There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [USS Capricorn] - JP - Two Minute Warning
From: "carys murray" <carysmurray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-J] One Flight Reservation, With Connections - Pirate
Class!
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1
Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 09:13:32 -0700
From: "carys murray" <carysmurray@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [USS Capricorn] - JP - Two Minute Warning
MD4
Planet Side
<SNIP>
"That's a dangerous creature, and no ordinary panther," said Istria,
"and I
think you know more about it than you're letting on, Captain," said
Istria.
"With respect, I think you should tell us what you know about that
creature."
<END SNIP>
"Lt., do you remember our friend, the cat; that was roaming around the
inner cockles of the ****p from right after I took over as CO?" Istria
looked at
him blankly. Upon later review, he would remember that she wasn't in
the
bay when the cat appeared the first time, nor was she ever around when
Petra was licking herself on his desk. "Well, this cat is no ordinary
cat.
Somehow, she appeared on our ****p, and now, again, she's back, though,
god
knows how. Just whatever you do, don't shoot her. She and I will have
words when we meet next!" He said, picking himself up from his seated
position. "Now, let's get a move on. Keep scanning the area, and tell
me
what you find."
"Aye sir."
*****
Meanwhile (back at the castle)...
Marquis and J'sse were standing outside the giant doors to the outside.
"My leader, you know they have landed."
"Yes, my friend. They have landed, but are staying away from our home.
She should remember the magic we made that night. It eludes why she
would
not
join us...me, here." Marquis pondered aloud. His musings were always
interesting to J'sse. Even more so to Sybil, however. What she had
heard
would make all of his enemies very pleased. Unfortunately, he had won
all
of those enemies over. One of the benefits of immortality. You have
time
to correct old mistakes. Now, he was virtually beloved by almost all
of
their people. Almost all.
"Perhaps she does remember it, and doesn't want to duplicate it?"
"No, that's not it. She is joined by the captain. She would not
disobey
him." Marquis offered. "I love that about her. I do so remember her.
Her eyes showed nothing but affection and devotion. Her skin, pale as
a
canvas..." J'sse, blinked uncontrollably. He felt another set of
presences, and he shuddered. "What is it, my friend?"
"I felt another set. Not at the site."
"Strange, I do not feel them."
"Sybil, take a few men and go..."
"No!" J'sse interrupted. "I will go. Alone."
"Alone? That is not wise. Sybil can go." Marquis said to his long
time
ally.
"I will go. The returnees are the two women from before."
"Ah, yes, Commander Phillips and..."
"Yes, the doctor."
"She was quite fetching, wasn't she?" He remarked off-handedly, not
noticing Sybil's hand tighten behind him. "Go, and see if you can't
bring
them to the site?"
"Of course."
"Good, then we'll see you there." Marquis said, walking off towards
the
site. He had *his* beloved to see, as well. She still haunted him
after
all these long years. Something others planned to take full advantage
of.
As they walked off, Sybil slipped away. Their timetable needed to be
pushed up. This was too good a chance.
****
Meanwhile, with Montana and Miaren....
Miaren closed her eyes as the lurching began and she kept them closed
until
she was sure she was stable enough to open them. The aroma of the damp
fresh humus awakened her senses and she opened her eyes to see once
again
the lush setting of this place. As she gathered her bearings she
watched
as the rest of the team scurrying around taking readings and it was
then
she pulled herself together to begin her part of the investigation.
She was very aware of how the others felt about her presence here, and
altho they seem to put up with her; she was going to find that which
she
sought.
She had a personal mission here, and she was going to show and prove
that
Istria had been correct, and she had not been the blame for the
explosion.
Miaren took out her tricorder and began her part of the scanning
searching
for anything and everything that would explain what her first findings
had
discovered. How deep had this mutation gone? How long had it been
here?
Had it been here before Marquis and his people arrived? What had set it
off?
Was Starfleet involved in any way?
Miaren vowed she would found out. She kept an eye on the First Officer
as
she barked out her orders, and noticed that the team only needed to be
reminded once. She in a way envied their knowing each other so well,
that
they never had to wait time or energy trying to figure out what needed
to be
done.
Montana pulled out her PADD and opened up the topical maps she had Ury
download for her, so she knew in which direction to head and what area
to
focus her inquiries. She was not sure, but she did not trust the
records
they had been given on the history of this place. Too many
inconsistencies
and mixed matched facts.
She also, as she turned to watch the young Doctor gather some base
readings
and seem to study some plant life. She did not trust her. There was
something off about her. Montana would find out, she always did.
She bristled as she thought of Avi's reaction, like he had already
known
what the good doctor was up to. But then, this kind of intrigue was
just up
his alley. She snorted softly as she realized he loved this kind of
mystery, it let him believe he was like Sherlock Holmes.
Montana turned back to her instruments and motioned for the team to
move
ahead and off they went. None realized they were of course being
watched.
It was as he had said, and it was to come to be. They were back, both
of
them. Although, the watcher mused, they must think themselves
superior; to
have split off into separate parties. Did they think themselves immune
to
what lay around them?
Montana led the way, keeping the doctor right behind her, so she could
keep
a better eye on her, but also to make sure she was protected. She did
not
wish to have to write a letter to her parents either, especially if she
had
not been the cause of her own death.
Also it helped to have more trained personnel covering both of them.
The
boys knew what to do, and how to handle anything, so she felt that they
were
in a strong position.
As they trudged through the brush, she was in constant contact with Ury
and
what he was monitoring, and where Avi was. Miaren noticed the changing
of
the light, and mused about how she loved twilight. Such a magical
time,
twilight was, it was a time when anything possible could happen, did.
On
this planet, however, twilight was more of a passing thing, and usually
went
straight to darkness in moments.
Miaren kept up her scanning and recording and gathering samples. She
got
lost in the feel of what it had meant to be a hunter/gatherer as in the
old
times, and if they indeed had traveled this fast. If they had, she had
a new
respect for the people of that time.
Miaren was aware constantly as the male members seem to hover over her,
and
kept her in line of sight at all times. She wondered if that was what
their
duty was, or if perhaps someone had asked to keep a close eye on her.
Miaren was under no delusion how the First Officer felt about her. Her
countenance was plain to see, and altho Miaren was not sure just how
deeply
her resentment was, Miaren did her best to either stay out of her way,
or be
the best she could be, and try to stay out of her way.
They reached the top of the summit and then the plateau and to the
entrance
of the cavern. The remnants of the mining accident and explosion were
still
a stark reminder of the catastrophic disaster, and gave hints to just
how
horrific it had been. The foliage surrounding the plateau and entrance
had
never grown back, not like the density of the brush as they climbed the
hill.
The still faint smell of burnt flesh and rotting bodies clung in the
air. It
seemed stronger inside the cavern than without. Montana held up her
hand
and the party stopped for a moment.
Montana took a deep breath to steady her nerves, for this scent brought
back
and tapped into deep memories she tried hard to keep locked away. She
needed to be at peak performance here, too many lives were at risk for
her
to give away to memories in her past.
Miaren noticed everyone seemed nervous, unsettled. She too was not
comfortable with what she had found. The stark reality of what had
happened
here was evident with each step. When the call came to move forward
into
the cavern, they went slowly and methodically, and Miaren tuned inward,
so
she could focus on why she was here. She was here to help find what
had
caused this; she was here to find more of that specimen she and Istria
had
discovered among her first findings.
Deeper and deeper they went, along the charred passageways. So much
destruction of tools, equipment, left behind. The still signs of just
how
many lost their lives. Miaren scanned the piles and scattered bits of
debris hoping for a sign, a reading, and still nothing.
Miaren seeing an undisturbed mound in the back of a side passage
slipped
down it and made her way to it, and began to scan. The sudden readings
she
was receiving were not what she had expected. It was similar; perhaps
more
pure in its origin; but different; and one that needed more
examination.
As Miaren began to record her findings, and study that which she had
stumbled across, the team continued to move slowly up the main
passageway.
She gathered samples and sent them back to the lab with instructions
for
them to scan them and compare them with the first batch and send her
back
the results. As she waited she picked through the mound and was
surprised
to see that this was not a haphazard burial mound, once caused by the
panic
and chaos of an explosion.
This was one that showed signs of obvious placement. This mound was
off in
a side passage, because it had been hidden away from the others.
Why?
Miaren continued her poking and ****fting through the mound, until she
was
sent back her results. Miaren looked at the blinking message and her
heart
dropped into her stomach and it suddenly hurt to breathe.
NO! She thought, IMPOSSIBLE! But there it was, staring back at her, in
black and white. She took another look, and then double checked her own
findings; it came back to the answer that was blinking at her, as
though it
was a beacon showing her the way.
****
Back at the shuttle...
"Hmm...interesting." Istria commented as she tapped a few times on her
PADD.
"What is it, Lt.?" Avi said, walking over towards her.
"I can't really tell, but we know the planet life was mutated. Or at
least
part of it." He nodded as she was talking. "But, what I don't think
we
knew was this was not a natural mutation. Something happened here."
"What was it? Foreign body? How long ago was it introduced?" Avi
asked
appropriately. He was never a researcher, but had taken all the
courses,
and knew most if not all the genetics needed for something like this.
"I don't know yet. I'll need to find the original source."
Avi looked around for a moment. He knew this was a box that needed
unlocking. What he really needed was time to find some of the
information.
"Alright, let's spread out, do we think there will be a more
concentrated
dispersal pattern as we move closer to the source?"
"I don't know, it'll depend on the insertion method."
"Okay, then let's stay in contact, and check in every 15 minutes."
"Aye Sir." Everyone said and they started their scan.
****
Miaren was shocked. Snippets of conversations she had heard, bits of
tales
and stories, her father's warnings, the mixed up findings from the
original
re****t the captain had given her. Everything came flooding in, and
Miaren
felt as if she were outside her body.
She suddenly heard the voices of the team calling her, and she realized
she
had not told them where she had ducked off too. She gathered her
equipment
and followed the main passage towards the voices and bumped into the
one
called Moran.
His stern countenance as he looked at her gave her pause to say what
she had
found.
"Care to explain Doctor?" Commander Phillips asked sternly.
She just did not need this. Perhaps she had been wrong in asking the
doctor
along. She
could have just as well gathered the information as Moran, or Frank or
any
of the others.
"Aye, I found something." She whispered out of breath, "And, I think
you
need to
see it."
Montana pulled her lips together in a form of a grimace and pout. She
just
did not like this. There was something wrong with this place, and she
wanted
to find out quickly, and get out.
"Lead on." Came the reply and Miaren turned and led them all back to
the
side passage she had gone down. At first Montana grumbled under her
breath,
for all she saw was a random burial mound, and there were plenty of
those in
here, places where several died together, it was normal in such chaos
and
with the explosion and then cave in what did she expect?
"First, I came down here because there was this faint random reading of
the
virus that Istria and I discovered from my first initial findings."
Miaren
began. She looked at the stern facial features of the first officer.
She
could sense the slight irritation with the others.
"And?" Montana asked with her right eyebrow arched in a questioning
pose.
She really wanted to get out of here, something was off.
"This mound was not formed from chaos and the explosion. These were
placed
here for a purpose. I think to hide the truth." She explained.
Without nervousness, but more of a sense of pride she showed the first
officer her
findings, along with the back up facts to sup****t the final answer.
Montana looked at the blinking screen and pursed her lips. She looked
at
the Doctor with greater suspicion and inward she groaned and silently
cursed
the powers to be. Damn those who placed her in such a position. And
Damn it
all, this was just up Avi's alley.
Damn, Damn ,Damn, she thought to herself. She looked back at the
Doctor,
and was not sure what that small gloating look was. Was she pleased
with
uncovering something that could in fact get them all killed? Or that
she
justified why she took off and risked the party?
"Interesting." Was all she would comment at this point in time. Too
many
other questions needed to get answered. But, at least this little bit
of
information did spur her forward with her previous plan to get to the
bottom
of things.
"Keep close and don't fall behind this time." Commander Phillips
replied to
Miaren.
Miaren nodded and stepped into her assigned place in line and they
worked
their way out of the short side passage and returned to following the
main
passage deeper into the mine.
****
Meanwhile, in the clearing...
After three or four aborted leads, Istria was fairly sure she'd found
the
right path to go down. Or in this case up. You see, she was walking
up a
hill right now, not the simplest feat considering she was looking at
down at
her PADD every couple of steps to ensure success. Something that was
proving elusive at this very moment.
"Captain." Istria said, tapping her badge.
Yes, Lt, came the response.
"I think I've finally found the trail."
Good, keep going. Let me know when you're close. I'll meet you
wherever
it leads... He started, and then stopped abruptly as another voice came
over
the comm.
Hello, Captain. I have been waiting for you for some time.
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Marquis, your host, and
electricity shot up Istria's spine.
****
Miaren trudged behind them, passing up the scattered bits of debris,
for she
did not have to look further, she already had the answer. She was
puzzled
and perplexed by the commander's response. But then, in all honesty,
how
would she have handled it if she had been in her shoes?
She trekked along behind Montana, tried to keep up with her larger
strides.
She half listened to the soft murmurings of those behind her and she
went
back to what she had just found.
She was over being stunned by the news, now she was angry and riled and
she
really wanted someone to yell at. Of all the selfish, greedy,
mindless.. oh
wait; she WAS talking Starfleet military intelligence here. And,
worse, the
special intelligence branch, the ones her father and some colleagues
referred to as spooks.
This had their fingerprints ALL over it. Down to the genetic coding
AND
patent on the virus. Only the military would be so vain as to patent
their
own lethal virus and then use it.
Yes only the StarFleet Intelligence Agency would be so vain as to
suppose
they would be able to get away with it. And, they almost did, except
for a
few little minor glitches in their plans.
Which when she thought about it, made her smile.
Something about the Marquis and his people made them immune to this
virus;
which obviously they had not counted on. Or did they truly not know
they
were here?
But then that did not make sense, because Istria knew they were here or
did
she not mention it? Was it like what happened to them earlier? She
knew,
but could not speak of it?
No, they knew, because they knew about the ore. The ore! Miaren
smiled.
That must be the clue, somehow Starfleet learned of the ore, and its
properties; and the military wanted it.
So, in true military fa****on they did what they always did, and took
what
they wanted.
Except everything went wrong. So what started the first pin to slip
and
fall? What caused the entire avalanche? So many lives lost; so many
lies
told..so much to cover up and try to make go away.
Miaren knew that someone she had found one of the pieces to Istria's
puzzle,
now if only they could somehow get together and work it out. Miaren
just
knew that she carried everything within. It was just a matter of
getting it
to trigger and come to the surface.
Suddenly the entire party stopped and Miaren looked up to see they had
entered a main chamber, one that looked like the hub of a wheel, the
rest of
the passages breaking off like the spokes.
"Halt." Montana barked out her order. She was not liking this at all,
and
from the maps she had received from the mining company Starfleet hired,
the
mine did not match the set of maps.
Someone went through an awful lot of work to keep something hidden and
forgotten. Well, sadly they had underestimated her determination.
"This does not match the set of maps given us." Montana replied as
everyone
circled around her so they could discuss their next move.
"Have you asked for an update from the computer?" Moran asked simply.
"Yes." Montana replied checking herself again just to be sure. "They
sent me
everything they had."
"Interesting"
Miaren tried to hide her annoyance at hearing that catch phrase. It
was
going to be the death of her yet. That is all anyone said when they
had
nothing to say, or did not have the answer to the question posed.
Montana looked at her team and knew what she would suggest would be
voted
down. So she voiced her opinion anyway.
"I say we keep together as a unit, and explore part of each
passageway."
She started to say, but was interrupted rather rudely.
"Welcome back." An eerily soft voice reverberated from all around them.
"I
have been waiting for you for quite some time. My rest felt like an
eternity. It is good to see you have returned."
The figure of a man stepped in from the shadows and he wore a solemn
expression, until his eyes fell on Miaren. He smiled warmly, and
before
anyone realized it, he was by her side, his hand in hers.
Montana stiffened. She remembered him too. Was this an ambush? She
glared
at the Doctor who it appeared was love struck, or something similar.
Was
this the real reason she ducked into that side passage, to send word to
this
person, to ambush them all?
"Ah sweet Miaren, I feel as if the hours we have been away from each
other,
were closer to days. I have missed you greatly, and I rejoice in your
return."
"Commander, who is this person?" Moran asked irritated that none of
his
scanners or detectors had gone off or reacted.
"Forgive me my rudeness." He began with an ease that belied where they
were.
"My name is J'sse, and I am the personal assistant to Marquis," he
turned to
smile at Miaren once more. "Your host. Would you care to join me?"
******
Over in the clearing...
"Yes, Captain, host." Marquis said, being trailed by a crowd of his
followers.
"You see, this is my planet, and the beacon set up was done so by me."
He
placed his arms in a relaxed position behind his back. "Please, put
down
your weapons, I mean you no harm. I simply have a proposition." He
said,
never looking out of Avi's eyes.
"Stand down," Avi said, turning to his sides making sure the security
officers holstered their weapons. As he turned back, he could feel a
certain bit of doubt creep into his head. "I am listening, Mr.
Marquis."
"Thank you, Captain, but I am only called Marquis." He said
graciously,
dropping his hands from their interlocked position behind his back.
"You see, we have been on this planet for quite some time. While, I
have
loved my time here, I am finding it a bit stifling for all of my
people.
And, as any good leader would do, I want to offer them all the
op****tunities
that the universe has to offer. Thus, I want to offer you the chance
to
take us to the stars, and deposit us off at the nearest starbase."
Studying the man, Avi noticed not his forehead, nor any aspect of his
face
moved. Psychologists would say he was either very well trained at
keeping
his emotions hidden or he was truly sincere in his desires. Either
way,
this was yet another op****tunity for Avi.
He'd been here before, on Wuwei; back on their first mission with him
as
captain. Taking first contact or initial contact experiences and
making
them into beneficial
experiences was something captains were often called upon to do.
But this was different, wasn't it? On Wuwei and Lazarus 5, they were
saving
people from imminent danger. But that wasn't the case here, was it?
"Captain," Marquis started again, seeing Avi's mental wheels turning.
"I
understand its a hard decision for you. Why don't you join us in our
sanctuary for a brief repast? Sybil..." he started, turning to find
everyone who had joined them, but the one person he wanted. "I'm
sorry, I
mean, any number of our members can help you with whatever your needs
are."
"That is very kind, Marquis, and while I appreciate your offer. I fear
that
while in your...sanctuary, we are unable to communicate with our ****p.
Therefore, if its all the same with you, I'd prefer to stay out here in
the
clearing..." As he spoke the last parts, Avi found his shoulder being
touched by one of the crewmen. They heard something.
*****
Sybil turned to two of her favorites. "Yes, it is time. Go get J'sse
and
the wench that has his head so twisted. We will end this and them,
then
take their ****p and leave this wretched place! GET THEM!" She
screamed
turning her head back to the way that Marquis went. "Meanwhile, bring
them
to the clearing. One mass grave should be enough, wouldn't you say?"
She
said with the most evil cackle anyone would ever hear again. This
while the
others laughed.
NRPG - Just moving the story along and setting up the big showdown..
[SUMMARY]
Istria discovers the mutation and its origin. Meanwhile, Miaren sees
the
lack of mutation from her original study. It is discovered that SFIA
created
and released the virus for some reason..Miaren assumes it is for the
strange
ore.
Marquis arrives at Avi/J'sse arrives at Miaren/Montana (simultaneous
exchange)
Marquis sees Istria and wants to negotiate getting his people off the
planet.
Meanwhile, Cybil slips out to make the mutants aware, so they can start
their attack -- especially since she wants off too, but on her own
terms --
She sends mutants after Miaren and J'sse - and then to gather at the
clearing to make one mass grave.
Respectfully Submitted by
Josh Turnof
Commander Avi Reckage
USS Capricorn
&
The Marquis and others
&
Carys Murray
Miaren Hywell
CMO
USS Capricorn
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 18:42:29 EDT
From: trissana@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[DL-J] One Flight Reservation, With Connections - Pirate
Class!
Varaenna
Day 1, early afternoon
Up on the heights, the queen breathed a sigh of relief that her rider
had
been rescued in the nick of time. She sent a signal to Keeza, telling
her to
convey her thanks to her rider when the time was right. She also made
a mental
note to tell Empress Darath, on her next visit to the warren, that it
was only
her rider's defiance of the Dragonlady's restriction against
queenriders
learning to use swords that had saved her life today. With these
thoughts out of
the way, she went back to glaring down at the massed ranks of Kataani
who swam
or waded just offshore. She'd been tempted more than a few times this
afternoon to go down there and flame a few of them, but every time her
rider had
become aware of such thoughts and cut in, firmly forbidding her to do
so. She
sighed, turning away look over the warren, when her rider's thought
came through.
*Don't forget to sent out the ready patrol!* Tara reminded her.
Varaenna signaled her acknowledgment, and looked around for Jasra's
"ready
patrol." Normally, the warren kept two rider and dragon pairs on the
green,
ready for takeoff at a moment's notice, in case of emergency. However,
the call
for able-bodied dragons and riders to fight the attackers this morning
had
left only a single dragon-rider pair - S*****h and his rider G'ret -
available.
She looked around and saw the bright orange dragon immediately. He was
right
where he was supposed to be, but didn't exactly look "ready" to do
anything.
To be blunt, he was stretched out on the ground, to all appearances
snoozing
soundly. His rider was nowhere in sight.
[S*****h?] she called, and frowned when she got no answer. [S*****h??]
She
let out a deep rumble at the lazy dragon's non-responsiveness. She
made a note
to talk to Loki about this, so that both the lazy rider and his
overweight
dragon would get a good chewing out. Upon closer inspection, she
realized that
S*****h was not even saddled. Well, this simply wouldn't do. She
needed another
dragon and rider pair to take their place. She swung her head back and
forth, scanning, when her attention was caught by a flash of bright
iridescence
from a dragon landing on the green. Just what she was looking for, she
decided!
[Plastyra!] she called out.
The young dragon had been shuttling supplies from the warren to the
battlefield and was just returning for more when she got the call from
the queen.
Plastyra landed near the medical center and her rider vaulted off to
get the
supplies.
<The battle is mostly over. There are a few small clusters of Kataani
that
don't seem to know that they should surrender,> Plastyra supplied,
assuming
that was what the queen would be interested in hearing.
[Plastyra, listen carefully,] the queen said. [I have a job for you
and your
rider to perform. What I tell you, you must not share with any other
dragon,
now or afterwards - and you must not even tell your rider until you
reach
your destination - even if he asks you to. Is that understood?]
Plastyra felt confused but, this was the queen, and certainly if she
asked
her to do something she should do it. <Of course! We will do whatever
is
required. What did you need us to do?>
The queen projected a picture into the young dragon's mind of a stretch
of
beach many miles north of where Gus and Jerram had fought their battle
earlier.
[You need to get your rider and go to that spot,] she told her. [Get
him to
come with you, but do not tell him where you are going. Khamorray and
Riyanne
and their riders will meet you there, and - if they are successful,
deliver
the human Dolfis into your keeping. Once they arrive, you will tell
them to
remain where they are until Syngnath and his rider come for them. At
that time,
you may tell both your rider and Dolfis of your mission - to take the
Dolfis
to Haven. There he is to meet with the human from his ****p that he
left
there to guard a certain valuable object. Dolfis will know what object
this is.
Once it is in your possession, you will return to the warren and - in
secret -
bring it to my rider. Is that understood?]
Plastyra understood and she focused on the image of the beach that the
queen
sent and echoed it back, <Yes, I have that. My rider is coming now
with
supplies for the battle... I can take him to the beach instead. He will
be
surprised when we arrive there.> Plastyra wasn't sure that her rider
would like the
idea, and she knew that Auli'i's rider would not be happy when they
didn't
return as expected. But... the queen needed them to do a special task,
and they
would do it!
Tyler was coming toward her, loaded down with all the supplies.
Plastyra
hoped that they would be useful where ever it was they were going.
[Remember, not even your rider is to know your mission until you meet
up with
Khamorray and Riyanne,] the queen cautioned. [The enemy cannot hear
what we
dragons say, but one slip from a human - however small or unintended,
at this
point - could bring disaster!]
<But how long can I keep this from him?> Plastyra asked. <What if
Khamorray
and Riyanne are not where they are supposed to be...?>
[Wait until nightfall,] Varaenna replied. [If they have not arrived,
fly
close enough to the warren that you can contact me and I will give you
further
instructions.]
Plastyra understood, she just hoped the Tyler and K'mal would. Her
rider
climbed up and asked her to return to the battle field. Plastyra sent
to
Varaenna just before she tele****ted, <I will not let you down!> and
then she and her
rider were gone.
* * * * *
Ansel & Khamorray
Mid Afternoon, at sea
/snip from [DL-J] The Not-So-Secret-Secret Of Pirate's Cove/
The two dragons settled into an easy swimming pace behind the dolphins
as
they steered a course around the shoreline of the island. Just when
they had
passed around it's far side, the sharp-eyed Khamorray made an
observation.
[Um, aren't those sails in the distance?] he asked.
Ansel blinked in surprise and looked across at Eliase. By the look on
her
face, she'd seen the sails too.
[Riyanne has just pointed out that if we'd simply gone around the
island instead of stopping there, we wouldn't have needed the
dolphins,]
Khamorray said unnecessarily.
*Guess that's what we get for following pirate maps,* Ansel grumbled.
Suddenly Riyanne surged out of the water and took flight in the
direction of the Marquesa. *What's gotten into her?* Ansel asked.
[She thinks the ****p is under attack,] said Khamorray. [Um, since I see
waterbreathers swarming up it's side, I'd say she is right.]
*Then what are we waiting for??* Ansel demanded. *Go!!*
/end snip/
Khamorray sped up, taking flight but maintaining an altitude of
just a
few feet above the water as Riyanne was already doing. The dolphins
followed at
their best speed, although they were dropping steadily behind the two
racing
seadragons. As the Marquesa loomed larger and larger before them,
Ansel could
see that there were dozens and dozens of Kataani soldiers, more than
the
pirate crew of the Marquesa could hope to fight off.
They were giving it their best shot, however, and clearly Dolfis'
crew was
as adept at repelling boarders as they were at boarding other ****ps.
Squinting, Ansel could see Dolfis himself just behind the front line of
defenders at
the Marquesa's railing, shouting orders to his men to hold firm.
Occasionally, a few Kataani would break through the sla****ng cutl*****
and stabbing pikes
of the defenders. When that happened, Dolfis would race to the
threatened
point and either drive them back or dispatch them with lightning quick
thrusts
and parries from his own cutlass.
The Kataanis' failure to take the ****p's main deck meant that they
were
all in exposed positions along the ****p's sides as they crawled up
ropes that
were held in place by grappling hooks above. Given their numbers and
the
well-trained precision of their attack, Ansel knew that this situation
would not
last - in fact, he guessed that the attack must have just started, or
the
well-disciplined troops would surely have overwhelmed the pirate crew
already. But,
just for the moment, they were totally exposed to an attack by a pair
of
unnoticed seadragons. Ansel gave his instructions to Khamorray, who
passed them
along to Riyanne. The two dragons dropped even lower, so that their
bellies
were almost touching the water.
Closer, closer they came to the ****p - and at the last second,
Ansel
shouted out a signal. Khamorray and Riyanne abruptly turned and veered
away from
each other, opening a gap between them as they raced ahead. In Ansel's
vision, the gap was suddenly filled by the towering, wooden sides of
the Marquesa.
Now Khamorray surged upward, banking back in toward's the ****p.
Opening his
jaws wide, he strafed the ****p's side with a blast of superheated steam
as he
passed. It was not *quite* hot enough to peel the paintwork off the
vessel's
side, but it was more than enough to make the astonished Kataani troops
lose
their grips on the grappling ropes and go tumbling into the sea.
In a second they had passed the bow of the ****p and were beyond her.
Riyanne appeared too, and Eliase gave him a thumbs-up that meant they
had been as
successful at clearing the Marquesa's starboard side of boarders as
Ansel and
Khamorray had been on the ****tside.
[Riyanne says her rider thinks that will not stop them, just delay
them,]
Khamorray said. [She asks whether we should make another pass at them
in the
water, and try to drive them farther from the ****p?]
Ansel thought a moment. *Tell her no,* he said. *As long as
they're in
the water, all they have to do is duck if we try to steam them.] He
didn't
add that if they went into the water to attack the soldiers, they'd
become
targets themselves for the long spears of the Kataani soldiers. He
remembered only
too well those great phalanxes of ****elds and spears they'd faced
earlier.
*I have a better idea,* he said. *Tell Riyanne to move away from the
****p, out
of spear range. What I've got in mind will only take a moment, and if
I'm
right it will bring the attack to an end.*
[An interesting idea,] Khamorray said as he saw the plan unfold in
Ansel's mind. [The pirate may be rather unhappy with you, though.]
*Everyone else is, so why not Dolfis too?* Ansel asked. *Okay,
GO!!*
Khamorray beat his wings strongly and rose up above the deck of the
****p.
He circled once, as Ansel looked down on the jubilantly cheering
pirate
crew. *There he is!* Ansel told the dragon, pointing out the tall
pirate captain
who stood at the ****p's fantail. He was doing just what Ansel had
hoped,
getting the vessel underway. Sails unfurled as crewmen clambered
through the
rigging and pulled on ropes, while others on deck secured other ropes
to hold them
in place. The sails billowed in the stiff breeze, and the Marquesa
began to
move. Dolfis must have known that the Marquesa couldn't outrun the
Kataani,
but he apparently hoped that with some cover from the two seadragons,
they
might hope to make good their escape.
That wasn't *quite* Ansel's own plan, but close enough. Khamorray
soared
down, twisting expertly to miss the ****p's rigging, heading right for
Dolfis.
Ansel saw the pirate turn his head, and could have sworn he saw the
man's
eyes go wide as he saw Khamorray bearing down on him. Dolfis turned
and tried to
duck, but Khamorray's jaws snapped closed at just the right second.
The
dragon pulled up and soared out over the sea again.
The crew stared in disbelief. Where their captain had stood only a
second
before, there was now just empty space.
"Put me down, you green-scaled scallywag!!" Dolfis howled, swatting
at
Khamorray's nose as the dragon held him suspended by his belt.
Khamorray
snorted in annoyance, but didn't let go. "I've got to go back and save
my ****p!"
"Dolfis, I'm saving your ****p!" Ansel shouted. "Just hang on!"
"Tell this damned dragon to make sure he damned well hangs on!!"
Dolfis
shouted as he looked down at the water racing by below them.
*Circle over them,* Ansel told Khamorray. *Not too fast - we want
them
to see who we've got with us!* Khamorray complied, and Ansel saw the
Kataani
pause in confusion as they recognized Dolfis dangling from Khamorray's
teeth.
Then the seadragon soared out a good distance from the ****p, landing on
the
water. He kept his head up high as he did so, to keep the captain from
getting
swamped with water. They coasted to a stop, and Ansel could see a
number of
the Kataani swimming rapidly in their direction.
Khamorray released Dolfis, who wasted no time in scrambling up the
dragon's neck to where Ansel sat. "What the hell was that for??" the
pirate captain
demanded, looking as though he was ready to strike Ansel. "A captain
goes
down with his ****p and crew, and..."
"Dolfis, the Kataani don't care about your ****p and crew!" Ansel
said,
pointing behind them. "It's YOU they want!"
Dolfis stopped in mid-sentence, his mouth hanging open as he
followed
the direction that Ansel was pointing. The Kataani had lost all
interest in the
Marquesa, which was moving in stately fa****on off to the North.
Instead of
following her, the Kataani were all swimming toward where Khamorray
floated in
the water.
"Strap yourself in!" Ansel told Dolfis, who now realized the young
rider's plan and quickly complied.
"Not too fast!" he told Ansel, just as Riyanne was skimming down
into
the water alongside them. "We've got to give my ****p time to put some
distance
between herself and those green-skinned bastards!"
Ansel knew that Tara wanted them at the beach as soon as possible,
but
realized that Dolfis had a point. Although with Dolfis gone they had
no real
reason to attack the Marquesa, the Kataani might do so anyway if Dolfis
were
suddenly snatched from their grasp and the ****p was still close enough
to
present a target of op****tunity. As soon as Dolfis was strapped in,
Khamorray began
to move forward - swimming on the surface, not flying, just fast enough
to
keep their lead. With Riyanne keeping pace alongside, they continued
this game
for what seemed an interminable time, with the dragons slowing
periodically to
let the Kataani close some ground, then pulling away just a bit, while
making
it look as they were doing so only by extreme effort in order to make
the
soldiers think they had a chance of catching their prey.
"Where are we going?" Dolfis wanted to know. Ansel decided that
there
was no reason not to fill him in, and told him what he knew - that they
were
taking him to a beach, where other dragons and riders would meet them.
That was
all he knew, and told Dolfis so.
Dolfis grunted. "I can guess what Tara's got in mind. All right,
I'll
play along." He looked behind them to where the Marquesa had by now
vanished
over the horizon. "Just one question - when we get to the beach, what
if my
"ride" isn't there? Those soldiers back there won't sit offshore and
wait for
them to come and pick me up."
Ansel's eyes widened. Even if they now put on speed to get out of
their
pursuers' sight, the Kataani might still reach the rendezvous point by
following a straight line.
[They won't,] Khamorray said. [We aren't headed for the place
Varaenna
showed us. We're heading back in the direction of the warren, to the
place
where all the fighting was going on this morning. If they keep going
straight,
that's where they'll end up. Where we're going is the other way.]
*Good thinking,* Ansel said. *Okay, we've drawn them off. Let's
give
them the slip.*
Without thinking to warn Dolfis, the two dragons suddenly dove deep.
The
Kataani followed, but were totally disoriented as Khamorray and Riyanne
swept
back upwards toward the surface - and tele****ted.
The water rushed in to fill the space the dragons had occupied,
sending
shockwaves through the water that left the Kataani pursuers momentarily
stunned
and disoriented. Their lieutenant wondered how he was going to re****t
this
fiasco to his superiors.
Just offshore from the rendezvous point, the reappearance of the
two
dragons a few fathoms below the surface caused a far greater
disruption, as the
water displaced by their bulk blasted outward in a loud detonation that
threw up
a great column of water high into the air. The two dragons erupted out
of
the waterspout as it collapsed, and soared in over the beach.
[Oh, look, they're here!] Khamorray said happily.
(Tag Arlene!)
NRPG: Thanks to Arlene for playing the part of Plastyra!
Submitted by:
John
Tara & Varaenna
Ansel & Khamorray
Jasra Warren
Summary:
Day 1, early afternoon: Varaenna instructs Plastyra to take her rider
and
meet Khamorray and Riyanne on a beach north of the warren, and from
there to take
Dolfis to Haven.
Mid-to-late afternoon: Ansel and Eliase, with their seadragons, repel a
Kataani attack on the Marquesa and then snatch Dolfis from the deck.
They swim
slowly enough not to outdistance the Kataani in order to draw off their
attention
and give the Marquesa time to escape, then tele****t to the rendezvous
point.
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