STAR BRICK
I take a moment to rest and think over what just happened, trying to figure out what's going on, checking the sensor readings for what might be causing this.
[4]
Kit notes the sudden release of DSJ particles, and the coincidental teleportation of the
Star Brick. Kit knows that correlation does not equal causation, but also knows that once is a mistake and twice is enemy action, and can see that the hull is slowly beginning to build up another DSJ particle charge.
On a hunch, Kit initiates a scan of the surrounding area for more DSJ particles. Several monitors blink into life, merrily showing DSJ distributions and concentrations for the detectable area. The Aelyrain Patrol Frigate is positively saturated in DSJ particles; based on what Kit knows of DSJ mechanics, the levels detected should be unsustainable over the long term as DSJ degradation should induce a range of side effects including (but not limited to) teleportitis and/or catastrophic explosion for effected areas.
The reason for the DSJ accumulation in the first place is readily apparent. Sensors reveal that a braided stream of DSJ particles are flowing from the anomaly to the
Star Brick in much the same way that a stream of Gonwine flows through a littered ZeroG environment into the mouth of a star Gonboozer; that is to say, messily and with many mysterious twists and coils, but also with beauty.
Kit hopes the Gonball metaphor isn't too apropos, since the team Gonboozer usually finishes the match battered, bruised, and belching fire.
Conan closes his eyes and sniffs the air
"Violence in the air. Soon now."
Look around for something to use as a weapon in case we get boarded/board. Then see if I can't get the plasma mortar online.
[2]
Conan's barbarian instincts are usually not applicable to his new space-aged lifestyle. However, the danger sense is one gut feeling that Conan has learned never to ignore.
Unfortunately, the Weapon Control room does not seem to have an arsenal of personal weapons. Rather than waste time searching the entire
Star Brick for something that can be weaponized, Conan simply grabs a length of steel pipe for his personal face-smashing needs and turns his attention to properly arming the
Star Brick itself.
The ship's Plasma Mortar seems to be fully operational, judging by the diagnostics scrolling across the screen. Conan begins tentatively plying the control console, searching for ways to power it. This is not an easy task, since the weapon, the coupling attaching it to the shipboard systems of the
Star Brick, and all the available power sources seem to have been made by different alien species with competing standards of systems architecture and weapon design, which is possibly the reason this weapon remains unpowered.
[1]
In a stroke of luck, Conan finds a way to connect the weapon to the biggest power source on the ship; the DSJ reactor! The DSJ charge quickly drains into the weapon, providing enough drain for one shot. Conan steps back, confident that the weapon will remain powered even in a protracted fight.
Someone rumbles as she ponders the situation. Only one responsible thing to do now.
Commence aggressive, yet surreptitious docking procedures with the patrol frigate.
[2]
Captain Someone is a bit perturbed. On the one hand, the
Star Brick appears to be teleporting at irregular, unpredictable intervals. On the other hand, the Aelyrain Patrol Frigate is not. Further, the frigate has not opened fire on the
Star Brick, nor has it performed any sort of maneuver. Perhaps it is unmanned?
Someone brings the
Star Brick about, preparing to dock with the Aelyrain Patrol Frigate
Harmonious Congress. This is not as easy as it sounds; in order to successfully dock, the
Star Brick needs to precisely match the orientation and rotation of the docking ring of the
Harmonious Congress, an operation that is usually handled by the shipboard AI that the
Star Brick does not actually possess. Instead, Someone is doing a lot of minute maneuvering while constantly comparing her posture with that of the
Harmonious Congress and correcting as needed. Someone is also cautious of the auto missile turrets which might take exception to this maneuver, though they seem to be busy tracking minute dust particles in the void of space at the moment.
Finally, after a great deal of fiddling and twitching the docking rings align; however, the docking protocol regretfully informs Someone that the causeway cannot be sealed against hard vacuum due to irreconcilable differences in docking protocols between the sips. When Captain Someone queries what those differences might be she only receives the computer equivalent of an indignant huff.
((Hue hue hue, no leaving for us now! That scrap's as good as ours!))
"Alright, shields up, check. Sensors scrambled, check. Method of crossing the void..." Skirri trailed off, glancing at a nearby piece of debris that was very nearly boat-shaped.
"...not check," she reluctantly concluded several seconds later.
Begin searching the ship for some method of getting from this one to that one. Aggressive docking procedures count!
Skirri hops excitedly at the airlock door as the
Star Brick pulls in close to the Aelyrai Patrol Frigate. She already has her atomic disassembler at the ready, as well as a good old-fashioned loot sack just begging to be filled with any number of sensitive, expensive, and excitingly alien gadgets, components and doodads. She watches through the exterior viewscreen as the alien hatchway looms closer and closer. She nearly giggles when the docking envelope extends to the alien ship, the boarding causeway creeping up to the opposing hatchway. She waits breathlessly for the airlock light to flash green, and for the hatches on both sides to open.
She waits.
She waits...
Why is the light still red!
[6]
Apparently, the docking procedure cannot finish, and the Aelyrain hatch will not open. That's okay. This won't be the first time the
Star Brick has scrapped a ship that didn't want to come peaceably. Skirri already has all the tools to deal with this eventuality.
Slipping on a spacesuit, Skirri cycles through the airlock door, leaving her loot sack and atomic disassembler behind for the moment but instead pushing before her a squat device that rather looks like a toaster mounted on a shop vacuum. The docking chamber apparently does not have gravity in addition to not having a breathable atmosphere, but that's fine; Skirri also has an assortment of bungee cords and duraflex cables to securely brace her homebrew docking mechanism. Tipping it on its side, Skirri lines up her shot and flips the switch.
A beam of coruscating red light erupts from her Hull Breach O' Matic, carving into the reinforced duralloy of the Aelyrain hatchway. Even with the enormous power directed against it, the hatchway melts only slightly, giving grudging inches to Skirri's device. Skirri waits as patiently as she can, which is to say not at all.
The Hull Breach O' Matic dies with neither a cough nor a whimper, merely flipping itself off and discharging its spent and fused power cell. Skirri retrieves her atomic disassembler while she waits for the molten Aelyrain hatch to cool. Or rather, the small hole of the Aelyrain hatch, which doesn't even seem to get all the way through. Skirri works her probe inside, wriggling, twisting, looking for the circuit she knows is located exactly...
here.
Bingo.
The Aelyrain exterior hatch opens with a sigh, revealing an airlock glowing with dim yellow illumination. Skirri cycles through, quickly finding herself standing in the entry hallway of the
Harmonious Congress. The ceiling vaults high overhead, torchlike yellow lights shining up the walls and along the floors. A ship console blinks in the wall near the airlock control. Skirri can see two doorways, one to the left of the airlock and one to the right.
Credits: 100
Fuel:
FullProvisions:
FullShields:
40%Hull:
80%Rooms of Interest:
Life Support
Engine Room:
GRAVITIC ENGINES ONLINE DSJ CAPACITOR 0% CHARGEDSJ Reactor:
MAIN REACTOR ONLINEWeapon Control:
PLASMA MORTAR (1/3) HULL LASER ONLINEShield Control:
SCRAMBLING TARGETING LASERSMedbay:
LIGHT DAMAGEBridge (Captain Someone's Quarters)
Sensor Control:
LIGHT DAMAGE PASSIVE SENSORS ONLINE ACTIVE SCANNERS OPERATIONALCargo Bay:
CARGO ACCESSIBLEConan's Quarters:
BOOKS ORGANIZED AGAINSkirri's Quarters
((Sorry for the delay, I'm moving into a new apartment, so expect some waits for the next week or so.))
Author
Topic: Star Brick: Green Swirly Thing IN SPAAAAACE! (Read 16002 times)