6315 réponses à ce sujet

[Redbelle]

Jess nodded. "The spine is the problem. But if we don't send people where they feel we ought to be we take control before we take the ship. And they can blow the ship, or dive it. We need people in the spine and if we catch them off guard, maybe we can get through it before they know we're there......".

 

"But I take the point. But the answers no. There's nowhere else but the hanger bay..... Unless your willing to consider the cargo modules strapped to the spine.... You can cut into them with no problem. Look.....". Jess manipulated the display and the modules were blown up in size. "Three in a triangle formation around the spine that run three down the spine. Each with airlock access. You'd have an easier time cutting through one of those.... The cargo's held under atmosphere though so blow one and your going to have an explosive decompression. Maybe though.... if the sythe can establish a temporary connection to pierce one of he sides.....".

 

Jess looked thoughtful. "Look, we all know it's a trap. And their expecting us to fall for it. So we have to look like we're falling for it once it's sprung. But the further back we push them being aware we're there to spring their trap the more progress we can make. And then, if we can use the containers to put people into the spine behind whatever they have ready, we'll be able to circumvent them. Besides.....". She went on. "The spines not completely devoid of cover. You can squeeze into the airlock passages to give better cover. You wouldn't want a big person there though. The recesses aren't that small. We need people who can cover themselves and shoot back..... That's assuming the enemy sets up a fire fight in the spine...". She added.

[Cainhurst Crow]

"They could simply vent us out into space once they force us to take cover..." Essul said bluntly, nodding slightly as he contemplated the plan over with a look of concentration on his face, "The problem is the need to spring the trap on ourselves...providing a distraction for the enemy to lure them into a false sense of security. If not, we could maybe try more unconventional or destructive methods, firing out the engines of the medusa or cutting into the hull." He said as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.

 

"Even now we are forced to play within this womans perimeters, hoping we can play within her game to find some exploit against it..." Essul said with a frustrated growl, "If only we could force her out of hiding, make her give up her set trap in order to pursue us, and lead her into one of our own..." He said as he tapped his fingers on the table restlessly, moving his hand away from his temple to look to jess, "She may attempt to take us alive, however. Torture and kill us symbolically to further provoke you, Captain Stone."

 

Vayne was silent throughout the meeting, his eyes fixed on the krogan in the armor, his name making his eyes narrow. 'It couldn't be the same one...that can't be.' He thought to himself as he continued to stare, lost in thoughts of the past as he remembered a krogan named golt. A big beast of their race, more then earning his keep on his crew and being a true monster to control. This mission was stones, and morgans, and their own. The chances of two golts had to be bigger then this being the same one...didn't it?

[Redbelle]

Looking over to Morgan, Jess shrugged. "Kinda. The bridge is forward top centre. The engines are near the bottom but half the aft is dedicated to thrust and breaking. We need to branch off once we get into the back section....".

[Kel Riever]

Morgan contemplated.  "All right, as I recall, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but cutting through the door would be harder than, say, putting charges on an airlock and blowing it in.  Plus it would take more time.  Either would make noise or draw attention.  How about one of the airlocks being hacked.  There was mention initially of pulling up to an airlock in the MIPs. 

"The airlocks are probably guarded, but we might be able to push through if defenders had to be spread between them.  We don't know how many defenders there are in total and that is one problem, but I can say that the Shadow Broker, being an organization for intelligence, does not field private armies.  Besides, without trickling it in, a large force would take more time than they've had to get there without being noticed I'm guessing.

"Windows? Outside cameras?  What are the details on those?  That could change things as well.  But I guess my point is if we are to sneak on that ship, we'll either have to be cutting into a section that doesn't see normal travel, maybe like a maintenance crawlspace?"

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"The question remains, where is the trap set?" Irina said, "This is going to be awkward, Stone, so don't take this the wrong way. If you were still in charge of that ship, where would you set the trap for a boarding party that knew the layout of the ship?"

[Cknarf]

This is so fucked.

Frank sighed, and unlatched his helmet, so he could demonstrate a textbook facepalm.

"If Iyana's as dangerous as you say, I'm sure she's thought of just about everything we've already mentioned, except for maybe the MIPs."
 

"She sounds like one of those weirdo monologgin' types.  You know..." Frank crossed his eyes, and changed his voice to a deeper, grumbly tone. "Rargh rargh I'm a psychopath. Before I kill you, you have to listen to this speech 'cause I'm totally into myself. "

"Do you really think that she'd just blow up the Medusa at the first sign of trouble? She's expecting a fight.  Hell, she's probably looking forward to it. I wouldn't be surprised if she just let us park the Scythe in the cargo bay..." He leaned forward "Send in the MIPs directly afterwards, while her goons are occupied."

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

Avan rubbed his chin. "Well, could we send anyone else besides ourselves to her? Instead of us letting ourselves get trapped, why not send someone else as bait? Unless Iyana can tell something's up. But if some of us go over there, wouldn't she realize she's being set up? I mean, what's the story going to be? A few professional killers were just in the neighborhood? Maybe assigned by someone to kill her? We should come up with a well thought-out, concrete reason to get 'accidentally' trapped, at the very least."

[Redbelle]

Jess nodded. "I couldn't hurt. And like I said, full vacuum gear should be worn so they can't pull the atmosphere out on us. It has the benefit of keeping your identities hidden from her as well......".

 

Jess stopped as a smile appeared on her face. "Then again, if we're talking about identities..... By now Iyana has to know about the Silver personea I use sometimes..... What if we gave her more than one silver? Tell me, have you lot ever stolen a ship wearing robes and a mask"?

[Cknarf]

"No... but it sounds fabulous."  

[Kel Riever]

Morgan listened, then commented.  "Sending another group of people besides us would likely only serve in getting them killed.  On the other hand, the idea of a proxy, or false target might have value.  It really depends on how focused this is specifically against Jess or if it is more about taking down all who come aboard.  Suspecting the latter I do not think disguises will help entirely, but I am not above them."

Pushing his cup away as Morgan's voice remained raspy, he said, "I wouldn't call a walk through the front door entirely off the table, Frank, but I would say that despite our enemy's capability, there are mistakes they could have made which we would lose the advantage of.  If we were to be so bold, and I would call that very bold, at a minimum I wouldn't want to show our entire hand.  Still, I feel more comfortable with our best efforts to get everyone aboard with as little notice as possible.  At some point an alarm will likely be raised.  My hope is we would have gotten as far as we can when it is."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"We're going to be wearing helmets. How will she see our faces?" Irina asked, "And no one is going to be using a stupid breathing mask."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"The MIPs can be fired from the Janiri's torpedo launch tubes. I can adjust the exit velocity so that you have sufficient fuel for the attitude adjustments needed to keep yourselves on course, and to keep your individual MIPs from spinning out of control enroute to the Medusa in addition to the retro burn needed to decelerate the pods for docking," VERA said, "This would cut your travel time by about 50%. Precise adjustment is necessary so that you do not fly past the Medusa into the gas giant.... That would be unfortunate."

[Cknarf]

Yeah, maybe a little.

"So uh... who's gets to be the torpedoes?" Frank nervously looked around the room.

[Redbelle]

"I'll take one". Jess said. "It makes sense. I know the ship, I know the system's. If the hanger is trapped I can spot it. Which brings another matter to the fore. Blanket comms will alert the Medusa we're there. For space moving in via the shuttle, I'll need a tight beam light comm. Something that fires data through a narrow light source. As long as I have line of sight I can call in what I find to the shuttle ahead of time"......

 

Jess paused. "And unless anyone else want's to offer, Anika can take the second MIP. "We've both flown them. She can take the mual MIP with explosive, walk the spine and prep it to sever it in case it's neccessary".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"We have standard infrared laser communications, available. It is old tech, but the ship is equipped with it." VERA said. "The Janiri and the shuttle are equipped with it."

[favoritehookeronthecitadel]

Avan shrugged. "I'll go where you wish me to be. And as for this plan, lets just aim for a version of this where no one gets shot."

[Cainhurst Crow]

"I volunteer." Essul said with a nod of his head, looking to captain stone before his eyes glanced around the room, "The operation is similar to one my people used on anti-piracy and ship to ground engagement." he said as he looked to jess, bowing his head to her as he closed his eyes.

 

"I am willing and able to help, if you would have me." he said, wondering if she would want someone of his kind to aid her in this matter. It was always a gamble with humans, his people not having made it easy for trust. But there was nothing but sincerity in his voice, and he was showing her the upmost respect he would give to someone of his own kind, in the same situation.

[Redbelle]

Jess grinned. "Why Mr Essul... are you saying you'd like to be fired out of a torpedo tube with me? As first date's go, that's a zinger, right up there with bungee jumps".

[Cainhurst Crow]

"E-excuse me?" Essul said as he looked at her a bit stunned, the slight stutter and sudden surprise at her forwardness making him jolt back in his seat a bit. "I...yes. I would like to volunteer..." Essul said as he relaxed back into his previous posture, bringing a hand up to stifle a cough and regain his composure.

[Kel Riever]

(Note:  the following was a collaboration with RedBelle)

 

Previously...( http://forum.bioware...res/?p=17342810 )

Cluster unknown, System unknown, aboard the Nostalgia
 

“Jrudek Ib-vu.”

Jrudek’s voice was calm. He tilted his head to the left, in a sign of admiration and respect. From his dealings with Iyana, however, he was aware that humans used a different body language. Jrudek bowed deeply at the waist.

The feelings of trepidation were beneath the surface for Jrudek, but if they showed a bit, Jrudek hoped they would help. No one wanted a messenger who was arrogant, or who did not honor the recipient of the message. Certainly he didn’t think his chances of leaving alive would be helped any by avoiding the submission that was demanded of him.

 

The man who had spoken brought forth a data slate and tapped in the name of the one before them. "Jrudek Ib-vu. You stand before the lord of the Kings and Queens".

 

"Well, he seems to be examining the floor before the lord at any rate". The soft playful vocie of the woman who stood beside the lord straightened and sat on one of the arm rests. "Do stand Jrudek. If you are always looking down at the ground you will be forever walking into things". She smiled sweetly even as the man turned and scowled. For his part, the lord simply sat with a hand on his knee leaning forward as he rested his elbow on his other looking intently at Jrudek.

 

The man turned back, cleared his throat. "Jrudek. You stand before the lord Tarball's. And yet, you come to us with the blood of those we call our people on your hands. A ship has been stolen. It's good name tarred by the presence of those whose minds are unsound. We have been watching. Your only purpose is to tell us what has happened..... and once you tell us what you have done.... you will tell us what you want.... and why".

 

Peering up to the throne, Jrudek spoke in an unassuming tone. “Your Lordship, to describe what has happened is simple in one aspect, and yet is part of a greater design which the woman who sent me has faith you will see in your wisdom. It stemmed from an interference that was instigated, as we see it, by Captain Jessica Stone, formerly of the Medusa.

“I beg your forgiveness for not understanding your formalities or terminology. The incident occurred on Omega. We, as you are well aware, are agents of The Shadow Broker. One agent, directly under the woman who sent me, was to report to her, and through reasons unbeknownst to us, Captain Stone saw to remove this agent, which directly interfered with our business.”

Jrudek took moment to hesitate before going on. “To be fair, one who is outside our employ may have a different point of view. This agent was apparently going rogue, was warned to stand down, and initiated a combat. Captain Jessica Stone, as we believe, came at that point to interfere. She first shot the pet of the woman I answer to, and then shot her directly, with intent to kill. My master fled at this point, unwilling to pursue the conflict without further investigation. This is our way as people of information.”

“And so we come to the incident of which you are aware.” Jrudek had come to the critical moment. “The seizure of the Medusa and the destruction of the vast majority of her crew. Here I cannot justify or explain the reasoning other than to say that the misfortune of our kind is that certain infractions cannot go unanswered. Here we have a great tragedy between your realm and ours, but one that we hope to resolve if, in any way possible, with proper payment, as we believe your ways, alien as they are to us, have common points of understanding.

“Iyana, for that is my master’s name, sought to deliver an equitable suffering upon Jessica Stone for the damage she had caused. I understand that in other terms, ‘equitable’ may seem to be an outrageous word to use, but we have measures that operate by different standards. A life is worth its content in information to us, a resource in the same way. The removal of our critical operative has cost us dearly, and it is not his one life that was taken from us, but the irreplaceable information that was lost when he had been taken.

“We do not expect sympathy for our ways, only empathy, the difference being between a mutual shared feeling and simple understanding. And if your Lordship, in his profound wisdom, can understand our ways, then he will have empathy for the great cost to us as a result of the actions of Captain Stone. Perhaps even empathy for the simple desire of Iyana to make things right. When the costs were tallied in her mind, the Medusa and her crew amounted to a sum worth slightly less than that which was lost.”

[Kel Riever]

"I like Avan's part of the plan," Morgan said, appreciating the bit of levity as his thoughts were mostly serious.  "So far, as I understand it, Essul will be with Jess in one of the Manned insertion Pods.  One other person who can fly will be in the other MIP.  And for flying the Scythe shuttle itself, we'll need a pilot and co-pilot."

Mira volunteered, "Iole can fly the Scythe and I can be backup for flying, if needed.  Neither of us is familiar with the MIPs, however.  If there are other pilots we can defer, but we're available if necessary.  You'll only have to tell us where you want us."

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

"Wait, Mira, I'll fly the Scythe on the approach," Naleena said. "The shuttle is non-standard. Iole doesn't know how to operate the cloak, nor does she know its limits. I want Iole to co-pilot so she can learn for future missions.

 

"Irina, you'll be with Frank. He's going to need someone to watch his back while he works his magic."

 

Irina smiled. "Got it."

 

"Dahlia, you'll go with Morgan. The two of you seem to make a good team."

 

"Whoever is on the infiltration team is with me," Naleena said.

[Redbelle]

Jess rubbed the back of her neck. "VERA. Can you organize with the crew the gear we'll need for the mission"?

 

"Of course I can silly. What should I arrange for? The space on the shuttle will be scarce seeing as you will be transporting so many".

 

"The one man MIP has space if needs be. For now, organize enough explosive to crack the spine off the command module to go on the MIP. The specs are in your system so you can calculate the amount you'll need. The shuttle will need portable barriers in case we need to push our way through the spine. Also.... do you have portable airlocks"?

 

"Portable airlocks"? VERA's voice actually sounded surprised.

 

"Portalocks". Jess confirmed. "Their essentially tubes made out of the same rubberized material as the emergency boarding tubes with two airlocks on each end. The lock's are can be magnetized so one end stays fixed to a position. We used them sometimes, back when I had the Medusa and the crew needed to board a ship someplace where they wouldn't expect.....".

 

"I won't pry into your colorful past. I assume the airlock frame is fitted with thermite to cut a hole"?

 

"Do you have any"?

 

"No.... But I could fabricate some easily enough. And we have the required thermite in the ship's stores. I estimate I could have the component's prepered to make up two of these rigs".

 

"Sounds good. I don't like walking into traps where the enemy plot's every move. At least we'll have the power to make an entrance where they don't expect. Maybe take them by surprise.... maybe mess up their plan of repelling us".

 

"Assuming that they have enough people aboard to repel the boarding party. I noticed your plan does not list the number of people you expect to face. Do you not have a number"?

 

Jess ground her teeth in frustration. "I wish I did. The Medusa's life support can be cranked up to support over a hundred. Just to run her, on a skeleton crew, you need around eight. And that's if they know what their doing and have spent time with the equipment. Frankly.... I don't know how many we'll face. I only know that they've had all this time to embed themselves. That's why we'll need the barriers. We'll need to be able to setup mobile defenses......".

 

"I'll co-ordinate the appropriate materials". VERA told them. "I will also arrange for the MIP's as you call them to be prepared for loading. You will have to be in them before they are placed inside the tubes so please be prepared ahead of time. I should hate to fire them without you aboard them".

 

"Hah". Jess chuckled. "Hah hah.... hah..... ha....... Your kidding she's kidding isn't she kidding"? She said turning to Naleena.

[Redbelle]

"Okay.... She's kidding. Right? Those MIP's aren't cheap and.....". She stopped as she realized everyone was looking at her incredulously and she clenched her fist to cough into it. "Right.... Right right right. We're boarding a ship. You've got the list of everyone aboard whose supposed to be my crew. The rest are fair game. You've seen the routes in but the unfortunate truth is the spine bottleneck's us. We achieve surprise and get through it easily or we blast through anyone guarding it and get to the two objectives.That's the plan..... So let's get to it luv's. Suit up and wait in the hanger. Soon as the Jeniri get's in system we'll be waiting for the word go".

 

Looking over the team Jess gave a nod. "Good hunting...... and thanks for this luvs..... Really".

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

“She does that sometimes,” Naleena said. “So let’s finalize who is going where. Vayne is going to Engineering in a MIP. Frank and Irina are on the shuttle and will go to Engineering. Avan, I want you to go with them and scout ahead. Engineering is very important. Jess and Essul are in a MIP and are going to the Bridge. Anika is going up the spine. Morgan, Dahlia, Eteon, and I will make a sweep, and will get to the Bridge as quickly as possible. Does this sound right, Jess?”