Potential Area 17, Between Libra and 'Earth?' [Rina]

[GIR]

No one was really sure what had gone wrong. Yet. But it wound up with Eva flying guard duty with nearly three dozen fighters around Rahulik Vari while her crews carefully examined the Void Drive, trying to figure out why it had suddenly pulled out and left them somewhere between where they were and where they'd been going. <Klingewyrm-1 reporting in. Nothing out here to worry about. Requesting bedtime story?>, Eva telepathically reported via the fighter's radio. 'Bedtime story' was pilot slang for one of two things. One can't be told on public TV. The intended meaning, however, was a situation report from in the ship.

"No monsters to slay, Klingewyrm-1. The hero hasn't gotten the map yet.", Trotzige Schwert responded, her response slang for 'not much more excitement here...'.

<What about the LR sensors?>, Eva asked, determined to find something to chat about, <Or have you got any real bedtime stories for me?>.

"Nothing doing, Klingewyrm-1. You know regulations forbid AI units from discussing such topics while on alert, and you know why.", Trotzige Schwert jovially replied, shooting down the not-so-subtle request, "I can tell you that Heilung Engel is currently attempting to hail a vessel of unknown origin and classification.", she added, her tone serious. Heilung Engel was the ship's Diplomacy/First Contact (DiFiCon) AI.

<An unknown? Permission to check it out?>, Eva requested, also snapping back into serious mode.

"Negative. Your duty is to the ship. You will be the first on the list if escort is required, if it's any consolation.", Trotzige Schwert responded, "I will keep you advised of any changes, Klingewyrm-1.".

<Thanks.>, Eva 'said', being sure to keep the mixture of worry, excitement, and dissappointment out of her voice.

[Anonymous]

Rock music blared out over Noah's radio as he lounged in the bridge, feet up and a book open. It was a cake flight and one he had made a dozen times, so there wasn't all that much to do. Just hang out and let the autopilot do the work.

When he got some of this haul sold off, he was gonna go paaaarty! It had been all work and no play for way to long. Though that had been nice on his pocket book. The small, chubby burrowers from Teinar were getting really popular. They domesticated easily, loved affection and were cute as shit. Had a weird diet, but pets on a space station tended to be pricey anyway, so what was a few more credits?

[GIR]

"Rahulik Vari hailing unknown vessel. I repeat, Rahulik Vari hailing unknown vessel. Come in, unknown vessel. Rahulik Vari hailing unkinown vessel, request response.", Heilung Engel said, running the message on all available frequencies.

<Heilung Engel, still requesting permission to check out the unknown.>, Eva requested.

"Eva, do not go over my head.", Trotzige Schwert chided, her tone slightly annoyed.

<Sorry. It's just a little unnerving is all.>, Eva replied.

"In any case, the answer's not yet. Captain Adelheid may order a recon/patrol if the unknown fails to respond. We will advise, Klingewyrm-1, so please stop asking.", Heilung Engel responded.

<Yes, Ma'am.>, Eva replied, <Will wait for further orders.>.

[Anonymous]

The call across the radio startled Noah and he dropped his feet to the ground, smacking the button to kill the music. Who the fuck was hailing him and why? He wasn't doing anythi-HO SHIT!

Staring at the radar, Noah swallowed hard. This was bad. There was some big ass mother fuckers out there and he didn't even have weapons. Some kick ass shielding and enough speed to lose most pirates, but he really didn't really have a way to get away from ships this powerful.

"Uh, this is the White Witch. What do you want?"

[GIR]

"Greetings, White Witch. I am Heilung Engel von Rahulik Vari. I have been tasked by the ship's captain, Imperial Fleet Commander Adelheid von Draconis, with ensuring the unknown signature on our radar does not have hostile intentions. It would seem, though, that you do not. While we're communicating, though, would you mind giving us some information? We are, as it were, the new species on the block.", Heilung Engel said.

<Klingewyrm-1, take Klingewyrm and do a once-over of the enemy ship. We don't have any data for that vessel, so I'm sending a transport with a ship scanner along with you.>, Captain Adelheid's 'voice' barked, causing Eva to jump.

<Yes Ma'am.>, Eva responded quickly, <Klingewyrm, form up behind me, standard tri formation.>, she commanded, then steered toward the unknown's location as the wing formed up behind her, tens ships in triangle formation with the transport in the center, and Eva taking point.

"White Witch, be advised we are sending a scanner crew with fighter escort to scan your ship for ship-to-ship weapons. Do not fire upon them. I repeat, we are sending a scanner transport and fighters to scan your ship, do not fire upon them. We have no intention of harming you, but we also have no intention of being ambushed.", Heilung Engel said, her voice taking on a reassuring, calm tone, one meant to be non-threatening.

[OOC: How big is the White Witch, compared to any sci-fi ships you know of?]

[Anonymous]

((OOC: Um...she's not huge. I donno if there is a ship I can think of off the top of my head. A small transport he crews by himself))

Oh fuck. Just lovely. He was getting held hostage by some giant space bully. Where the hell were the patrols that were supposed to be keeping the skies safe? But he didn't really have much choice, so Noah stopped his ship, waiting for the scan.

Please don't be pirates. Please, please don't be pirates.

"Uh...what did you want to know? I don't know if I've got that much info for you."

[GIR]

[Ah.]

Eva led her wing to the ship. <There's no reason to scan, Captain... That thing couldn't possibly have better than pea shooters. It's about the size of my 117C.>, she reported over the radio.

<Scan it anyway, Klingewyrm-1. And, when you get back, you can read up on the weapons your fighter is armed with.>, Adelheid chided, slightly annoyed.

<Point taken.>, Eva responded, <Klingewyrm-5, proceed with scan. You'll have to break formation. We'll have you covered.>, she commanded, 'braking' her fighter by firing the forward engines just enough to bring it to a stop. Behind her, each of the fighters of Klingewyrm wing did the same, while the transport dropped below them, then proceeded forward to scan the White Witch. <Trotzige Schwert, Captain, either of you in the mood to get permission for me to board? I'd like to take a look at the inside of that ship.>.

<Denied. You're claustrophobic, and that's likely a human vessel.>, Adelheid replied. It wasn't accurate, but it was close enough.

<With all due respect, Captain, I am not claustrophobic. I'm just not a fan of enclosed, tight spaces.>, Eva replied, her tone as automatic and impersonal the fact she'd responded.

"No, but you did, in your request for your 117 Custom, specify an enlarged cockpit. I believe the Captain is wise to not let you board when there's no need for you to.", Trotzige Schwert interjected. Eva had no response.

<Scan complete, Klingewyrm-1. No weapons detected. Shall we return to the ship?>, the transport's pilot responded.

<Please do. I think we've scared our friend quite enough.>, Adelheid said, though her tone suggested it was an order not to be refused. Eva immediately led the wing back to the Rahulik Vari.

Meanwhile, "Would you perhaps know of any uninhabited worlds in this system? Also, what are the major governments? Anyone in particular we should steer clear of?", Heilung Engel asked, "Answer in any order you like, and feel free to add in anything you think might be of value. We're currently looking for a world to colonise.", she continued. As the scan finished, "Thanks for cooperating with the scan. It would seem there was no need to worry after all. I'm sorry for any trouble...", she added.

[Anonymous]

"Uh, what? Man, you are asking the wrong guy. I don't know what's uninhabited or unclaimed." Noah actually knew what ones had life on them, but as to who owned them, well, that was the buisness of the major powers and held little interest for him.

"And, I mean, there's Aedolis and Edanith. They're the biggest I guess. But the stations are there. You really should be asking them. I don't really wanna get involved in this stuff man."

[GIR]

"Edanith and Aedolis? Are they aggressive? And what are you afraid of? Draconians do not strike first. At least, Draconian soldiers don't strike first. Seeing as you've no weapons, you've nothing to worry about.", Heilung Engel said, hoping to get more info and calm the nervous pilot. Which was why it didn't help when Trotzige Schwert noticed the sudden appearance of two Nova-class Tartarian super-transports loaded with after-market weaponry and a full complement of fighters each. Andromedian human ships, this pair being infamous for their pirate crews.

<I know. We're on it.>, Eva said, <Loner-1, go back to the ship. Klingewyrm, form up and follow me. Our priority is protecting the White Witch.>, she ordered, sending the transport back to the Rahulik Vari. As she did, Säule der Schatten and Klinge an Mut oriented themselves in preparation to fire their main batteries at the enemy vessels as fighters deployed from both heavy frigates as well as from Rahulik Vari.

The two super-transports began moving, one heading toward the Rahulik Vari, the other, faster ship on an intercept course for the White Witch, both ships opening fire on their targets, with the second ship aiming for the engines of its target. Both ships also began deploying their own fighters.

<Crud. White Witch, this is Imperial Knight Eva von Draconis. You might want to make a Leere Läuft while you still have engines, those newcomers are pirates with Destroyer-class weapons.>, Eva snapped, hijacking Heilung Engel's line in order to do so. Meanwhile, Trotzige Schwert send a request for assistance as the three Draconian ships returned fire on the pirate vessels.

[Anonymous]

Fuck his life! This was really not good! Before he had a chance to reply to the woman on the other end of the radio, two ships that Noah recognized, suddenly appeared. It was rare to see pirates in this area, there wasn't enough prizes from Teinar to make the risk of straying too close to Aedolis.

"Lady, I have no idea what that means, but I'm guessing it means getting the fuck out of here. Which I am."

While he didn't like leaving others to fight his battles, but there wasn't much choice. He couldn't fight and they could.

"Thanks for the save. I owe ya one!"

The engines flared to life and Noah pulled away, heading toward Libra and praying he wasn't going to get followed.

[GIR]

<Great. Tell you what: Get out of here alive, then we'll talk about what you do or don't owe me for me doing my job. I'm guessing your ship has an FTL drive of some sort? Use it. Your shields aren't going to hold for long against that thing's weapons.>, Eva replied. As she did, a ring of light formed in front of the ship pursuing the White Witch. <He's going to warp over that short a distance? I had no idea human tech was that precise!>, Eva thought to herself. She had to warn the White Witch, <That ring of light is a warp gate. It's what the humans who built that ship use for FTL travel, and, if I recall those pirates' tactics correctly, the captain of that ship's going to try to cut you off.>. <Klingewyrm, protect the White Witch. Klingewyrm-2, 3, you're with me. We need to stop that super.>, she ordered her wing, turning her fighter onto an intercept course with the enemy ship.

Meanwhile, the three Draconian ships had managed to keep the other pirate vessel at a distance, though not before it had broken through one of the three layers of Rahulik Vari's shielding.

[Anonymous]

Fuck that noise!

Noah's ship was faster and more agile than the pirate's ship and he had already been tearing out of the area. With a bit of skilled piloting, Noah avoided the other ship, leaving them to deal with the armed ones as he raced to Libra.

Nothing was catching his White Witch when she had a start on them. And he would be in the safe space around Libra soon.

Docking into the station, he slummed in his chair, relieved. That had been intense. He was going to have to report all that shit. Though, if he ran into the first group again, he was buying that bitch a drink for saving his ass.

[GIR]

Drake slammed his fist down on the console. Not only had the assault on the Rahulik Vari failed, but the other, human vessel had managed to get around the Warmonger before the crew had gotten her antimatter cannon charged enough to fire. "... Target the Rahulik Vari. Fire as soon as you're able. I no longer care if the hatchery is damaged; Those slavers can bite my ass.", he commanded through gritted teeth. He'd scarcely gotten the command out before a void rupture ruined his day.

"Eva, you're free to go check on the White Witch if you feel the need. Command has sent in a Sword Breaker.", Trotzige Schwert reported, "The enemy will likely retreat.".

<Acknowledged.>, Eva replied, steering her fighter toward Libra. <Any word on a repair world?>, she asked.

"One's going to make the run as soon as the pirates have left.".

<Thanks. How long will repairs take?>, Eva asked.

"A few days. The drive doesn't need to come out, thankfully. One of the outer targeting cores needs to be replaced.", Heilung Engel cut in.

<Permission to take->, Eva began

<Denied. You have one day shore leave, but that's it. I don't want to have to do a pickup when you run out of fuel.>, Adelheid interrupted.

<Got it...>, Eva replied, then flew to Libra.

Meanwhile, Drake watched in fear as a single Draconian Sword-Breaker Class ship emerged from the void. "Full retreat! I want that gate ready yesterday!", he snapped when he'd finally found his voice. He, like nearly every other ship's captain familiar with the Draconian military, greatly feared the Sword-Breaker Class. Fast, despite its size, its only weapons were its bladed hull, built near-perfectly for its role as a ramming vessel, its speed, and a gravity well generator built in. Those were all it needed. The only ship class in the Draconian fleet with discernable engines, it could accelerate within seconds to speeds up to 5% of light speed, with devastating results (which was why they were always crewed by androids). "Get us out of here now!", Drake yelled again, his insides frozen solid in fear. This was the effect of the Sword Breaker. Even one such ship was often enough to cause a surrender by those captains familiar with them. Not a moment too soon, the warp gate completed, and the Warmonger, along with her accomplice, escaped.

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Eva guided her fighter carefully into the nearest hangar to the White Witch, then raised the ship on her radio. <Hey, how you holdin' up, White Witch?>, she asked, <Any serious damage?>.

[Anonymous]

Noah had almost missed the radio hail, as he was getting ready to get the hell off his ship and report this madness. Plus, there was cargo unloading that needed to happen, then much booze to be drunk. Hell, he might just leave the fuzzy bastards on board another night and get to the drinking sooner.

But he heard the static crackle and moved over to a terminal, "Hey sexy! Ship is great, thanks to you! You might be a little crazy, but you saved my ass! Can I buy you a drink?"

[GIR]

<... Um... Don't... Don't call me that, please. It's creepy. My name is Eva.>, Eva responded, stunned and a little disturbed by the human calling her 'sexy'. Even though she'd developed sooner than most Draconians, she'd never been called that by any of her kind, and the few humans who had had made her thankful to be much larger than them, <Good to hear you and your ship are fine. I don't think you'll have to worry about Drake for a few days. He and his gang beat a hasty retreat when a Sword Breaker showed up. As to that drink... As long as it's non-alcoholic, sure, though you might find it a bit expensive... Human stations don't usually have cups or beverages on hand for Draconians, even if they are only 14.>, she continued, <I should probably buy, though... I get the feeling it was the Rahulik Vari that värdjas was after. Colony ships usually carry everything needed to start a colony, which means animals, plants, weapons, and vehicles that are otherwise impossible for pirates to get their hands on. Then there's the few slavers stupid enough or skilled enough to go after our eggs in order to raise the young as slaves... I should probably stop talking now. Meet me at hanger 12. I'll probably be running some checks on my fighter.>, she added apologetically as she climbed out of the cockpit, happy that her telepathy needed only to be in range of the radio to piggyback off of it, <What time will we meet?>, she asked as she began post-landing checks. Schatten Falken 122's, like their ship-based previous generations, were designed primarily for talon-hold-storage, rather than hangar landings, the latter being a capability added in almost as an afterthought. It was for this reason that they needed to be checked after any such landing for scratches or damage to certain parts.

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The Rahulik Vari docked with the large planet-like ship, looking like a toy by comparison. As the docking clamps were secured, several many-limbed, robot-like, man-sized spiders quickly boarded and scurried to the room containing the ship's void drive. Upon arriving, the drones begin repairs on the void drive, as well as checking for further damage and performing any neede dupgrades.

[Should we continue this thread in the Libra board? Also, the planet-like ship is the Unity. Read about it in my Draconian Ships thread.]

[Anonymous]

((OOC: It's up to you if you want to start a new thread or I can just move this one. Doesn't matter much to me, but starting a new one just seems a waste xD))

"Uh, oh, sorry." Noah actually had no clue what the voice looked like and discovered she was apparently a little prudish. And overshared like a mofo! "Oh, it's cool. I wont pass up free booze, so I'll let you buy! And uh....I got some cargo to unload, so let's say 2 hours?"

Might as well actually be good and get the load to the shop if he was going to have to wait anyways.

[GIR]

<Alchohol? Sorry. Religious and moral objections aside, I'm not buying something that impairs judgement for a pilot. Sorry. Perhaps that beverage humans call... 'soda?'... might be acceptable?>, Eva replied, <Two hours sounds fine, though... Want some help unloading?>, she offered, finishing the last of the checks. Seeing as nothing had gone wrong, they'd gone rather quickly.

[In that case, may as well move this one, if that's okay with you... No sense starting a new thread if you don't see any reason to.]

[Anonymous]

Well...someone was a prude. Noah was already regretting offering to buy the drink. He had the feeling this was going to be a rough visit.

"Uh...no...I'm good. Thanks. I'll meet you at Hanger 12 in 2 hours. I'll be the totally awesome looking dude in red plaid pants." Noah flicked his radio off and went about unloading his cargo. The time seemed to fly by and when the last animal was stored and given fresh water, he headed over to the meeting spot, curious and dreading meeting his savior.

[GIR]

<Got it.>, Eva said.

Two hours was a lot of time. An impossibly large amount of time. And the universe was so terribly slow. Eva used the time to excersize, read a few books, and listen to some music, a few of the things she often did at times like this when she couldn't run sims against AI's or... Now there was an idea... Eva opened her fighter's cockpit and took out a small (to her, at least... It would have looked fairly large to a human) laptop computer, then began working on a draft for an entry for her mission log.

She was on her fiftieth rewrite when she spotted a human wearing red plaid pants. <...Are you the pilot of the White Witch?>, she asked as soon as the human was within range, her 'tone' one of mild curiosity and politeness. At least, that's what she intended to say. What came out was more of a high-pitched telepathic beep, the result of her words being bunched together in the space of less than 10 milliseconds, as she'd forgotten that, unlike the radios designed to automatically slow her thoughts into perceptible speech to those who percieved time more quickly, her brain was still stuck in 'talking to fellow Draconians' mode. The teen, who had been sitting on the back of her fighter when the human walked in, made her way to the ladder on the side of the cockpit, then climbed down and walked toward the human, feeling a familiar jolt of surprise at the fact that the human, clearly full-grown, was over 2/3 of a meter from coming up to her waist.

<I am Imperial Knight Eva von Draconis. May I ask your name?>, she said, this time making sure to slow down her thoughts enough to be understood. Eva wouldn't have been surprised if the human showed fear, given that she was over 16 human feet tall, and dressed in her pilot suit, sans-helm, which bore the dragon-and-moon insignia of the Draconian Empire across the chest, as well as the crossed swords rank insignia next to her name on the left of the chestplate, and on each shoulder. Sixteen fighter silhouettes and two patrol ship silhouettes were displayed on the armor of the left sleeve, silhouettes she'd earned fighting pirates. All in all, she figured she probably looked the part of some fierce warrior of death or something, which was only partially accurate. Eva tried to smile politely, but gave up after a couple seconds when she realised her mouth wasn't really made for that. <Could be worse...>, she thought to herself, <I could be in war paint...>.

[Anonymous]

Well, that was not what he had been expecting. Noah winced, tugging at his ear when he got her first, painful jolt in his brain. He was pretty sure that was the one he was looking for, and her words, finally understandable, confirmed that.

"Uh..." Noah tilted his head waaay back. He was intimidated, that was for sure, but he wasn't scared. He had seen much worse on Teinar and she seemed friendly, already saved him once, "Well, damn girl, you are a big one!"

He took a few steps back so he could look up easier, "I'm Noah. I'm guessing you are the one that saved me? Thanks for that!"