked her head in, "Sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but we have a patient we don't know how to deal with. He has a dragon like creature that won't let us get close enough to treat him."

Standing and pausing a moment to stretch, she gestured to the nurse to lead the way.

Click to reveal..

perception + spirit to determine nature of the dragon:

Wyrd *rolls* 6d10: 2+3+9+6+2+5: 27

A quick moment of focus revealed that the dragon was at least partially a spirit, so she opened her mind and reached towards it, hoping to connect.

Click to reveal..

Spirit roll, arete 3

Wyrd *rolls* 3d10: 8+2+5: 15

The dragon stops fading in and out of sight for a few minutes as Wyrd speaks, "Excuse me. We really need to see if your friend there is injured. We are doctors. I swear to you that we mean him no harm. If you prefer, I can examine him personally, with no machines or anything that you don't want near him, though I will need to touch him. Please, let me help him."