Participants: Narai, Redmask, Dement, Sadie, Heidi, Riata, Iso
Synopsis: Viceroy Narai takes the Prominence and a crew through the Rift, only to be met by an interesting message and an invitation to Tomin Kora.
Docking Hub – Comorro Station
The doors to the docking bay opens, and re-enters the Opodian shuttle - Opodi's Light. It sits down on a landing pad, after several moments several crew meembers come out, as well as Narai. Some of the crew announce that this is the last shuttle leaving to the Prominence - which is scheduled to depart for the rift soon.
"Sand Eels." Redmask replies to Sadie in a grave tone. "Great beasts that dwell beneath the sands of my homelands. The most dangerous predators in the world. I have yet to find any prey as worth as the sand eel." He reaches to his chest and grips the jagged looking tooth that hangs there. "This was taken from a Sand Eel, by my own hand! And it signifies that I am a Wormhunter of the clan. I would not expect a human to understand, but you are welcome to try!"
Sadie turns to Fred, taken by surprise. "Um, well.." She bites her lip, apparently deep in though. "I don't think it was much different from 1943. We were in a war, where my sister died. We have cars and planes, and too many cities from what I think." She looks to Redmask, obviously taken back by his response. "I..I think I understand. It must be a great honor to be a Wormhunter?"
"Early 3020's" Logic chimes in then his eyes go a little wide and sparkle sloghtly. "Ooo! A monkey tail!" He bounces up and in moments is over by Houzi. "Are you some kind of Simean? Or is the extra appendage some kind of genetic anomoly?" He wasn't even looking at the Monkish youth let alone his tail.
One of the crew members of the Opodian shuttle announces, as Narai re-enters the shuttle, "Last call for those looking for passage through the rift!"
"Watever." the AI replies, "Just go. Leave me alone. To die. Alone. Dead. And stuff."
Dement raises a hand to his brown, covering a slight frown, "...fine." he mutters and looks across as the last call is made, "Look, I'll see you later, I have a ship to catch. Be careful, okay." He presses a button on his PDA and the boarding ramp of the Teamhair starts closing.
Houzi jerks back a little when he's addressed, but quickly shakes his head. "I ain't no Simnean. I'm a... I'm a monkey." He puffs out his chest a little, despite that, apart from the very real tail, he looks more like a boy in a costume than any kind of animal. "Where's the rift?" he asks. "Is it west?"
"Well, I've got some stuff to take care off. I'll see you later Logic." With that, he fades out.
Operations Center – MSLV Prominence
The Opodian Viceroy, Narai, enters the Operations Center which is busier then normal. He takes up position in the center of the Operations Center, ordering for all stations to check in and for the crew to get to their places and jump when ready to the Rift.
Heidi is standing about a bit out of place. The woman glances over the area for a moment and straightens her jacket.
Dement moves through from the outboard doorway and pauses as he takes in the spectacle of the operations center, glancing between the stations before he gets an eye on Heidi and eases towards her. "Hallo." he says quietly, with a small nod.
The Opodian waves to the two aliens, at least to him, into the Operations Center. "Enter, friends, enter. We are ready to depart. Take a console." Narai says, "I am Viceroy Narai. I trust you are here for interest sake, or are you wanting to remain on the other side? Assuming there is nothing waiting for us on the other side!"
Riata is going about organizing the staff and making sure that the ship will leave on time and punctual like. Honestly, how do things get done around here without her?
"Allo allo." Heidi comments over at Dement. Narai gets a small shrug and a smile. "Adventure is good ja? And I have a friend on the otherside if this turns out to be the same universe." She replies. The consoles get a glance. "Hrrm.. nein, when I ships.. I am a little useless running them."
"Viceroy," Dement says with a nod, "I am Dement Volerann, one the independent researchers looking into the rift drive. Thank you so much for extending an invitation to your ship and crew, it really is an honour."
Chuckling at Heidi, Narai nods. "Very well, find a place and sit back." Nodding to Dement, he says, "Glad to have you aboard. Feel free to monitor sensors and the rift drive as we go through. I haven't tested it yet, so this should be intersting." He turns to face the forward section of the Operations Center. One of the crew members indicates that the jump drives are preped and coordinates inputted into the system. "Very well. Take us out. Prepare to jump." The Viceroy says, pausing for a moment - maybe just to provide dramatic effect, or perhaps thinking if this is a good idea or not, again. After what seems like a long moment, Narai says, "Jump."
The console buzzes and indicates that multiple waypoints match the given criteria. With a lurch and a flash of white light the ship accelerates to FTL speed.
Riata meeps at the unexpected jump, having not been paying attention of course, and waves on her feet, nearly ending up in one poor man's lap. Standing straight again she grooms in embarrassment and goes to find a place to watch.
Heidi finds herself a seat and gives a faint nod of her head. "Danke." She murmurs as he buckles into a seat. The woman lets out a small sigh and closes her eyes.
"Thank you," Dement replies, turning and bracing himself as the ship jumps. As it's acceleration settles, Dement moves forward to the sensor comms and introduces himself to one of the crew engineers, taking a seat alongside.
As the ship jumps out of normal space, the ship jerking slightly, Narai takes hold of a nearby command console - not wanting to fall over and look like a fool. One of the crew members indicates that all areas report ready. Nodding in approval, Narai looks down at the console, "Twenty minutes to the rift." He announces. He looks to Riata, "How are you holding up over there." Before she can answer he jumps down towards Dement, leaning over to look at the display. "Exactly what sort of research with the rift drives were you doing?"
Riata huffs as there is no longer a need to answer and rolls her eyes. Deciding everything is better with tea and biscuits she goes to order some brought up as they wait.
Heidi clears her throat as the jump takes place and closes her eyes a little tighter. Someone does not care for faster than light travel.
"Theoretical physics," Dement replies, having taken a moment to acquaint himself with the layout of the ships operating system. "I have been attempting to understand the limitations of the rift drive, which has meant a lot of time pouring over what information has been released on the drives themselves and searching out for whatever papers and research has been done in the past... and uh... Well, I'm from a universe in it's third millennium, myself, and I was able to download some work being done in what seems to be our fourth. It got complicated."
"Very good, sir. Should this not turn into a disaster, you are welcome to a copy of whatever sensor data we acquire. That should help." Narai says, patting the man on the back, then turning to Riata. "Nothing to say, good lady?"
Riata humphs and taps her foot, "Tea dear, we are all having tea as we wait." So saying those from the mess hall come bearing just that and the biscuits as well, "Now do settle down before you over excite yourself."
With a lurch the ship's FTL drive slows to sublight and the viewscreen displays the starry void of space once again as the ship's computer reports the destination has been reached.
"I imagine it should," Dement nods, and when Narai moves to talk to Riata he focuses back on the screen readouts, leaning across and asking a few questions to the crew member he is sat with.
Heidi clears her thoat and slowly opens her eyes. "This is going to suck like the last time ja?" She asks idly. "Granted was not on a ship when I got rifted." She murmurs.
As the ship returns to normal space, Narai looks around. "Turn the ship towards the Rift. All head full." Turning to Dement and Heidi, he chuckles. "Not having been through a rift, I would not know. But I guess it's time to find out."
The navigation officer taps a few commands into the console. "We are going in." He says.
There is a low whine as the rift modulator activates the FTL drive and begins to modulate the ship's subspace field. With a flash the ship seems enveloped in a field of shimmering blue energy, and then with another flash, the blackness of space returns, dotted with different stars.
"I was not conscious of my initial rift. It should be interesti-" he's struck dumb by the transfer between universes and watches as the sensors freak out for the same reason.
As the Prominence materializes on the other side of the rift, stars shift and navigational computers click and whir desperately to try and reorient themselves appropriately. Meanwhile, the communications console pings and a light glows green, indicating an incoming transmission.
The communication officer, caught off guard by the incoming transmission, turns and shouts. "Incoming transmission. Source unknown. Patching it through."
A male voice speaks over the comm channel, general hailing frequency: "Welcome, transuniversal newcomer! Have you accepted Fred Savage as your lord and savior? Now that you have arrived in the promised land of the Orion Arm, it is time to make a fresh start. Repent! Join the Savages and win eternal glory."
Heidi lifts a brow and tightens her seatbelt a little more. "Hmm.. we were expected ja?" She asks idly with a frown.
Iso arrives from Forward Corridor - MSLV Prominence. Iso has arrived.
Narai sighs at the message, then looks to Heidi."I think we are, but this message is unexpected." Turning to the communications officer, Narai nods, and the ships communication is turned on. "This is Viceroy Narai, of the Malencheer. I do not recognize your authority here, nor do I recognize you are any sort of savior. Stand down, we are passing through." Narai says, standing at the command console.
Dement frowns, bringing up data on the last twenty seconds of the rift drive and staring at it in silence.
There are no ships on sensors. Just the broadcast coming through: "Oh, I'm no savior. I'm just one of the blessed Savages, a child of the universe once lost and wandering, but redeemed by the wisdom of the man-child Fred Savage. You would do well to follow that wisdom. For was it not the glorious Fred Savage who told us the ground may shift between our feet. We slip. We stumble. Sometimes you must grab the closest thing and hold on tight."
"A name like Fred Savage he certianly does sound like a man-child." Heidi pipes up from her seat. "Hmmm..... should have brought mein gun." She murmurs to herself.
Riata humphs at the message, "How tosh, really."
"Captain!" Iso's electronic voice pipes up from one of the nearest consoles to Narai. "Has it done well? Did it bring its crew here in one piece?" There's a slight pause before Iso's holographic avatar generates near Riata.
The Viceroy turns off the outbound communication array. He looks to Dement, "Are you able to use the sensors to track where that transmission is coming from?" He asks. "If so, do it. And yes, Iso, very well. See if you can help track the transmission!" Flicking the communication grid back on, Narai looks down at the console, "Well, good sir. That is a very, very attractive offer. But I must ask, what shall happen if we pass on this?" He asks, trying to buy time. No need on walking into a trap, or jumping away before something happens.
"It is written," replies the man on the comm channel, "that all those who refuse the wisdom of Fred Savage, our glorious lord and savior, shall be condemned for all eternity to the hellfires of cancellation. Or worse: To the WB. It is written. So it shall be."
Riata smiles at Iso, "Hello Vr'lo dear, you did a wonderful job." She gives him a small pat on his holographic arm with a broad proud smile
Scans of the transmission lead toward a large violet-blue nebula seen in the distance. Apparently, there's a planet within that cloud. The transmission source is coming from just outside the cloud. A small ship of some kind.
Iso doesn't get very far in tracking. That is to say, he doesn't do anything at all. A couple of lights flash here or there, but that's about it. Even so, he takes Riata's praise and, after a second of facial muscle struggle, even manages a broad smile. Perhaps a little /too/ broad, but he's getting there.
Heidi straightens up a little and looks at the screen and pinches her brow and mutters something dark in Waldheimer German. "Is that Tomin Kora we just rifted next to?" She asks with a small sigh as she unbuckles her seatbelt. "Hrrrrm... ja.. should have brought the gun. Viceroy.. you probably want to avoid planet cesspool of the Orion Arm for a bit ja?"
"Judging by the signal latency on the starboard relay we can estimate it's position at a megameter out from the nebula at these coordinates." Dement says, looking back and blushing at Heidi's language, "She means it, if that is the Tomin Nebula we'd do well to get out of here before they come to us."
The Viceroy cuts the communication again. "Tomin Kora, hmm? Alright, if we do not want to be there, where do we want to be then?" He asks Heidi, and Dement. "Better figure it out quick. I can stall abit longer. And if you have coordinates, let me know." Narai turns back to the console, turning it on again. "Good sir, what is WB? Cancellation? You better start making some sense if you want us to make an *informed* decision!" He shuts the comm off again, "Anytime would be good on where we should go."
"Follow my signal to salvation, my brother from another 'verse," replies the man over the comm speakers. "The Intergalactic Church of the Wondrous Savagery awaits to embrace you in...*sound of something liquid spilling*...well, dammit, these are my *nice* flight jumpers. Anyway, uh, one moment. Must find a towel. Forgot to bring one up here."
Heidi runs a hand through her short locks for a moment and shrugs. "Sivad, Earth.. Waldheim... Herr Dement.. you recall the coordinates from our time with Osirians ja?" The woman speaks quickly.
"It thinks we should listen to the nice person on the transmission." Iso's computer-like voice pipes up helpfully. "They said they plan to embrace us. That's a good thing, isn't it?" He glances at Riata.
"I'm not eidetic, Heidi." Dement counters, with a frown. "I can't remember long stri-" he pauses for a second time, turning around to give the other Waldheimer a brilliant smile, "Seventh year history class, Heidi, we passed through Orion's Belt and Messier 42, it's one of the brightest nebulae close to Earth's system. We can get our bearings there?"
Looking at the holographic representation of Iso, Narai says, "I don't think so. But I have an idea." He chuckles, turning to turn the comm back on. "Good sir, I will accept your offer, however, I need to get to Earth first. I have someone there I need to get who wishes to join as well. Could you point me in the right direction, and we shall return with the person? The more, the merrier, I trust you agree?"
"Oh." Iso replies, scratching his head. The Opodian hologram takes a moment to look Heidi and Dement up and down. "Guests! It hasn't had a chance to offer, but should you require anything, it is programmed to respond to the names, Iso, Dear, and Vr'lo, and will assist in any way it can."
No answer from the ship near the nebula. Instead, it fires thrusters, arcs around, and disappears into the dust cloud - apparently on a course that would take it to the world known as Tomin Kora.
"Nein? You were good with the numbers ja?" Heidi says with a small shrug of her shoulders. She then nods her head slowly. "Ja.. if nothing else it is far from Tomin Kora." She replies. Iso gets a glance and a smile. "Ah... Allo mein name is Heidi." She says.
"Dement, Iso, can you project a path to Earth based on constellations and any information that can be provided by you and Heidi?" Narai asks. "It appears that ship is not willing to assist."
"When they're written down, maybe." Dement murmurs once more to Heidi, sounding somewhat annoyed, giving the hologram a once over in return and frowning, "Just when you think you're free of them. Iso, do you have any visual media from Outverser technology stored in your databanks?"
Iso tries for a smile. He shows off a bit too many teeth, but it's the thought that counts. "O-outverser... technology... media?" The hologram replies, unhelpfully. "I'm afraid you will have to be more specific, Guest #2." The positronic being turns towards Narai. "Documented Outverser records are enough to give It an indication of this Earth's general location. E-engines engaging now."
With a lurch and a flash of white light the ship accelerates to FTL speed.
As the ship jumps as Iso engages the engines, Narai jumps abit. "Abit more warning next time would be appreciated, Iso, but that aside good work." He looks down at the display. "Not long until we get to Earth. Guess we shall see what's waiting."