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Post by TiJiL on May 2, 2004 0:51:51 GMT -5
Ziela, to answer two of your questions.
1. The Geocx is an intelligent pack hunter that has amazing abilities to aid it. It can transmit the present brain activity of a particular creature to the minds of others. Normally this is used to coordinate attacks. Each geocx can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste what the others do. (They can also do this on their prey) Lekjaw has trained his pet geocx to project his imagination into his audience.
2. Rotun ordered all of the offworlders to come because he doesn't know what to expect. The ship is clearly largeish and moving at great speed. It is also almost certainly an enemy ship. He doesn't know what might emerge from that ship, so he wants to be prepared. Different species are adept at different things. He knows he's going to have plenty of nogan. He wants to have the advantages that any offworld species might provide, too.
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DigiDayDreamer
Commander
Why divide when you can conquer everything?
Posts: 210
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Post by DigiDayDreamer on May 2, 2004 18:47:46 GMT -5
What a bother! Just when we had a great story going along so well, an enemy ship crashes into my homeland. Though the pandemonium it caused my fellow nogans was abated by Rotun the twassec, I was still perturbed of being deprived of a peaceful night.
And yet, it felt good to do something other than doing my daily chores. It might do me a world of good to investigate this; it did when I ran away before.
Then I thought I should be prepared. "Hey Ziela, I'll be back soon, I have to get some supplies for the search party," I said to her, though I planned to be in that party.
Arriving at my abode, I took my dusty Daxite Blade (which I called Raizi Jr.), some kaluup, and my hoe in my backpack.
I headed back to the bonfire where the others and waited patiently beside Ziela.
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Can I use Gerby again?
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Post by TiJiL on May 3, 2004 23:52:01 GMT -5
Grr... Time to post, Tokmal!
Yes, Raizi, you can use Gerby again, providing you can find him and coax him into doing what you want. He's much bigger and much lazier now, though he would reward hostilities towards him with a mighty blow.
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Post by Dragonfly on May 4, 2004 19:03:16 GMT -5
I go back to my shack and I pick up all of my issued gear. After grabbing my few supplies and weapons, I go to Gan'Jenk's tractor for a ride to the sight. Finally, there is something interesting around here! My mind swirls with ideas of all the possible new situations this might lead to.
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Post by TiJiL on May 4, 2004 23:53:30 GMT -5
Molthor: Ukon wakes with a start and greets you. He tells you he doesn't know what the twassecc wants, but to be helpful he will follow. "You should do same, me think." He also mentions that he will be testing a few of his students, using the situation as a field test.
As nice as it is for Gan'Jenk to offer to everyone to pile in his tractor, unfortunately the group is about 30 strong, almost 20 of which are hurks. Luckily, though, hurks don't mind running a few miles, especially if it means adventure.
Anyway, the group departs a few erka later. A pair of Gul'Surr trainees leads the way (on a surprise assignment as part of their training). They are cautious and alert, reacting to every sound in the darkness. They are trying too hard to look enthralled in their test. It is clear they are frightened. Ukon walks some thirty five feet behind them, holding a gigantic torch. He looks at them carefully, analyzing what they do. Following Ukon is Gan'Jenk's tractor, within it Gan'Jenk, Tokmal, and a pair of other nogan. Ziela, Zalae, and Raizi are next. Rotun follows them, holding a portable computer. He is already buried in analyzing the crash. Finally comes Lekjaw, riding on a juvenile Bolgan. He has sent his Geocx forward and is trying his best to concentrate so as to interpret what his pet is telling him. The remaining hurks don't really keep a place in line. They run about and fight, or run way past the group, or go a different direction, or even sit down for a bit. All in all, though, they keep up and stay with the group.
As the group approaches the crash site the air gets smokier and smokier. Everyone begins to cough in the dark, acrid smoke. Soon, the smoke is so thick that none of the people in your party can see through it. Rotun yells out directions, using the scanners he has on his computer to guide the group. Eventually, though, even the scanners have a hard time piercing the veil, so the group simply sits down on the hot sand to wait for it to disperse.
It is early morning before you are able to see again. Even then, the air is cloudy and stings your nose. Finally, as dawn breaks, the party moves on. You travel the last half mile in silence. Even the hurks are quieter than normal. As you near the wreck itself, everyone peers over the edge of the crater. Inside is the top two thirds of a transport ship. The ship is, as predicted, of Ure make. (This can be told by the various glowing pinks, purples, and blues produced by P6 energy sources. Along with that, it fits the elegant, swept style that Ure ships usually have.) The cockpit had apparently been ejected before impact. Presumably, it crashed somewhere nearby. There doesn't appear to be any survivors near the main ship itself, but they may still be within, or perhaps they fled the crash.
Oh, and Gan'Jenk... The large ship did not, as you feared, land in your orchard. It has vaporized all of the cuya crop within a hundred feet. The crop within a few hundred feet is also covered in the sand and ash from the crash, and it is unlikely that they will survive unless cleaned.
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Post by Devvyn on May 5, 2004 22:52:28 GMT -5
I run around like a child on the way to the trip when we get there I begin asking questions... "who make that?" "why's it here?" "what we gonna do?" etc...
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Post by Dragonfly on May 6, 2004 17:05:24 GMT -5
I walk to the edge of the crater and stand next to Rotun, awaiting orders. As I stand there, observing the scene, I scan for obvious marks on the ship that would provide evident clues as to where the ship may have come from, besides the obvious fact that it is Ure in origin. I note the shape and basic size of the wreck and possible clues as to what defensive capabilities the ship may have had. I search for all clues pertaining to whether this was a civilian ship, or military ship, and if it was (as it most likely is) military, what class of officers could have been in it.
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Post by Arreck on May 6, 2004 21:26:42 GMT -5
Completely ignoring the ship, I panic over the Cuya crops. I leap from the tractor and immediately begin dusting the ones most in need of my attention. I hope Zalae is willing to help me out... it would not be good to lose that much of this season's crop.
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Post by TiJiL on May 6, 2004 23:02:02 GMT -5
Zalae is, of course, obligated to help you out, Gan'Jenk. (She hopes to recieve this farm eventually, so even if she didn't care about you at all it is in her best interest to keep it healthy) She fights her curiosity of the ship and any former occupants to help you out.
Molthor is largely ignored. Nobody really knows what is going on, and nobody has the time or energy to explain it to a hurk. Ukon and several of the larger hurks (who have by now learned that Rotun is really their leader, since the nogan don't really have village leaders) line up behind the twassecc, their wide, ugly mouths drooling in anticipation of combat and food (which they almost always associate with combat. If at all possible, hurks eat their slain enemies) Rotun looks at the ship for a while, glancing at his computer every few erk. Tokmal and the five or six hurks wait patiently for instruction. Finally, he grunts an order.
"Hurks, get it out of there. Tokmal, you're a pilot and a tactition. Tell me what you can about it. Permission to move granted."
The hurks, pleased to be given a task, head to the ship to attempt to pull it from the ground. Ukon roars, calling several of the other hurks to him. They soon discover, however, that the ship is too deep in the ground, and must be dug around a bit. The hurks immediately set to this task, shoveling massive amounts of dirt, glass, and sand away from the wreck.
Tokmal: While the hurks dig, you have time to examine the ship a bit. Rotun was right. You are a pilot and tactition, and can deduce a good bit of information about the ship. The ship itself has a slender, tapered front (you think. The front is currently under ground, but it seems that it must taper to a rounded point, if you know your enemy ships and engineering). There is a thin, rounded 'waist' behind the tapered section. The back portion of the ship has a flat platform with a rounded prism cargo space. The cargo hold is split into six obvious sections, each one protruding a bit past the metal struts that hold the cargo hold on. All in all, the ship is (you estimate) about one hundred twenty feet long. Forty feet of that is the tapered front segment, the waist is ten feet long, and the remaining seventy make up the cargo hold.
The engines are large and are attached to the bottom of the ship. Various components stretch from the very front to the back. (Normally these long shafts of engine pieces are covered by artistic sleeves, but these have been smashed in the crash) The engines have not fared much better. Pieces of them lie charred all around the ship.
As for the ship's function: It is clearly military. (Most Ure ships are) This is obvious from the military insignias on the sides. It also has a hatch atop it that is clearly meant to conceal and protect a powerful rotary laser cannon. As the dirt is removed from the ship you can see that it has a fairly small, tight shield generator generally used to minimize power needs and lower the ship's signature. The ship's purpose, however, seems to be for transporting people. It is not like any troop ship you have ever seen, however. It wastes its space and is too fortified. It looks like it would hold not one twentieth of the troops that a normal troop ship of its size should.
As the twenty or so hurks finally lift the ship from the ground and toss it up on the side of the crater (making a loud crash), you come to two very ominous conclusions.
1. This was a prison ship, built to contain, transport, and torture various beings of various sizes and strengths.
2. No crew nor crew bodies could be found. The ure that were piloting this ship are nearby, dead or alive.
Rotun looks grimly at the ship. He could see that hurks were useful. They were big, strong, and enjoyed to move heavy things. They liked to break things, too, though. This pleased him less. The overenthusiastic hurks shattered the remainder of the engines and who knows what else. He sighs and turns.
"Tokmal! What is it and what do you suggest we do? I've contacted the Flagship. Hopefully we'll recieve orders shortly."
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Post by Devvyn on May 6, 2004 23:13:04 GMT -5
I help with the ship. Then, quickly bored I grab a random Hurk near me and throw him into the huge crator we've created/witnessed created. I start to wrestle him...
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Post by Dragonfly on May 7, 2004 13:43:50 GMT -5
"Hopefully, we'll recieve orders shortly."
I shortly consider what should be done with the intruding ship. Then I provide Rotun with my answer.
"This was a prison ship; it was meant to capture, transport, and interrogate prisoners. First thing we should do is form search parties to find the Ure officers who were flying this thing. Then I suggest we take more information on this ship and send it to the circular. We'll need a brief, yet accurate description of the ship. And also we shall require several pictures of the ship from different angles. That way they can provide us with more appropriate orders."
After giving Rotun my advice, I shout at the Hurks to get them to stop mutilating the ship.
"Hey! who wants to crush some Ure flesh!!?"
Hopefully, that will get them to stop beating the ship, and they will be effectively ready to join search parties.
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DigiDayDreamer
Commander
Why divide when you can conquer everything?
Posts: 210
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Post by DigiDayDreamer on May 7, 2004 20:02:12 GMT -5
I surveyed the surroundings and was relieved to find that the crash hadn't caused any lasting damage.
But then, it worried me so, that there may have been survivors from the crash.
I gripped the hilt of daxite Blade tighter; I turned to Tokmal and Rotun, and overheard their conversation. The survivors had changed into escaping prisoners and I found myself alarmed that they may have been responsible for the crash.
But still, they are Ure. They shouldn't pose much of a threat against a party as big as the one I was in, unless they had long-range weapons and clever strategists and tacticians.
Ziela hadn't said much in a long while and I wondered if she was still the same hesitant priestess I once knew.
I then began to think of Gerby, who I haven't seen since this morning.
I hoped it's all right.
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Where can I find Gerby and how can I coax it to join me? Sorry, I'm still a newbie to "The Universe".
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Post by Arreck on May 8, 2004 23:28:53 GMT -5
I am still attending to the crops.
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Post by TiJiL on May 8, 2004 23:42:42 GMT -5
Well, I believe Ziela has decided she will not post for a while... Or something... Anyway...
Tokmal: Rotun salutes you. "I have already taken said pictures and sent the information. We will have to check the Circular when we return to Yon and see if we can't figure out where this ship might be from. Hopefully there will be information about it. Good job, soldier."
He turns to the group.
"Alright! I'm going to need three groups to search for the pod. Each of the groups must move in a different direction so we can prevent any survivors from escaping. Each group must be at least somewhat armed, and contain a hurk or two. If the pod is found, the hurks must yell out for the other groups, and they will come. I want people who can stand a bit of excitement to line up here!"
Raizi: Gerby is probably either in the river on the north end of Gan'Jenk's property or on his favorite resting rock, which is between Yon and your farm. He'd probably follow you without much coaxing.
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Post by Arreck on May 9, 2004 0:13:57 GMT -5
I call out to Tokmal.
"I would, friend, but I unfortunately must try to salvage as much of my Cuya as I can. I will keep an eye out, if I have spare time..."
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