Lunar: A Story Forgotten Session 40 Log Session Start: Sun Dec 07 20:11:02 1997 =============================================================================== Cast of Characters: Dragonmaster Lou as Gamemaster, Teal, Destiny, UIA Control, UIA Receptionist, Chief Sanada, Guard 1, Dr. Kaji, O'Ryan, Loudspeaker, Geeky Person Mia Ausa as Cleo, Tammaris (Dragonmaster Lou as ~Cleo, ~Tammaris) Ghaleon Dragonstar as Zigfried Ryouga Hibiki as Kyoko (Dragonmaster Lou as ~Kyoko) Scott Kroush as Scott Captain Blake as Nina, Ebony Michael Gibson as Rand Windstar as Darken =============================================================================== ===GAME ON=== --The Destiny continues on, even though Zigfried and Nina are now AWOL. :P-- * Scott continues to check his terminal for possible landing sites near the Red Dragon's cave. * Ebony wanders from the back with fish breath. ~Kyoko: "Grrr... If it wasn't flattering for a priestess of Althena to do so I would..." Scott: "Would what, Ky?" * Scott keeps punching in his commands. * Rand looks at Kyoko curiously. Ebony: "Hey guys... I miss something?" ~Kyoko: "Oh, never mind! Just that... those two... How DARE they abandon us!" Scott: "Yeah... Zig and Nina just went AWOL." Ebony: "Huh?" Rand: "It was important to Nina, and Zig following is understandable." ~Kyoko: "But couldn't they wait!?" Ebony: "Following what? ~Cleo: "Feh." Scott: "I can understand why too. But we have to press on. I'm taking this thing into Tokyo. That's the only possible landing spot I can find near the dragon's cave." Rand: "It definitely would have been better if they had..." Ebony: "Geeze... I step into the back for a little snack..." Scott: "Besides, I think it best if I check in with UIA command there as well. See if they know anything new." ~Kyoko: "Why didn't you try to stop them then, Rand!?" Scott: "Ky, there was nothing he could do... or I, or Cleo, or even Ebony for that matter." Rand: "How could I have? I can't fly!" ~Kyoko: "One of us could've taken one of the fighters in the hangar deck!" * Ebony climbs into his chair. Scott: "And do what, Kyoko, shoot them down?" ~Kyoko: "I... don't know. Something!" Rand: "I suppose, it's possible, but I don't think they'll come back..." ~Kyoko: "And why not, Rand!?" * Teal just sits quietly, not wanting to get involved... Scott: "Besides the fact that once they set their minds to something, they're hard to dissuade?" Rand: "They jumped ship once, kid-napping them probably won't make them happy." ~Kyoko: "Kidnapping!? Are you calling me a kidnapper, Rand?" Scott: "Destiny, set course for the third New Tokyo." Destiny: "Course confirmed..." Rand: "No, I'm saying trying to get them to come back will not make them happy. ~Kyoko: "Why are you on THEIR side all of a sudden!?" Scott: "This is something they have to do, Ky... and I understand why." Rand: "I'm not on their side!" ~Kyoko: "You certainly seem to be! Hmph... I've had it!" Rand: "We obviously can't change their mind though, if we could they would still be here!" * Scott notices Cleo staying rather quiet. "Something on your mind, Cals?" * ~Kyoko runs off in a huff. Rand: "Wait!" ~Cleo: "Oh, er, me, oh, uh... Just spacing out..." * ~Kyoko ignores Rand. Scott: "Rand, don't try to stop her." * Rand dashes after Kyoko. Scott: "RAND! Dammit." Destiny: "Unscheduled launching in hangar imminent..." Rand: "Kyoko! Stop!" Scott: "Open hangar deck launch bay..." * ~Kyoko has managed to take control of one of the Panthers on board the Destiny. Destiny: "Confirmed." ~Kyoko: "No! I'm not stopping until I come back with those two! I just hope I can figure out how to fly this thing!" Scott: "Don't want her getting herself killed by running into a wall." --Kyoko's fighter's engines soon reach max power, making it dangerous to stand too close by...-- * Scott transmits the operating instructions to Kyoko. * Rand steps back from the fighter and shakes his head sadly. Ebony: "This is fun..." ~Kyoko: "Don't worry... I have this book, 'How to Fly a Star Fighter' with me!" Scott: "No joke, Ebony." * ~Kyoko takes off and heads back towards Lunar... Scott: "I just hope we can get clearance in Tokyo for landing." Destiny: "Fighter has cleared mothership." * Rand stares after Kyoko for a couple of minutes before heading back to Scott. Destiny: "Close hangar bay doors?" Scott: "Close hangar bay." --The doors close.-- Scott: "Destiny to Panther two-niner-seven, good luck Ky, and goddess speed." Rand: "Women... Sometimes, I don't know why I put up with her..." * ~Kyoko send back an "all-okay" signal and continues on. Teal: "Excuse me, Rand!?" ~Cleo: "Ahem..." * Rand blushes, "I did mention her, not all..." Scott: "OK... now on to Japan. * Teal and ~Cleo: *in unison* "I should hope so!" Scott: "ETA to Third Tokyo?" * Ebony pokes at a button. Destiny: "ETA seven minutes... Passive sensing equipment detects no anomalies." Destiny: "Warning! Main septic tank has been jettisoned!" Scott: "Cals, Ignore it. You're all right in my book." :) Ebony: "... I'm just looking for the air conditioner." ~Cleo: "........." Rand: "Septic tank? Why?" Teal: "Uncle, what did you do?" Ebony: "... It was Scott!" * Ebony points. * Scott activates the tractor beam and tractors it back into position. Scott: "No it wasn't, Eb. I'm the pilot... not maintenance." Rand: "Who did it then? Hey, don't look at me!" Destiny: "Septic Tank out of range... Estimated trajectory predicts it will impact into the 'Stolar' residence on the western side of the North American continent." Ebony: "Well then... everyone wins." Teal: "Oh well... At least it's not falling on anything we couldn't afford to do without..." ~Tammaris: "I can have it replaced when we land anyway." Ebony: "they need to label these buttons!" * Rand sits at a terminal and attempts to track Kyoko's fighter. ~Tammaris: "Here, let me help you, Ebony..." * ~Tammaris activates the Destiny's "Holographic Bubble Help" feature for Ebony's console. :) Destiny: "Entering Tokyo airspace. Disengage cloak?" * Scott sends out an encoded transmission. "Dragonstarship Destiny to UIA command, Tokyo branch. We are en route to your location. Knight will be checking in upon landing." --Surprisingly, Scott actually gets a response!-- * Scott puts it on screen. --The response is audio-only.-- --The screen displays alternating sound wave-forms. :P-- * Scott receives audio message. UIA Control: "This is UIA Control, Tokyo District. We read you Knight." Scott: "Be advised that we will be needing a bit of assistance to the Red Dragon Cave. More to be told when I check in in person upon landing." UIA Control: "We will give you what little assistance we can. We have no command-level staff here, and our district office is nearly abandoned save for a small support staff. All high-ranking officials have been moved to a secret bunker due to the current crisis. Location of the bunker is strictly on a need-to-know basis." Scott: "Noted, control." Scott: "Knight out." Rand: "Great, little help from there... We seem to be losing allies far too quickly." Scott: "No joke, Rand." Teal: "Well, at least they're only not helping us because they are unable to do much..." Scott: "Destiny, begin landing sequence at coordinates to be entered by hand. I know of a landing field around here." Rand: "Right, at least they aren't abandoning us..." Destiny: "It is recommended that you land this vessel on a water-based landing field." Scott: "True... if I can contact Maxis from there, I can get a data feed to Dr. Kaji, maybe he can analyze what I've collected in my datalink and tell us a little about the Star Grindery." * Teal nods. Scott: "There is a port near here. I'll land there." Destiny: "Acknowledged." * Scott enters the coordinates. Destiny: "Coordinates entered... Scanning for location in navigational database... Located... Commencing landing procedures." Scott: "This day has been too strange to say the least." --The Destiny soon makes a smooth touchdown at the Tokyo port Scott entered...-- * Rand nods, "I'll miss her..." Scott: "Well, folks. Time to go check in. Coming?" --The fact that the Destiny is still cloaked makes the water appear have a strange depression on its surface.-- * Scott grabs his sword and heads to the hatch. Scott: "Destiny, open hatch." Ebony: "... Who's shoulder am I supposed to sit on?!" Destiny: "Hatch open." Scott: "Hey, Eb..." * Rand follows Scott, "Not mine." Teal: "Well, I don't mind, Uncle..." Scott: "Coming?" ~Cleo: "Feh." Scott: "Ready to go, Cals?" ~Cleo: "Oh, sure, yeah Scott..." * Scott exits the ship and gets out is security card. Heading toward a building east of the destiny's current location. * Ebony takes place on Teal's shoulder. ~Tammaris: "I'll split up with you guys for now. I'm going to try to pull a few favors some friends owe me here and get us a new septic tank, and perhaps a few other goodies..." Teal: "Hiya, Uncle." :) Scott: "Gotcha, Tammy... Good Luck." * ~Tammaris split! :P * Rand sighs, "There goes another... By the time this is over, this will be a group of one..." Teal: "Oh, come on now Rand, why you feeling so blue? She just went to get some parts for the ship." Scott: "This is it, folks... the third new Tokyo. Construction finished five years ago when the UIA learned of the possible threat posed by the Neos." * Rand looks up to the sky, "Sorry, it's just that, well, I think I miss her already." Teal: "They knew about them that long ago!? When did you find this out as you used to think of them as just a pain, no real threat." Teal: "It's okay... I guess I can understand, well, sort of... I mean, well, I've never, umm, well, been in love, so to speak..." Scott: "Well, I had to maintain a bit of cover, Teal." Teal: "I suppose... Oh well..." Scott: "Anyway... I'm just a freelancer, not a full time operative." Teal: "Ahh, okay... That makes sense..." Teal: "Hmm... I wonder if this New Tokyo will be destroyed by giant monster attacks as often as the original was, tee hee..." Scott: "That mission four and a half years ago in Dragonsclaw told us that they might be a threat... That's why this city was built." Scott: "I don't know, Teal." * Rand smiles, "Big dragons maybe?" Scott: *to Rand* "Hehehe... who knows." Teal: "Well, there was that time I was going out with a Japanese guy, but, well, that was one thousand years ago!" * Scott finds his destination. He swipes his security card in the card reader. Scott: "What was his name, Gendo?" Teal: "I dunno... It's been so long, and towards the end I only called him 'baka yarou' anyway..." Scott: "Hehehehehehe..." :) --The card reader works and the door slides open.-- Scott: "OK, folks. Follow me, I know this place like the back of my hand." * Scott enters the base. --There is a receptionist at a desk.-- UIA Receptionist: "Hello, may I help you?" Ebony: "Zzzzzz..." Scott: "Hey... Freelancer Knight checking in." UIA Receptionist: "One second..." --The receptionist types some information into a computer terminal.-- UIA Receptionist: "Ahh, we've been expecting you. However, would you mind a retinal scan to confirm your identity?" * Scott activates the retinal scanner. --The receptionist looks at her terminal.-- UIA Receptionist: "Welcome, Knight. Please enter the elevator down the hall... Chief Sanada is expecting you." Scott: "Thanks." Scott: "Follow me." * Scott enters the elevator. --The elevator seems fairly large... The destination floor is also locked into its control panel.-- Scott: "Well... time to see what the chief wants. I just hope I can get that data feed to Technical Division E." * Rand enters the elevator. * Teal enters, and so does ~Cleo. :P --The doors close and the elevator descends to the R&D floor...-- * Scott exits into the R&D level. --When the door opens, they find a bunch of uniformed people scurrying around working on something...-- Scott: "Hmm... interesting. Weapons development's been working overtime here." --One of them approaches the group.-- Chief Sanada: "Which one of you is 'Knight'?" Scott: "Freelance Operative Knight here." Rand: "I'd hope so, we need some powerful weapons to crack the Neo's defense." * Scott salutes the chief. Chief Sanada: "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm just an enlisted man, not an officer... Anyway, what brings you to these parts and what do you need from us, if I may ask?" Ebony: "Zzzzzzz..." Teal: "Damn... Tammaris would have a field day here!" ~Cleo: "Feh." Scott: "I was looking for one of my partners, sir. His call sign is SC. We're in need of a bit of assistance. Three of our allies went AWOL on Lunar." Scott: "And I have a bit of Data for Dr. Kaji of Technical division E. Maybe he can analyze it for us. It regards the Star Grindery." Chief Sanada: "Well, unfortunately, the location of all operatives is only being held by command-level staff. We have no access to it here." Chief Sanada: "Did you say Dr. Kaji?" Scott: "Yes. Head of Technical Section E. Chief Sanada: "Hmm... What a coincidence. He was temporarily transferred here to work on a secret project." Scott: "Can you get me a secured comm. to General Maxis as well?" --Darken catches up with the rest of the party after getting some coffee or something. :P-- Chief Sanada: "I can't... Dr. Kaji might be able to though, if he's not busy working on the project..." Scott: "Then, may I speak with him. It's imperative that we get this data analyzed. It's recorded in my datalink." * Darken sips some coffee... Scott: "Darken, you could have brought a cup for all of us." Chief Sanada: "Follow me... He's on the other side of town working on 'Project Counterstrike.'" * Darken hands Scott a cup of coffee. Scott: "Thanks, Dark." Darken: "I did." * Scott follows the Chief. * Rand follows Scott. Scott: "Coming, folks?" * Darken follows Scott... * Teal and ~Cleo tag along. * Ebony snores lowly. Scott: "Tammy would have a field day in here... That's for certain." Teal: "I wonder what this 'Project Counterstrike' is though..." Scott: "Hmmm... if I knew, but it's probably classified beyond my security clearance." Chief Sanada: "Actually... You guys will find out when we see Dr. Kaji. He's working underneath the project site right now..." Scott: "If I did know, though, I couldn't tell anyone anyway... too much top secret data." * Darken quietly walks along. --The chief takes the group to an underground hovercar tunnel, complete with hovercar. :P-- * Scott enters the hovercar. Scott: "Can I drive?" * Darken studies the area before entering the car. Chief Sanada: "I'm staying behind here. I'll message him that you're one your way... The car is already pre-programmed..." Scott: "Got it." :) Scott: "Thanks, Chief..." --The car glides along the underground track...-- * Scott checks his datalink real quick. Teal: "Whatcha doing, Scott?" * ~Cleo just sulks at all the machines being used. :) Darken: "Now, what do you guys think this 'Project Counterstrike' is?" Rand: "No idea, they tend not to tell us stuff like that." Scott: "Checking for the tracker locations of several others. Can't get a clear signal though." Teal: "I'm not sure... Someone around here seems to really like using 'Project in naming things though." :) * Darken wonders if this "someone" also has a "Project Apocalypse" as well... --The hovercar glides to a stop...-- * Scott exits the hovercar. * Scott looks around for the Dr. * Darken walks out of the hovercar. --There appear to be two guards near a doorway.-- * Teal and ~Cleo follow. :P * Scott walks up to the doorway. Guard 1: "We've been expecting you. Please, follow this hallway. It will take you to the doctor." Scott: "Thanks." * Scott continues down the hallway. * Darken follows Scott. Scott: "This must really be top secret for it to be so far underground." * Rand follows before the guards start pestering him for loitering. Teal: "Probably... I wonder what they're working on..." Scott: "You're not the only one." --The hall opens into a large research center. Conducting the research is a man in a white lab coat.-- Scott: "Dr. Kaji? Freelance Operative Knight checking in." Dr. Kaji: "Knight'? Oh, now I remember. How are you doing? It's been a while..." Scott: "Too long, sir. I have some data for you on the Star Grindery. I was hoping you could analyze it." Ebony: "Zzzzzzz..." Dr. Kaji: "Star Grindery? What a coincidence! That's what we're working on here with our project!" * Scott hands the doctor the small mini disc from his datalink. Darken: "Hello, name's Darken, what is this 'Project Counterstrike' all about?" * Teal gently shakes her uncle, trying to wake him up... Dr. Kaji: "Nice to meet you. I'll tell you in good time..." Scott: "This is everything I could collect from first hand experience." Ebony: "Eh... huh... wha?" * Dr. Kaji puts the disk into a terminal and examines the readouts. Dr. Kaji: "Excellent!" Scott: "What have you got there, Doc?" Teal: "They got something BIG going on here, Uncle. You might want to check it out..." * Scott looks at the readouts. Ebony: "Oh all right..." Dr. Kaji: "Hmm... Hmm... I see..." * Ebony puts on his best 'paying attention' face. Dr. Kaji: "This confirms what I've suspected..." Scott: "Hmmm?" Dr. Kaji: "We believed that the Star Grindery was protected by an intensely powerful magical shield... Your data seems to confirm that." Scott: "And any possible counteractions for it's Nephar Cannons?" Dr. Kaji: "Sadly, none that we can think of. We're more concerned with taking out the whole thing, shield and all, with a single blast, before it can fire back." Scott: "That's where 'Counterstrike' comes in." * Dr. Kaji punches some commands into a terminal. Darken: "And how do you suppose you can do that?" Dr. Kaji: "Right... Check out the large video panel." Rand: "That would be an impressive trick, how long until it can be done?" * Scott looks to the panel. --The video panel displays a picture of Tokyo Tower.-- Scott: "This is in the first Tokyo." Dr. Kaji: "Very soon, we hope. Anyway, the magical barrier makes it nearly invulnerable to most normal types of weapons. We need some extremely powerful magic-based weapon to shatter it." Dr. Kaji: "We're directly underneath Tokyo Tower right now!" Scott: "That's why the long tunnel from Tokyo-3." Dr. Kaji: "Exactly." Scott: "I'm starting to put this together." Dr. Kaji: "Are you? Hehe..." Scott: "You'll need something along the lines of Dragon Magic to shatter the magic field." * Darken thinks he knows what is going to happen... Dr. Kaji: "Well, unfortunately, we don't have any access to Dragon Magic... However, we are directly connected to one of the world's largest deposits of tachycrysts... We've devised a way of converting tachycrysts to Sapphire Lights on the fly for our weapon, and we're using that power to do the job." Scott: "Then... how long do you suspect it'll take?" Dr. Kaji: "We're about a week from completion if all remains on schedule... Tokyo Tower, fortunately, has been closed off for a while, making our job much easier." Darken: "You're going to focus a beam of energy around the tower?" Scott: "Excellent. Now, I have a small favor to ask, Doctor. Can you somehow get me a secure comm link to General Maxis. We'll need one of my partners to lend us a hand on the way to the Red Dragon's Cave." Dr. Kaji: "Actually, we plan to turn Tokyo Tower into the world's largest, magically-enhanced Tachyon Overload Cannon." Dr. Kaji: "Sure... I'll do it during my next off-shift, which should be in a few minutes." Scott: "Good... thank you, Doctor. You've been a great help." Darken: "Hmm, are you sure that'll work? I mean, haven't you guys tried testing this?" Dr. Kaji: "You're quite welcome." * Rand stares wide-eyed, "The whole tower?!" Darken: "What happens if you have a meltdown?" Dr. Kaji: "According to our simulations, it should work, and Tokyo Tower makes an excellent cover..." Scott: "If this works like I think it will, Dark. I think they're only counting on one shot." Dr. Kaji: "The odds of Tokyo Tower melting down are insignificant." Dr. Kaji: "Exactly... The deposit will be depleted almost completely if all goes according to plan." Scott: "Since Old Tokyo was destroyed during the Unification War, I don't think that's a real problem." Darken: "Hmmm, all right... I hope that you have everything covered..." Dr. Kaji: "True... Only Tokyo Tower remained afterwards." Scott: "Join the club, Dark." * Ebony yawns. * Darken finishes his cup of coffee. Rand: "How can this be a weapon? Won't you have to get the grindery over Tokyo Tower?" * Scott finishes his too. Scott: "We can lure it here using the Destiny, Rand." Dr. Kaji: "Well, the Star Grindery is currently drifting in space... Roughly one week after we've completed the project it should drift within our sights." Scott: "Get it to chase us." Dr. Kaji: "Ahh, you'd be willing to do that? That was the backup plan." Scott: "I stand corrected." Rand: "Great, we get to be bait..." Ebony: "Bait?" Ebony: "You mean target." Scott: "Whatever has to be done, Doc." Darken: "But first, should get the Dragon Auras..." Dr. Kaji: "Well, we have been working on drones to do the job..." Scott: "Excellent idea." --Suddenly, a strange humming sound can be heard.-- Dr. Kaji: "What the..." Scott: "Hmmm..." Ebony: "Hey... I hear a strange humming sound." Scott: "Hmmmmm?" Rand: "I hope that's supposed to happen..." Scott: "The hell?" Dr. Kaji: "Umm... It's nothing... It's probably just a test on the converter." Rand: "Probably? So, what are the odds that it's a bad thing? Anyone want to place bets?" * Dr. Kaji turns to the panel... Tokyo Tower seems to be glowing slightly. Darken: "Well, just in case we'd better check it out right guys?" Dr. Kaji: "This is quite odd... O'Ryan! What the hell is going on!?" Scott: "What the hell? Doc, what the hell's going on here?" O'Ryan: "Dr. Kaji, I... don't know... The cannon is powering up!" * Darken looks at the video panel. Dr. Kaji: "WHAT!?" Scott: "A Neo hacker maybe?" Rand: "Quit the test..." Dr. Kaji: "Can't be... The controls to the cannon aren't connected to the outside world." Dr. Kaji: "Shut it down!" * Scott starts to work at the spare terminal... "Come on... shut down, dammit." O'Ryan: "I can't! Someone has locked it in! It won't shut down!" Dr. Kaji: "Where are the commands coming from!?" O'Ryan: "The converter room, apparently!" Darken: "Great, Nephar must have spies following us or something..." Scott: "The converter room? That's where we're headed... Come on, guys." Rand: "We head to the converter room then." Darken: "Where is the converter room?" Scott: "Doc... lead us there..." * Rand starts heading out, "Err... good point, where is it?" * Scott draws his sword from it's sheath. * Dr. Kaji opens a trap door. "It's down there. I'll see what I can do from here!" * Scott leaps down the trap door. * Darken jumps down the trap door. Ebony: "I hate problems." * Rand drops through the trap door. * Darken runs down the corridor. * Scott races toward the converter room. Darken: "Come guys let's go!" Scott: "I'm right behind you, Dark." * Scott races toward the converter room... He has his blade ready, willing and able to slash. --Various messages can be heard on the loud speaker...-- Loudspeaker: "Ten minutes until Tokyo Tower fires!" * Rand dashes after Scott. Scott: "Ten mins... LET'S GO!" --The party comes across a spiral staircase heading down...-- * Scott continues down the staircase. --There is another long hallway at the end of the staircase...-- * Scott rushes on down the hallway. --There is a large bulkhead with a control panel next to it at the end...-- * Scott types in his security passcode to get in,. --The passcode does not work...-- Darken: "Hmmm." Scott: "Dammit..." Rand: "Not a good thing..." Teal: "This may need a woman's touch... Excuse me..." Scott: *into Datalink* "Doctor... what's the code to get into the converter room?" Darken: "Anyone have any ideas?" Dr. Kaji: "I don't know, they apparently changed it!" Scott: *to Teal* "Go to it." * Teal decides to use a little of her electric personality on the panel, and the door opens. :) Scott: "way to go, Teal..." * Scott rushes through the door. * Darken runs after Scott. --There is a final downward spiraling staircase here...-- * Scott races down the stairs. * Darken runs down the stairs. * Teal and ~Cleo follow. * Rand leaps down the stairs. --At the bottom of the stairs, standing next to some sort of control panel, is an unassuming dark-haired, fairly "geeky" looking person...-- Darken: "Uh... who are you?" Scott: "Identify yourself." Geeky Person: "Wouldn't you like to know, hehehe..." Rand: "Neo, no doubt..." --This person starts working on the control panel more...-- Ebony: "As long as its not Shadowfall again." Scott: "You do know that the punishment for this is summary execution." * Darken puts his sword at the geek's neck. "What are you doing?" Geeky Person: "Get away, if you know what's good from you..." --The person pulls open his lab coat to reveal many pounds of explosives strapped to his body.-- Scott: "I never know what's good for me... so bring it on, punk." * Darken backs off. Geeky Person: "You see, I'm wired... And I got work to do..." Ebony: "Oh great..." Darken: "What the...!" Loudspeaker: "Five minutes until firing!" Darken: "You're insane!" Scott: "Look, an egg timer's not an effective detonator." Geeky Person: "No, I'm Clod. Jon Clod. Hehehehehehe!" * Darken wonders if he should kill the geek first then defuse the wires. =P Rand: "Right... you don't think he'll really do it, do you?" Scott: "That's it... I'm going after this prick." Jon Clod: "You touch the wires and they blow, hehehe!" Scott: "If I blow up, I blow up." Ebony: "Scott... if you blow up, WE blow up." Darken: "If you blow we all blow." Scott: "OK... What about an Aqua Blast?" Jon Clod: "Of course, if I blow up, you have no way to stop the cannon from firing... Hehehehehe! The bomb's also water proof!" Rand: "Then, we don't touch the wires, of course, you're not wires..." ~Cleo: "Scott, don't..." Darken: "Let's kill the guy." Scott: "Catch twenty-two time." Loudspeaker: "Two minutes to firing!" Jon Clod: "Good... Hehehehe... My timer has kicked in. One minute until detonation!" Scott: "Teal... try your electric personality on that bomb." Jon Clod: "Don't even think about it. The smallest disturbance will detonate it!" Scott: "Look, dirt clod..." Jon Clod: "Hurry up, you only got thirty seconds..." Scott: "How about I disconnect your head from your shoulders." Jon Clod: "My work is already done... Hehehehehe, I don't care... HAIL NEPHAR!" * Scott Force Blades Jon Clod. * Ebony flies in the other direction. Ebony: "Teal! Don't stand there and let Scott kill you!" * Darken runs FAR away from Scott and Jon. * Teal holds Scott back! Teal: "Scott, let's get out of there! Cleo, help me!" * Scott tries something... deactivating the bomb using remote control from his datalink. --Scott's method fails.-- * ~Cleo helps Teal carry Scott away from Jon Clod as the bomb goes off! * Darken doubts that'll work... Darken: "Hurry up!" Scott: "Damn... that's our only way of stopping that weapon from firing." ===ANIME CUT SCENE :P=== --The scene switches to that of Tokyo Tower being charged with massive amounts of energy before firing an intense burst deep into empty space... The burst of energy is so intense that the tower is vaporized...-- ==END CUT SCENE=== Scott: "S***..." Scott: "Couldn't stop it... What good am I to this organization if I can't stop one single lunatic..." Rand: "Scott, do you think anyone else could have done a better job? I doubt it." Scott: "Rand... you forgot. I worked with the Anti-Terrorism division for the ten years I've been with the UIA as a freelancer." ~Cleo: "It's okay, Scott... This guy had all the bases covered... You can't get them every time..." Rand: "Err... no, I didn't, I didn't know that... I doubt anyone else could have done better though..." Scott: "Cals..." ~Cleo: "Scott..." Ebony: "Well... so much for 'Project Counterstrike.'" * Scott has a strange look in his eyes... part fear... part determination. Rand: "You know, it was a rather bad name for a first strike weapon." Scott: "That wasn't the first strike." * Darken wonders... "Can we really win? I mean just when things were looking up, fate throws us another curve..." * Scott walks on ahead... back to the main control center. Rand: "Well, it was intended to strike before they got found, it is a type of first strike..." Teal: "There has to be a way..." *sigh* Scott: "I'll find it..." Rand: "Of course there is a way, we should hit the Grindery while it's still stuck in space, before it's back to full strength." Scott: "If I have to search the entire Blue Star and Lunar again... I'll find the way to destroy that Grindery... and Pharos with it." Darken: "There must be spies at every corner, but who? Wasn't this project suppose to be top secret?" Scott: "I do smell a rat, Darken..." Scott: "Or maybe... a weasel." * Darken wonders if the Doc has a Project Apocalypse on the works... Teal: "Well, maybe we should go back and talk to the doctor? See if he has a backup plan?" Scott: "I think we'd better talk to Doc Kaji again, or General Maxis." --The way back seems to have sustained little or no damage from the bomb. A few blood spatters here and there though...-- Scott: "There's a leak in the UIA... Who could it be?" Teal: "What if that Jon Clod guy WAS the leak?" Scott: "Doubtful... I was thinking of a rogue within the ranks of the field ops. Anyway, a suicide bomber would never be the leak." Rand: "Why not?" Teal: "A double-agent perhaps?" Rand: "It explains how he got in." Scott: "That's what I'm thinking, Teal." ~Cleo: "........." Scott: "but I know my partners... It must be someone from another division of Field Operations." Scott: "But it was someone who knew my M.O... This is getting too deep." Teal: "I don't think anyone was targeting you specifically. It was just a coincidence..." Ebony: "... Can we stop arguing please?" Scott: "You don't know that, Teal. I was part of the insertion team at Dragonsclaw four years ago." ~Cleo: "Feh. Let's just try to clean up these bloomin' machines' mess and get on to that Dragon Cave." Scott: "That would help, Cals..." Scott: "maybe I'll tell you all what happened there, but not right now..." --The group returns to the main control room, which is still trying to sort out what happened.-- Ebony: "Yea... we've got an ugly, skinny, fiend with dread locks to fight." * Scott tells Dr. Kaji exactly what happened. Dr. Kaji: "I see... *sigh* Clod was one of my most trusted assistants too... I'd never have figured he worked for the other side..." Scott: "So he was the leak..." Dr. Kaji: "In all likelihood." Scott: "Doc, would he have access to the fire control?" Dr. Kaji: "Of course... He helped build it." Scott: "Damn. Look, I'm gonna suggest that security be beefed up on the next project, sir." Dr. Kaji: "Of course... I'll order new background checks on all personnel immediately." Scott: "Good idea... Now, if we can get ahold of the General. I need to report all this to him." Ebony: "You're always reporting Scott... Can't we just ACT?" Dr. Kaji: "Well, we can only get a secured link once a week... We used our last one yesterday. If you want to record a message though, feel free to use my terminal." Scott: *to Ebony* "It's part of my job." * Scott uses the doctor's terminal to record a message to the general with a complete report of events. --The message is recorded.-- Scott: "Now, let's get to the dragon's cave." Scott: "Thanks a lot, Doc... We're gonna free a dragon." Dr. Kaji: "Good luck... May Althena be with you all..." Scott: "We'll need it." Dr. Kaji: "To save you some time... You can use our teleporter there in the corner. It'll beam you back to the dock where your ship is." Scott: "Thanks." Dr. Kaji: "Don't mention it." * Scott heads into the teleporter. "Advise my partner SC to meet us there, if he's near." Dr. Kaji: "I don't think he is... I'll have my secretary send him a message though." * Rand follows Scott, "This was a useful side trip..." Dr. Kaji: "Here, one more thing..." Scott: "Oh?" * Dr. Kaji tosses Scott a Sapphire Light. "You may need this." Scott: "Thanks a lot." * Scott steps into the teleporter. * Teal and ~Cleo follow. ~Cleo: "I hate these bloomin' machines, but oh well..." * Rand thinks he could use the one in his backpack, but follow anyway. Scott: "Whatever's useful... but I do prefer the straight-forward approach." --The group beams back to the dock. Tammaris is waiting for them there...-- ~Tammaris: "Whoa! How'd you get back here!?" Scott: "Teleported." Scott: "Now... off to the dragon cave..." Ebony: "Ahhh... the old days... where I could teleport without machines." Tammaris: "Ahh, okay. Well, I got the septic tank replaced, however, I couldn't do much else on such short notice..." * Scott heads off west toward the dragon cave. ===SESSION END===