Session Start: Thu Jan 04 18:00:00 2007
Session Ident: #Taw
* Logging #Taw to 'logs\EsperNet\#Taw.20070104.log'
<DeathStar> Episode 23: 6:00 AM
* Chad`Winters runs his hands through his hair as he stairs outside.
<DeathStar> 6* The sun is starting to peak up now - first light in a long night
<DeathStar> 6* Warren sits at the controls of the shuttle, clearly exhausted, but he says nothing
<DeathStar> 6* Warren eyes the radar. "We're coming in." 6He says finally to Chad, since everyone else is asleep.
* Chad`Winters rechecks the gun Warren gave him, clicking the safety off.
<DeathStar> 6* He lands just outside the base, and doesn't bother to hide their approach, since the base would already be on alert.
* Chad`Winters pushes off the shuttle wall and moves over to the ramp.
<DeathStar> <Warren> We have to assume it'll take him at least another 40 mins to get the missiles ready for launch
<Chad`Winters> That's still not a lot of time with error.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren grabs a map from his datapad of the base. He hobbles over, sitting down to eye it. "Once the base is sealed, it's nearly impossible to break into. It's an underground bunker."
* Chad`Winters moves over to look down at the map, eyeing it.
<DeathStar> <Warren> The blast doors will be sealed tight and Hodges won't be dumb enough to open them now.
* Chad`Winters stands there, studying the map.
* Lia is now known as Seraphna
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis opens her eyes as they talk, focusing blood shot eyes on the two
<Seraphna> *Ceres sits quietly.
<DeathStar> <Warren> I don't see any other way in. We need to take the blast doors down.
* Chad`Winters taps his fingers on the map, as he thinks
<DeathStar> 6* Points out a room. "Hodges will be there. The ops center."
* Chad`Winters eyes the map quickly, picking out his route. 1"There's doors along the way....We'll need to fire all our payload on that door to try and weaken it.
<DeathStar> <Warren> It's designed to withstand strong attacks. We might not have enough to breach
* Alicia has joined #TAW
* ChanServ sets mode: +o Alicia
<DeathStar> 6* Warren hobbles to the front of the shutle to eye their payload.
<Seraphna> *This shuttle is definately military, it's equipped with both repeating turrets and missles.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis says nothing, probably not understanding the technical details.
<Chad`Winters> We have no choice but to go through the front door.
<Seraphna> Ceres> "At this point talk's cheap..." *she checks her gun*
<DeathStar> 6* Warren glances at Kyouki and Erevis, then at the controls.
<DeathStar> <Warren> I got an idea. 6He grabs the controls, lifting the shuttle up.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> Hmm?
<Chad`Winters> If you fire the missiles at the same spot over and over we'll...6He looks at Warren.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren flies the shuttle toward the bunker, clearly having to work to fly it low.
<Seraphna> Ceres> "Should I be hanging onto something about now?"
<DeathStar> <Warren> Kyouki and Erevis, can you form a psionic barrier by linking your minds? It should work since ... well. 6He just nods to Kyouki. She knows why - she has some of Kat's genetic material in her brain
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *nods, and links her mind to Erevis'*
<DeathStar> 6 *Erevis immediately blocks, clearly not prepared.
<Chad`Winters> ...You're going to ram it...6He reaches up grabbing onto a rung and locking himself in tight
<DeathStar> <Warren> I'm going to do more than ram it.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren begins to arm the payload.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... sorry. I'll... give you a moment..." *lets Erevis prepare*
<DeathStar> <Erevis> ... 6She just eyes Kyouki, like a predator that's been sniped at
<DeathStar> 6* Warren positions himself near the bunker, putting shields to the forward part of the shuttle.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... I... I'm not used to this..."
<Seraphna> *Serena lays in her hospital bed, looking confused and upset.
<DeathStar> <Erevis> ... 6She glances at Chad, then Warren. Exhaustion has set in, and it's clear she doesn't want to open any sort of link with Kyouki
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "..." *sighs*
* Chad`Winters glances over at Erevis. 1"Erevis, you need to do this."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... Warren, what's plan B?"
<Seraphna> Ceres> "Erevis, please do this."
<DeathStar> <Warren> What is the hold up? 6He snaps, too tired to care.
<DeathStar> <Erevis> ... Very well. 6She begins to let down her defenses, attempting to reinforce Kyouki's harmonics with her own.
<DeathStar> <Warren> Good. Put a shield around the back part of the shuttle. It'll make it stronger. 6He announces, seeing what appears to be concentration on Erevis' face.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Thankyou..." *helps Erevis shield the back of the shuttle*
<DeathStar> 6* He reaches over and closes off the back part of the shuttle for more protection for those in the back.
<DeathStar> <Warren> ... 6He arms the turrents to begin firing, then programs the missiles to launch all at once. He then shoves the shuttle toward the door.
<Seraphna> *Ceres hangs onto something.
<DeathStar> 6* The shuttle slams into the door right as the missiles go off, causing a point blank ram/explosion.
<DeathStar> 6* The back of the shuttle jolts hard and things begin to collapse in, and heat from the explosion can be felt
* Chad`Winters loses his grip and slams into a seat infront of him.
* Ariel opens her eyes slowly, trying to make her eyes focus on the blurry room.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis strains, so exhausted she's having trouble.
<DeathStar> 6* Then quiet.
<DeathStar> 6* Everything 5 feet in front of them is gone in metallic rubble
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis drops the shield finally, breathing deeply.
<Seraphna> *Several Atlean doctors look over Ariel in concern.
* Chad`Winters groans in pain, grimacing as he pulls himself up.
<DeathStar> 6* A piece of metal falls down. It seems the ramp is still working, but anything resembling a shuttle cockpit is gone.
<Seraphna> *Ceres picks herself up, "That's one way to open a door... let's get moving..."
* Ariel squints as she trys to focus on the unfamiliar room. "...where... am I...?"
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Erevis, are you alright...?"
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *sounds a little shaken*
<DeathStar> <Erevis> ... Warren. 6She says simply, moving to the front. It's been minutes now since they broke the door open. She pauses ,seeing nothing of the cockpit remaining among the ruins of both shuttle and door.
<Chad`Winters> Warren....Where's Warren? 6He groans as he throws his left shoulder violently, putting it in place.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *rushes to the front*
<Seraphna> Doctor> "You're on Tantalus, one of our military ships, are you alright... Alpha Dragoon Ariel?"
<DeathStar> 6* Meanwhile, in space, the missile defense system begins to lock onto targets on the Earth. And ground missile silos are opening
<Chad`Winters> ...Shit...6He runs down the ramp and into the base, glancing around quickly.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis stands then walks after Chad, wearing Warren's trench coat over her damp clothing. Her skin is a shade of blue at this point, but she seems to be moving on will alone.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *scans for Warren quickly, a little exhaustedly though, then rushes after Chad*
* Ariel shakes her head slowly, and forces herself to shit up. "Just... just Ariel..."
* Chad`Winters get's his bearings then begins sprinting towards the Ops Center
<DeathStar> 6* Chad has to move through metal rubble, but it should be easy to get inside the base
<Seraphna> *ELayne smiles at Ariel, "Well you're looking better."
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis follows, shoving metal aside.
* Chad`Winters begins twisting his way through the metal rubble, not taking much care to get through as shards cut into him
<Seraphna> *Ceres follows him, keeping her gun ready, a tad more careful.
<DeathStar> <Computer Voice> 15 mins until missile launch. All personnel evacuate to safe quarters.
* Ariel looks to Elayne, "...what happened to me?"
<Seraphna> Elayne> "Best we can tell, you were drugged, probably by Xevil."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Chad, where are the controls?"
* Chad`Winters makes it into the base, blood dripping through his tact suit where it was cut. He then begins sprinting towards the Ops Center
<DeathStar> 6* As they travel, a gun turrent lowers and aims at Chad. Since it's a clear hallway with no rooms, there's no where to go but back out of range.
<DeathStar> 6* It fires
* Chad`Winters slides to a stop then leaps backwards.
* Seraphna fires at the gun turret.
<DeathStar> 6* The gun turrent is damaged.
<Seraphna> *CERES
* Chad`Winters pulls his gun up and fires at it.
* Seraphna is now known as Ceres
<DeathStar> 6* It blows up
* Alicia pulls her gun up and... shrugs
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis eyes the device blow up, clearly not approving of such means of fighitng
* Chad`Winters holds his gun infront of him and resumes sprinting
<Alicia> * Kyouki
* Ceres moves after Chad.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *rushes after Chad*
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis follows along. As they move along, a blast door lowers in front of them. It'll close in 10 seconds
* Ariel scowls, and trys to stand.
<DeathStar> 6* Close
* Chad`Winters growls and sprints faster, leaping into a slide to slide under it
<DeathStar> 6* Chad slides into it
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *rushes for the door, trying to slide under*
<DeathStar> 6* And Kyouki
* Chad`Winters stands up, punching it hard.
<Ceres> Ceres> "That way is blocked, let's move."
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis just stands there, eyeing the two
<Chad`Winters> Kyouki, Erevis, try and pull it up.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis closes her eyes, trying as best she can to lift it
<Ceres> *Ceres looks around for another path while they try going through a blast door.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Alright..." *helps Erevis as best she can*
* Chad`Winters ducks low, getting ready to dive under it
<DeathStar> 6* The door lifts with Kyouki's aid. A foot.
* Chad`Winters sucks in his gut and slides under it.
<Ceres> *Ceres follows quickly.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis nudges Kyouki to go with a mental prod
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *follows&
* Chad`Winters resumes sprinting, noting the time in his head
<DeathStar> 6* The blast doors slam down behind Kyouki
<DeathStar> <Computer Voice> 10 minutes until missile launch.
* Chad`Winters jams his finger into his left leg as he sprints.
<DeathStar> 6* Chad reaches a hallway with 10 armed troopers, thinking they are protecting their President.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads after Chad, unless Erevis is trying to open it again*
<DeathStar> <Trooper> Halt or we WILL fire.
<Ceres> Ceres> "That man is a traitor to the government!"
* Chad`Winters slides to a stop. 1"WE NEED TO STOP HIM FROM LAUNCHING THOSE MISSILES!
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers ignore them. "Lay on the ground with your hands over your head."
<Chad`Winters> Kyouki, can you mess with their heads?
<Ceres> "This always has to go the hard way..."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Should be able to." *tries*
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers stand there, then one begins to freak and fire down an empty hallway. "MORE OF THEM!" 6Disorder is dissented.
* Chad`Winters flips ups his gun, firing at the 10 troopers, aiming to disarm them.
* Ceres starts taking out confused troopers, with nonlethal shots
* Ariel removes the monitors and grabs her clothes, going to get changed. She doesn't seem to plan to hang around here.
<DeathStar> 6* As the troopers are fired on, they begin to panic even more. One fires right at Ceres
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "That felt disturbingly familiar." *fires nonlethal shots at the troopers*
<Ceres> Elayne> "It's not safe right now."
* Ceres rolls to one side, firing at her assailant.
* Chad`Winters crouches and continues firing.
* Ariel mutters, "...it's never safe."
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers are finally beaten
* Chad`Winters breaks into a run towarsd the door, firing into it.
<Ceres> Elayne> "No, I mean the President has turned every missle that Earth has back on Earth itself."
<DeathStar> 6* The door is blasted open, revealing the ops room.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads inside*
* Chad`Winters leaps in and into a roll.
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges is sitting behind some computers, and not in range of a tag by a shot. "Chad. You've come - but come no further. I have Aya."
<DeathStar> 6* He turns in the chair, and Aya can be seen in his lap.
* Chad`Winters slides to a stop, standing up and aiming his gun at Hodges.
<Chad`Winters> Give mer her back now!
* Ceres follows after him, her gun also aimed at Hodges.
* Ariel looks flatly at Elayne as she steps out of the bathroom, "...it's never safe."
<DeathStar> <Hodges> You don't understand her true potiential. You never knew your own. But this child - she'll make you seem dull in comparison.
<Ceres> Elayne> "At least wait until after the deadzone time."
<Chad`Winters> Give me my daughter or I'll kill you now.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... is this going to be like you did to me?"
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *aims her own gun at Hodges*
<DeathStar> <Hodges> I don't think so. We're all going to sit here for the five minutes. And then we'll talk. 6He eyes Kyouki. "You were a failure."
<Ceres> "Chad, we don't have time."
<DeathStar> <Hodges> Nothing like the real Erevis. Now that was a creature of power. And look at her - trying to play human.
<Chad`Winters> Like hell. 6He looks around, eyeing Hodges surroundings.
<DeathStar> 6* A huge monitor has the countdown. 4 mins. It seems a computer in front of it is the missile computer.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "..." *just glares at Hodges*
* Ariel just shakes her head slowly, and makes her way to the bridge.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... you ruined my life, you know that?"
<Ceres> *Elayne walks with her, "You okay Ariel?"
<DeathStar> <Hodges> Funny. And here I thought you were given a rare gift.
<Chad`Winters> Give me my kid.
<DeathStar> <Hodges> Not yet.
<Ceres> Ceres> "Just take the kid."
* Chad`Winters adjusts his aim, firing a shot against something.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "'gifted', huh?"
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges is hit. The baby falls from his lap. He stumbles away, still not in good range.
<DeathStar> <Hodges> A richo---you bastard.
* Ceres fires at Hodges.
* Chad`Winters makes a mad dash towards his child
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *fires on Hodges*
<DeathStar> 6* Ceres hits computers.
<DeathStar> 6* As does Kyouki
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges moves through the various computers and desks
* Ariel seems to consider before answering. "Not really."
* Ceres sigsh and runs over to the missle computer.
<Ceres> Elayne> "Your daughters are in critical care, by the way."
<DeathStar> 6* It seems to need the key to turn off.
<DeathStar> 6* 1 minute remains.
<Ceres> "We need his key!"
* Chad`Winters leaps onto a consoel and fires towards Hodges
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *heads towards Hodges, gun readied*
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges jerks behind another computer.
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges pulls out his own gun.
* Ariel stops, and looks to Elayne.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "The key, you bastard!" *fires at Hodges' hand*
* Chad`Winters leaps across the console onto another, continues to fire at him
<Ceres> *Elayne fires at him again.
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges leaps away and exits the room
* Chad`Winters sprints after him.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *rushes after*
<Ceres> *CERES, zomg
<DeathStar> 6* 0 minutes. The missiles cannot be stopped.
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges runs down a hallway.
<DeathStar> 6* They begin to arm for launch.
* Chad`Winters stops, running back inside and over to the launch computer and begins typing on it furiously
<Ceres> *Ceres starts working on something else on teh computer, chanigng the hit zones.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *rushes back, seemingly reluctantly*
<DeathStar> 6*Ceres begins to load in new hit zones.
<DeathStar> 6* The missiles in space launch
<Chad`Winters> Have the Earth side ones intercept the space ones
<Ceres> Ceres> "Already done."
<DeathStar> 6* The earth ones fire.
<Ceres> Ceres> "They're all set to meet out in space."
<Ceres> Ceres> "You know, to avoid a nuclear fallout."
* Chad`Winters moves over to Aya, picking her up
<DeathStar> 6* The missiles hit, causing a massive explosion
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... so it's over..."
<Chad`Winters> What's the damage report?
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges moves away from the base on foot, moving over to a car. "Goddamn Chad..."
<Ceres> Elayne> "Well... that was a fantastic display of fireworks."
<DeathStar> 6* Due to Ceres' and Chad's work, the damage is minimal.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Maybe I should've gone after Hodges after all."
* Ariel still doesn't look happy. "Where are they?"
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges gets into the car.
<Ceres> Elayne> "Oh right, your kids, Zephyr was shot, Sera was stabbed."
<Ceres> Elayne> "I think they're both gonna live."
* Ariel repeats, "Where are they."
<Ceres> Elayne> "Same hospital as the others, want to get there right now?"
<DeathStar> 6* Aya gurgles, not even crying despite what happened.
* Chad`Winters holds Aya tight, his left leg suddenly buckling slightly. He leans back against a console to sturdy himself.
<DeathStar> 6* Hodges car begins to leave, trying to get away.
* Chad`Winters narrows his eyes moving over to a console. He begins typing on it with his free hand.
* Ariel simply nods.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren steps out, completely bloodied. He fires at the car window.
<DeathStar> 6* The car swerves, driving closer to the base to avoid Warren. Suddenly, a gun turrent lowers from the outside of the base
* Chad`Winters hits a key.
<Ceres> *Elayne leads her to the center of the bridge, taps the thing on her wrist and they... are on the roof of the hospital.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *smiles, watching Chad work*
<DeathStar> 6* The gun turrent fires, hitting the car and sending it flipping into the air adn crashing. It explodes.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren shields his face
<Ceres> Elayne> "Let's go."
* Chad`Winters types something else on it.
<DeathStar> 6* Warren stands there, then just falls over, deciding life without his pain pills isn't worth living
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *jokingly* "I'm the one who's supposed to read minds, not you."
* Ariel waits for Elayne to lead the way.
* Chad`Winters taps his eye then begins talking lightly.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... speaking of which... no-one picked up my pills, did they?"
<Ceres> *ELayne leads her down to the emergency ward, where Zephyr and Sera are both being kept
<Chad`Winters> We're done...6He pushes off the console and begins walking out of the base, a grimace on his face with every step of his left foot
<DeathStar> 6* The base shuts down and unlocks. All is clear.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis is where they left her, sitting there.
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *follows, looking a little dazed*
<Ceres> Ceres> "How's Aya?"
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "Erevis..." *bows respectfully*
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis lifts her head, glancing at Chad, then nods.
* Chad`Winters doesn't respond to Ceres. 1"We coudln't have done it without you Erevis."
<Ceres> *Ceres sighs and orders a new shuttle to get them.
* Ariel checks on her daughters worriedly
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "You really are amazing."
<DeathStar> <Erevis> Noted. 6She says simply
<Ceres> * Sera is awake, in bed, she seems mostly healed, but amazingly upset for some reason.
<DeathStar> 6* Zephyr is still asleep as she lays there, medical machines still hooked up to her.
* Chad`Winters slows to a stop, his eyes narrowing. 1"We're going to have company and I don'tk now who it is."
<Alicia> <Hotaru> *finally visits Sera*
<Ariel> "...what happened?"
<Ceres> *ELayne sighs, leaning against a wall in the room.
<Ceres> Elayne> "Xanatos shot Zephyr, Sera amanaged to help get her patched up... Sera... was stabbed trying to recover a child."
<Ceres> *Sera nods weakly.
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis says nothing to Chad's statement. At this point, it's hard to tell if it even registered.
<Ceres> Elayne> "Her vocal chords were sliced clean through, if she were human she'd be mute for life, but there's a marginal chance she might talk again one day.
<Ariel> "... is he dead?"
<Chad`Winters> You guys need to stay inside. Ceres, I want you back at the controls incase we need the base defense back online.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "She's a good kid... and... I don't know."
* Ceres nods
<DeathStar> 6* V.I. troop cars begin to pull up outside the base.
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "He... won't be the same person, if he wakes up."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... we should get moving..."
* Ariel nods. She'll accept that...
* Ceres heads back to the console, arming the defenses
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Brain damage."
<DeathStar> 6* Troops begin to get out of the car. Assumedly they were here to get Hodges after the missiles.
<Chad`Winters> We'll stay at this hallway, it'll give us the best chance of holding them at bay.
<Ceres> *Sera looks down at her sheets <I can't manage a word...>
<Alicia> <Kyouki> *nods, still looking dazed. Erevis can tell why, but anyone else...*
<DeathStar> 6* The troopers begin to disperse, setting up a defensive permimeter
* Chad`Winters taps his ear. 1"Ceres, it's VI isn't it?"
<DeathStar> 6* Erevis couldn't tell much. It seems she's passed out due to the hypothermia she's had the last six or seven hours
<Ceres> "Yep."
<Chad`Winters> <C> Show no remorse.
<Ceres> *Ceres taps the commands, gun turrets opening, targeting VI soldiers.
<DeathStar> 6* Some of the troopers suddenly show up with Warren, dragging him with a gun pressed against his head
<DeathStar> 6* One trooper grabs a bullhorn. "Surrender or we'll kill this man."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... bastards..."
<Alicia> <Kyouki> "... why do they make me want to slaughter them so much...?"
* Ariel frowns... even with her daughters hurt, it's hard for her to just stand idle. "...what are the others doing?"
<Alicia> <Hotaru> "Well... they've just stopped the missiles, I think..."
<Ceres> Elayne> "It seems they stopped the missles, they should be coming back now."
<Chad`Winters> <C> Hold your fire Ceres...
<DeathStar> 6* Warren just smirks. "Just shoot them." 6He mutters, hoping the psionics can hear him