|
ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION FOLLOWS -- Olympus -- I've delivered cargo to you that I would prefer to not be directly associated with. Please deliver it to the deep space coordinates enclosed with this message at the allotted time. Return to the Tranquilis for payment. -- Mack
The darkness of space. It's quiet -- perhaps too quiet. Your clients have kept you waiting. So far, they're 45 minutes late. Just you and a cloud of helium about 500 kilometers off your starboard bow, refracting light from distant suns.
"KiKu, we early?" Rillitan asks in idle grumpiness, pushing back into the captain's chair of the Laughing Fox with his shoulders. "Or are they late? I ain't one to like waitin', an we been waitin' a while."
From her point ahead of him, in the pilot console, the woman shrugs.
There is a flash of light very close to the Laughing Fox -- well, very close for space. A rippling ring of energy warps outwards from the flash, the hallmark of something coming out of faster-than-light.
It's a ship, a large and heavily modified freighter. Oh, wait, it's not the only one -- there's something attached to it with a series of grappling hooks, a smaller ship, with the hawkish lines of an assault craft and the battle scars of a ship that's seen more than one altercation like this. The ships are spinning on the same axis, locked in a deadly embrace. Both are heavily damaged but not destroyed. They aren't shooting at one another.
Your customers have arrived.
It takes a moment for Rillitan to realise the sensors aren't bleeping because he's fiddling with them out of boredom and the Timonae looks up, at the viewfinder, with a frown. "Whut in Lady's name?"
"Sir?" KiKu says with an unsure tone, turning her head to croon a worried expression.
"I don't know, woman, hail 'em or somethin'." the Timonae replies.
"Which one?" she replies.
The comm crackles to life. "Laughing Fox." It's Hekayti, a rough spacer dialect. "This is the Verdikke ship Torg. The only reason you'd be out here is if you were the people we had an appointment with. Our apologies for being late. We've been attacked. We could sure use what you were here to sell us, about now."
"Fuckin'..." Rillitan blurts, "Hold 'er steady, I'll do a space jump wi' t' cargo." he switches comms, to the ship system, "Roland, get Tiana and sort the airlock out for a quick exit." he's up and in action, running out of the cockpit to gear up.
There's an explosion on the larger ship, venting debris and not a few bodies out into space. As the ships spin, the debris floats between the Laughing Fox and the two vessels locked in combat.
"She just blew a hole out!" KiKu calls out over the comm system, maneuvering the ship around so the Fox's airlock is facing the other two ships.
Summoned from the Captain's Quarters, Tia starts sorting out the airlock; getting suits ready, the cargo ready - that sort of thing. Once that's all done she suits herself up, begrudgingly prepared to make the jump over alongside Rillitan.
"Tell 'em I'll be joining them shortly." the Timonae's moves into the airlock, suiting up. "Comin'?" he asks the security guard.
"Uh." Roland replies, in a worried tone, "No thanks, cap..."
"Righ'. Ya keep Kiku safe if'n any'un tries t'board us while we're o'er there." Tia tells Roland just before she puts her helmet on. A resigned sigh is made to herself, creating a faint whisper over comms and she plonks herself down over one of the crates, clinging to it. She's ready to go.
"Not a moment too soon," comes the Hekayti voice on the other side of the commlink. There's the sound of gunfire in the background. "We do not know how many are aboard, but we are losing. They have bigger guns." More gunfire. "Enter in the port airlock. We are holding them there. For now."
"Check our bloody suits, then!" Rillitan grunts, fitting his helmet on and giving pressing the control on the side for a quick pressure seal. "Alright KiKu, you're in command for now."
After checking him over, the security guard gives both the Timonae and the Martian a nod.
"Get out o' t' airlock, mate. Shame we ain't got any guns on this ship, ay?" he snorts, taking his sword in one hand and holding onto the side of the airlock with the other.
Roland does as asked, and once he's out the customary 'ssssss' of the airlock sealing itself off from the rest of the ship precedes the decompression and, after as short a moment as possible, the empty silence of a vacuum. The outside hatch opens in front of the spaced couple, the airlock looks out to the dark unknown and all that debris cluttering it up.
When the cloud of atmosphere that precedes Rillitan outside the airlock clears, the full extent of the fight is apparent. The area of the ship that vented to space already has a group of suited Hekayti-sized shapes inside, lit by flame gushing from a nearby access vent. Muzzle flashes and pulse blasts signal gunfire out into the darkness, towards the other ship. If Rill squints, he might see that there's another group of Hekayti drifting towards that exposed area with some kind of large piece of salvage equipment; it's too far away to tell what.
"Here." The voice is the Hekayti from the Torg; after the word comes through, lights on part of the Torg on the other side of the hull -- thankfully removed from the zero-G firefight -- flicker green, forming an airlock-sized square. "Land here. We'll be waiting." Debris drifts past, a cloud of shrapnel. A stray pulse blast *plinks* against the Fox's hull, not damaging the armor but leaving a slightly blackened mark not far from the airlock.
Rillitan, locked in place with his foot wrapped around a port in the airlock, leans down and grabs the first of the crates, with Tiana, judging the distance and movement of the two ships carefully. He lets his sword sit in place in one corner of the airlock, for the moment. He swings back and forth for a moment, waiting for the right opportunity before he lets go, throwing the crate and it's occupant carefully out of the gravity well created by the Fox on a steady slide through space towards the other ship.
[Skill System] Rillitan rolls his Throwing with a modifier of -1. The result is Fair (4).
Tiana and her crate float towards their target. They rotates a little, but it looks like they're headed in the right direction.
Rillitan watches them go for a few seconds before taking his sword and tucking it in one of his suits straps, "Should'a brought m' scabbard." he mutters to himself. With a grunt, he grabs the second crate but doesn't throw it. This one, it seems, he is taking himself. Again, the Timonae waits patiently for another clear moment to project himself across the distance before making a run for it. He pushes as hard as he can out from the airlock, breaking out of the gravity well with the crate in his arms.
[Skill System] Rillitan rolls his Zero-G Maneuvers with a modifier of -1. The result is Fair (4).
The crate -- and Rillitan -- float after the first one, towards the airlock. The airlock slides open as the first crate arrives, and a Hekayti in a space suit appears to collect it.
As he floats, the Timonae makes sure to shield himself from any stray plasma shots with the crate. "I 'ope this don't 'ave any explosives a shot cou' burn into and detonate." the Timonae mutters across the comms, reaching a hand out to the Hekayti as he draws nearer.
"If'n ah drift off inta space an' die, i'ma 'aunt y'all for eternity." Tia mutters back over comms, and just like Rillitan she reaches out a hand in order to be pulled aboard the freighter.
The Hekayti tugs both humans -- and their cargo -- inside, giving them both a plainly dismayed look. "You are crazy," it says in Hekayan, over a comm frequency. "Get out from under the crates." He slaps a button and the outer airlock door cycles closed. Atmosphere and gravity are slowly restored.
"Ain't no call for melodrama." the Timonae replies flatly as he watches Tiana and her crate get pulled into the other ship's airlock first. He arrives in much the same manner, and when the gravity returns he drops to the floor, pushing the crate away from himself and clambering to his feet.
"Ain't bloody melodrama. Driftin' in space scare t'shit outta me." Tia retorts as she gets out from under her crate, standing up. Turning the Martian faces the Hekayti, hand offered, "Commodor Tiana Ryoleli, commander ah Olympus Trading atcher service."
"Great," the Hekayti says, removing his helmet -- the helmet of a Hekayti spacesuit involves two big sleeves that slide out to protect the horns and come off like big padded socks. "I'm Dorn Torgverdikke." His expression is grim; his left horn is cracked and blackened as if it recently took a pulse blast. As atmosphere returns, so does sound: Outside, there's what sounds like a pitched battle, with shouting, pulse and gunblasts, the scrapes and thumps of hand-to-hand scuffle. He looks at the crates; reaches for them; types an access code on one lock. "If the delivery is up to snuff, and we live through this, then I think you can look forward to a long business relationship."
Inside the crate are pulse rifles, brand new, well-made pulse rifles, with ammunition stacked along one side. He grabs a rifle, loads it; it charges up with a whine. "Get ready," he advises. "This is pretty hairy." Then he flips the switch on the airlock door, and as it rolls open, it reveals pulse and plasma blasts whizzing past. There's a group of Verdikke taking cover around the corner of a T-intersection directly across from the airlock doors.
"Right." Rillitan grunts, throwing his helmet to one side as the Hekayti greets them and unstrapping the bulky elements of his space suit. The Timonae doesn't bother removing the suit outright, however, to avoid wasting time. His sword is taken in one hand and he sniffs, falling to one side of the airlock exit, "How many down tha' end?" he fields across to whoever can see.
"It was about to get hairy, but they'd given me betsy," the black and white clothed detective says as he casually enters into the area. In his hands is another of those rifles, "She wasn't beautiful and she wasn't the best..but she was reliable damn it." He might be talking to the crew, he might be talking to whomever was present at the time. More likely he's simply talking to himself.
"Are there any hatches between us an' them?" Tia asks, taking off her suit's helmet and setting it aside, "Jus' hopin' 'ere 'is so ah c'n take o'er yer computer systems, cut 'em off an' cut their life support." Not that she's not ready to fight, however it'd require her getting in closer for a proper hand to hand row, seeing as that's what she's best at.
One of the Heks across the open corridor from the airlock -- he's wearing light armor and holding a plasma pistol in his hands -- leans out and then pops his head back behind cover. A second later, a hail of pulse blasts splatter against the corner where he was, the deck below it, the overhead above it. "Lots," the Hek hollers back at Rillitan.
Dorn nods. "Parts of the ship have already lost pressure," he says. "A contingent has suits and are attempting to depressurize the engineering compartment, aftwards, likely so they could set a bomb on our reactor. The rest are attempting to seize the bridge, which is that way." He points up the corridor they're facing; it would be a left hand turn to head up to the bridge. "We're holding them here, for now. That corridor spans the length of the ship and meets another fore-aft running corridor at the other side. If we can get these guns across this corridor, we'll stand a fighting chance of reclaiming the ship."
He turns to Tia. "These corridors run to hatches about halfway through the ship, but they have people on both sides of those hatches. Our communications officer is using everything she knows to keep them from gaining control of our systems; I think they are accessing our computer bank from a jack in territory they have already taken. If you are a computer systems person, we could use your help in that regard."
"Great." Rillitan mutters, "Throw me one o' them rifles," he calls to Tiana, inching the blade of his sword just out of the doorway so he can get a better look at the Verdikke and where they're placed in the reflection on the metal.
With pulse fire in coming Pierce actually shuts up for once, probably to the relief of the Hekayti on board, and takes cover behind the nearest crate. Perhaps a statement of shutting his mouth came too soon as he peeks out, eyes assessing the situation, "It was going to get very hairy, but then...things always get hairy when there's dames about," he states.
"Only one ah t'best." Tia informs old Dorn with a confident smile, "Is 'ere a jack 'round 'ere, or am ah goan 'ave t'make a run fer i' towards one?" Unlike Rill who came prepared with weapons, she came prepared with her datamaster's glove. Briefly, Pierce gets a funny look in his direction. A nod to Rill before she takes a rifle and walks it over to him, rather than giving it a toss.
"Across the corridor," Dorn says, nodding with his horns towards where his compatriots are holding it down a few long steps away. "In the living quarters. The airlock commands here only work the airlock; they aren't connected to the rest of the ship. So nobody can open it when we're not looking, vent us all to space." Across the corridor, one of his colleagues rolls out to open fire.
Rillitan can see that there are five Hekayti at the far end of the corridor, behind an upended table acting as a barricade.
The rifle is taken by Rillitan, who pulls back on the safety as soon as he's holding it, bringing the gun to life with a low hum as it quickly powers itself up. He kneels, grabbing his sword by it's hilt and swinging it around the corner and down the corridor as far as he can, as if he were attempting to hit one of the Hekayti with it. "Tia, you go across the corridor on my mark." he says, after he pulls back in quickly.
The rifle is taken by Rillitan, who pulls back on the safety as soon as he's holding it, bringing the gun to life with a low hum as it quickly powers itself up. He kneels, grabbing his sword by it's hilt and swinging it around the corner and down the corridor as far as he can, as if he were attempting to hit one of the Hekayti with it. As soon as it's in the air, he rounds the corner and attempts a shot at whoever's stupid enough to keep their eyes on the sword.
[Skill System] You roll your Throwing with a modifier of -2. The result is Terrible (1). [Skill System] You roll your Energy Rifle with a modifier of -2. The result is Poor (2).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+1 (9). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5).
People are firing weapons? This seems to be a good enough excuse for Pierce. He seems to decide this is as good a time as any to jump in and moves just around the corner, rifle raised and he fires off a shot. "Take that scum!" he calls out.
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Energy Rifle with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
"Right 'en." Tia murmurs to Dorn, steeling herself while Rillitan and Pierce move out and provide cover fire. Then she bolts!
Dorn shoots Tia a dark look as Rillitan dives out into the hallway. "You're crazy," he says again. "You're all --" and then Tia goes. "Granfather's horns," he curses. Then: "COVERING FIRE!" Two more Verdikke jump into the hallway -- the one with the plasma pistol and another with a pulse pistol -- joining Pierce and Rillitan in attempting to pin the Heks at the end of the corridor. Dorn grabs pulse rifles and clips and starts sliding them across the deck to the Hek in the corridor, following Tia's feet.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Mediocre (3).
Two of the armored Hek at the far end of the corridor take hits. One yelps and goes down thanks to Pierce's rifle fire; the other, struck by a pulse pistol blast, just howls in anger and leans out from behind the barricade to return fire with his own pulse rifle, saved by the Verdikke's heretofore insufficient firepower. The rest of his friends stay hunkered down for now.} [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+1 (9).
[Skill System] You roll your Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+1 (9). [Skill System] Tiana Ryoleli rolls her Dodging with a modifier of 1. The result is Superb (7).
Rillitan easily pulls back as a shot is made at him and then, as if to prove Dorn's theory, the Timonae pushes out from cover at the break in fire. He rushes the corridor like an animal, keeping a low sprint to get as close to the other pack before they can get any shots on him.
[Skill System] You roll your Athletics with a modifier of 0. The result is Poor (2).
Pierce is ready for the return fire, pulling back behind cover just in time. One of the shots nearly takes out his hat, a whisp of smoke rising from the brim of his hat. A deep breath is taken in and he again moves out into the corridor, this time more careful aim taken so as not to shoot the crazy Timmonae in the back as he rushes down the corridor. It'd be bad to shoot an ally in the back, right? Either way another shot is taken.
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Energy Rifle with a modifier of -1. The result is Superb (7).
"Bloody!" Tia mutters as she narrowly misses being shot and makes it across the way. Momentarily she turns around to flash a wink and a grin to Dorn, "Live a little, darlin'!" That done, she turns and darts over to the port which awaits her sexy sexy invasion.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
Inside the living quarters are two or three wounded Hek being tended to by another Hekayti medic. The medic looks up as Tiana arrives, says nothing, and goes back to work. It doesn't take long for Tiana to see where the data port is, against a wall in what was a living area but has been fortified with upended tables and chairs, y'know, probably just in case.
As the two sides exchange fire, the Hekayti at the far end of the hall finally draw blood -- one of the Verdikke near Pierce takes a pulse blast and is knocked clean off of his hooves before he lands with a wet smack on the deck, motionless. "Medlidikke scum!" one of the three other Hek hiding in the corridor growls, charging a pulse rifle Dorn slid over. Rage in his eyes, he looks to his two companions -- and they aren't far removed from being ready themselves -- and then leaps up to replace his fallen comrade on the firing line.
Pierce's shot finds its mark again, sending another Hekayti staggering backwards and gargling on his own blood. The Verdikke are not so lucky, avoiding Rillitan but not managing to do more than pin down two of the Hek that were shooting. One of them stays up, though, and the fourth Medlidikke that's still down there -- if that's what they are -- pops up to shoot at Rillitan as he approaches.
Dorn continues to slide rifles across the floor, and Hekayti come from the other side of the corridor to prep them and ferry them over. Cheers start up at the far end of that T intersection, on the starboard side of the ship, as the new munitions arrive.
[Skill System] You roll your Athletics with a modifier of 1. The result is Superb (7).
[Skill System] You roll your Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8). Lucky roll! Reroll and take the higher of the two values. [Skill System] You roll your Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+2 (10). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+2 (10).
[Skill System] You roll your Dodging with a modifier of 2. The result is Legendary+2 (10).
As it turns out, keeping a low profile and sprinting as fast as you can are a hard combination to gel together and as a result Rillitan starts off pretty slow. He almost pays for it, however, when the Hekayti makes a dead on shot - dead on the spot Rillitan would have been if he wasn't bouncing down the corridor from wall to wall like some crazed air hockey put. Further incensed, it seems, by the Hek's own sense of self preservation, the Timonae roars and propels himself into the air, throwing his whole weight into a double-legged kick aimed at knocking the recipient into next week.
Pierce hesitates in his firing as he watches Rillitan at work, "..I gotta learn how to do that..." he states softly before blinking back to the task at hand and takes aim at another of the enemy that might still be moving and fires another blast.
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Energy Rifle with a modifier of -1. The result is Mediocre (3).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4).
Sweet! A built in barricade to perhaps protect her while she works. Tia doesn't waste any time looking over to the medics and wounded, focused on her task. Kneeling beside the port, those cables she always keeps on her person are retrieved, one end going into her datajack port and the other into the ship's port. TIME TO INVADE! Arr.
[Skill System] Tiana Ryoleli rolls her Hacking with a modifier of 2. The result is Legendary+2 (10).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5).
Rillitan's boots find their target, knocking his victim backwards and sending his gun flying. Seeing Rillitan make contact, the two Verdikke already exposed let out battle roars and charge after him, firing at the hatch at the far end of the corridor -- perhaps to keep whoever's there from joining the fray. The other two waiting in the wings roll out to follow. The way clear, Dorn pushes the crate of rifles all the way across the corridor. "Captain!" he shouts, towards the living quarters, in Terran Standard. "If you seal those hatches and vent the atmosphere, we may retake the ship!"
Meanwhile, Rillitan has knocked out one Medlidikke, but he's now facing three others, and they don't look happy. Two lift their rifle butts and, moving in concert, aim to find contact with Rillitan's ribs as he's prone on the ground and entangled with their colleague. The third turns to shoot at the approaching mass of Verdikke.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5).
[Skill System] You roll your Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+1 (9).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Good with a modifier of 0. The result is Mediocre (3).
[OOC] Taeren says, "now for Tia"
Tiana has achieved root, but she's not alone: There's another hacker in the system who took advantage of Tiana's assault to mount another, and also has super user privileges. This hacker looks to be trying to open a hatch that's closed because the other side is depressurized -- exposing the entire ship to vacuum.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4).
[OOC] Tiana Ryoleli says, "You want me to roll before I pose, too? >.>" [OOC] Pierce Falkin says, "Do I need to roll dodging also?" [OOC] Pierce Falkin says, "And yeah...I'll have to think of something else this round." [OOC] Taeren says, "sure pierce roll dodging" [OOC] Taeren says, "and tia you dont have to roll before you pose" [Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7). [OOC] Taeren says, "think you're safe pierce :)" [OOC] Pierce Falkin says, "Awesome :)" [OOC] Pierce Falkin lets Rill pose first. Rillitan lands on the ground with a thud and a grunt, his attention already on the two attempting to hit him when he's down. His legs draw up and the Timonae kicks one of the rifles sideways into the other, using his momentum to pull himself into a backwards roll over his shoulder and onto his feet, attempting to place himself next to his sword so he can grab it and, well, get stab happy.
[Skill System] You roll your Gymnastics with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
Pierce manages to evade any fire coming his direction, rifle slung over his shoulder in a moment of sheer frustration, "Bimbos.." he mutters under his breath before taking a lesson out of the book of Rill and charging down the corridor to press through the crowd between he and his target in an attempt to aim a fist at the first being not on his side. "Like bloody 'ell i'ma let ya take o'er MY systems." Tia mutters to herself, though Rill can hear it over comms, "Righ'! Jus' gimme a few minutes 'ere!" She yells back towards Dorn in a distracted tone. Now, time to show this other hacker the so-called door. Hack attack!
[Skill System] Tiana Ryoleli rolls her Information Security with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5). [Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4).
Tia boots the other hacker out of the system and retains complete control.
Pierce delivers a wicked right cross to the Hekayti that had been firing, sending his horned head rocking back. He growls, showing fangs, and retorts with a clawed fist.
The Verdikke run past, continuing to hose the hatchway with suppressing fire. [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4).
The two Hekayti attacking Rillitan stop short for a second when he picks up his sword. Then they trade a look and charge at Rillitan, swinging their guns like clubs. [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8).
[Skill System] You roll your Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6).
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7). Rillitan pushes upwards, dropping to one side and avoiding one rifle-club only to get hit by the other. He 'oofs', staggering to one side with the blow from the heavy-set Hekayti before his cobalt eyes raise and narrow. With a grunt, the Timonae ignores the indignant cries of 'ow' from his ribs and swings his blade upwards.
Pierce ducks easily beneath the clawed attack, crouching low with a snarl on his lips and a gutteral grunt as he comes back with an upswing toward the Hek's jaw, if he can reach...
[Skill System] You roll your Edged Weapons with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6). [Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Mediocre (3).
"Git every'un 'oo ain't 'gainst us outta 'ere, love." Tia broadcasts over comms to the Timonae, "M'ready nah. 'ad a lil' git of a 'acker thinkin' 'e coul' git one up on m'." First order of business, seal the hatch that's behind the enemy Hek.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4). [Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5).
Fsst! The hatches seal shut. Across on the other side of the ship, the Hekayti start to cheer. On this side of the hatches, the four Verdikke that had been providing covering fire turn towards the Medlidikke fighting Rillitan and Pierce.
"The way is clear," Dorg tells Tiana. "There's nobody from our side aft of those hatches who isn't already wearing a suit."
The Medlidikke Rillitan stabs at can't evade in time, and there's a scraping noise as his blade slides along chestplate until it finds scaly flesh and rips the pirate open from collarbone to browridge between the horns. His colleague tosses aside his rifle and produces a vibrodagger from one hip, lunging at Rillitan with it.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8).
[Skill System] Rillitan rolls his Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+2 (10).
The Medlidikke fighting Pierce dodges to the side as the PI takes a swing and grins, menacingly, showing fangs. Then he rocks his head forward, attempting to headbutt Pierce with his horns.
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Good (5).
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Dodging with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary+2 (10).
Vibrodagger? What vibrodagger? The Timonae steps to one side, in a manner that could be considered as 'casual indifference'. His blade, however, is still rather tempered to fight, and as such it swings at the Medlidikke's stabbing hand.
[Skill System] Rillitan rolls his Edged Weapons with a modifier of 0. The result is Legendary (8).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Superb (7).
Pierce manages move just enough to avoide the headbutt, a ferrel grin on his lips as he attempts to grab the in coming Hek and use his momentum to pull him into a headbutt of his own.
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Unarmed Combat with a modifier of 0. The result is Great (6).
[Skill System] Taeren rolls a Great with a modifier of 0. The result is Fair (4).
"A'right." Tia calls back to Dorn. Not wasting any time, she gets right to venting the atmosphere. TAKE THAT MEDDIES.
Rillitan's sword meets the vibrodagger with a grating sound. The Medlidikke howls in pain as the contact slices off his hand, taking the vibrodagger with it. But the vibrodagger being a vibrodagger, it also cuts Rillitan's sword nearly in half. Clutching his wounded hand with his OK one, he staggers back. He seems about to lunge at Rillitan -- but then four pulse blasts converge on the Medlidikke's head, and he instead -- what's left of him anyways -- falls to the ground like a dirty sheet.
THUMP. Maybe it's in part because the Hekayti is so surprised that a /human/ headbutted /him/, but solid contact of forehead on forehead results in the Medlidikke staggering backwards, blinking repeatedly and shaking his head as if to clear it.
Dorn walks up behind Pierce. "You Outversers are fearless," He remarks. Then he puts a pulse blast through the vulnerable pirate's chest at close range. Take no prisoners, indeed. "You fight with valor," he says. "Thanks to you, we have saved the ship." He exhales. "What's left of it, anyway. It remains to be seen if we will be able to leave this area of space. But that is my concern and is no dark mark on your valor. Most people we trade with would have turned tail at the first sign of this fight." The ship still shakes now and again with a secondary explosion; over the PA, someone on the bridge is directing cleanup efforts. Once in a while there is the sound of a gunshot as cleanup teams mop up the last compartments.
"Ugh." Rillitan grunts, at the sight of his own attack. He swings the blade up in front of his own frowning gaze, eyeing the cut blade with a sore expression. "Done cut my own blade. Damnit."
[Skill System] Pierce Falkin rolls his Pain Resistance with a modifier of 1. The result is Great (6).
Pierce may have managed the headbutt, but it doesn't leave him not staggering back also, one hand goes to his head as he tries to hold his ground. His eyes shift toward Dorn at the compliment, "Or stupidly..." he mutters under his breath. "Thank you.." that a bit louder and then he staggers off to slump against a bulkhead in a spot that's a little more safe for him to do so.
Tiana Ryoleli's job done, she relinquishes control of the ship's systems and disconnects herself, giving a little stretch as she stands back up to her full height. She wanders on out to the corridor, giving a grin to Dorn, "Now 'at's jus' bad business, abandonin' yer clients." A look goes to Rillitan and his poor sword, "Aw, love. Ya c'n use mine while we git yers repaired, eh?" Of course... hers is a bit smaller to suit her size.
"You have clients in us," Dorn says. "These weapons will help us greatly in our quest." He produces a datachip from inside his armor. "The payment information is here. Your employer informed us that he will cover the delivery cost. But for fighting with us, if we have something that you want -- please. It is only just."
"Got any grenades in them crates?" Rillitan grunts in reply, leaning over to the severed Hek hand and prizing his Vibrodagger from his, well, warm dead fingers. He looks at it with a curious expression; it gets switched off and pocketed. "Don't suppose you'll miss this," he chuckles to himself.
"Loyal clients floats m'boat jus' fine, i' does." Tia tells Dorn, a little giggle following at Rillitan asking after grenades, "Oh my love. Ya do like yer grenades /ever/ so much."
Dorn shakes his head no. "Your employer doesn't sell those, that I know of," he says. "All we bought were rifles, ammunition. Grenades are not useful when you are taking a ship that you want to keep. And in truth there was also the matter of price"
"Well ain't that a shame." Rillitan sniffs and pulls himself to his feet, "KiKu docked yet? I'm hungry."
"Beats me, love." Tia offers a light shrug before comm'ing over to the Fox, "Oi, KiKu. You docked us wit' our pals 'ere yet? Worked up an appetite we 'ave." A jut of her chin towards Dorn as she awaits an answer from her pilot, "'Ey. Y'all 'ungry too?"
Dorn nods. "It is a shame," he says. "Perhaps soon we will be able to afford better armor, bigger weapons for our ships to aid us in our fight against the Medlidikke." Funny. He kinda /looks/ like a Medlidikke. Dorn smiles tightly, his fangs peeking out. "I cannot think about food until I have finished the work of getting my ship and my clan stable, but it is an honorable offer. Perhaps next time, if we meet under better circumstances."
Rillitan, ever the one for chat, walks off towards the airlock they came from. He doesn't say goodbye, he does grunt a little; it's unclear as to whether that was an active response to anyone or thuggish formality.
"Feel free t'drop by Olympus any time." Tia tells Dorn, offering a wave before she turns to follow after Rillitan. Time to get back to the kitchen, it would seem. Ahem.