IC-Ep 2-The Ambush(Hu Xiang only)

[Mr. Handy]

THE NINTH PLANET

EPISODE 2

Surface of Pluto
0655 GMT - Tuesday, August 9, 2112

Xiang had a good view of the Demeter and Lt. Colonel Bruce on the main viewscreen, as well as of the rock formation with the cave. Without warning, six of the most hideous mostrosities he had ever seen emerged flying from that tunnel. They varied in size, but they averaged a little smaller than man-sized. They had large, membraneous wings that propelled them awkwardly through Pluto's thin atmosphere, oversized heads that resembled giant brains with antennae, slimy green webs coating their chests, and numerous long and thin limbs ending in small pincers. They each seemed to be holding something...and they flew right towards the security chief as he stood alone on the surface!

OOC,[b]Xiang[/b], please roll Sanity. Sanity loss is 0/1d6, so you lose no Sanity if you succeed and 1d6 if you fail. If you lose 5 or more Sanity, you must roll Idea. You want to fail this roll, as if you succeed, you will go temporarily insane. As long as you do not go insane, you may act freely.

[SSior.27]

WOW!,I made it! [url=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3232793/]Sanity Roll for seeing the aliens, 60 or less is good! (1d100=37)[/url]

Seeing the creatures flying out startled Hu like nothing else, as he had never seen anything like them... except in those science fiction vids. He grabbed the com and punched a line to Bruce.

"Lieutenant Colonel! You've got six creatures coming at you! Get in the ship or into cover before those hun'dan get to you!"

[Mr. Handy]

One of the creatures fired a bluish bolt of sparks from a small black object held in its hand. It struck the security chief before he could even move. He jerked and twitched around spasmodically, but remained on his feet. Still, he was unable to flee or resist. The rest of the creatures swooped towards him, buzzing.

"Bruce, six incoming heading straight for your co-ordinates," said Lt. Colleen Rose on the radio. "Get back to the ship! Repeat. Get back to the ship!"

[SSior.27]

Assuming...,Assuming I can hear and respond to Lt Colleen Rose...

Hu punched the com. "Lieutenant Colonel Bruce is hit! They fired some sort of blue... THING at him. He seems to be alive, but isn't moving!"

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,Yes, you can hear and respond.

"Lieutenant-Colonel!" shouted Sergeant Heinrich Kohl on the comm. "Rose, is there anyone down there who can see exactly what's going on?"

The five creatures reached Lt. Colonel Bruce, and one of them seized him before he could move away. It and its fellows lifted him bodily from the ground and flew back towards the cavern from which they had emerged.

[SSior.27]

"1st Lt. Hu Xiang, I'm on site in the Persephone. The creatures have just taken Lt. Colonel Bruce into a nearby cavern."
Seeing the Demeter still landed, Hu hails the other ship. "Come on, Juliette, answer... Answer..."

[Mr. Handy]

Juliette replied almost instantly: "Lt. Colonel and Lt. Hu, this is Captain Desjardins. I found one of the little buggers in my ship. Blasted it to smithereens. I have gained control of a ship, again."

Others spoke from the comm all at once.

"What did you see?" asked Lt. Rose. "What are they?"

"Hu, this is Sgt. Kohl," said the sergeant. "Could you see what these things look like? What're they doing with Lt. Col. Bruce now? Has there been any word from Capt. Desjardins?"

The creatures carried Lt. Colonel Bruce into the tunnel and were gone.

[SSior.27]

"They seem to be like a flying insect, multiple extremities, large heads. They have taken Lt. Col. Bruce into the caverns. I can't see where from the viewscreen. And yes, Captain Desjardins has made contact and killed one."
Switching to the other ship's comms, "Desjardins, they have taken Lt Col Bruce into the caverns. That's where you found the Persephone, correct?"

[Mr. Handy]

The Demeter lifted up off of the ground and hovered in front of the tunnel entrance.

[Mr. Handy]

"Roger that, Lt.," continued Juliette. "That is where I found the Persephone. It is a narrow corridor. Ending in at cave with a door. I could easily fly in, but the salauds are FAST, I can't see them any more. Les bâtards puants vole vite. Contrôle au sol, les crètins fly incredible fast. There is a flat cave, at the far end of the cave there is a round sphincter-like opening that was closed when I was down there last. It is sealed by a lot of black plates that looks like it would be an iris opening. There were a lot of colored lights flashing on the wall next to the door, and since they had two on guard the last time, they are bound to be on guard now."

[Mr. Handy]

"That is a negative, Sergant Kohl," added Juliette. "I have no drones, the Demeter is to small to carry them. But there are some unmanned drones in the docking bay at the base. I'm uncertain of the the signal length, but if you send them out we should be able to take over control at this end to boost the signal as they go into the tunnel. Or 1st Lt. Hu can fetch them with the Persephone. Fourmilière, Zut Alors," she said and continued in English. "This is maybe like an anthill, they are bound to have other exits. All creatures that live underground have alternate exits. They lured the Persephone down here. Maybe this is only a trap. We should send in drones here, but we should also find their alternative exits."

After some delay, Colleen replied: "We've been authorized to deploy a drone. It's on its way to you now, Captain. If this fails, you are not to enter the tunnel yourself but are ordered to return to base." A couple of minutes later, the small remote control drone arrived and hovered beside the Demeter. "Transferring control to you now."

[SSior.27]

Hu is silently relieved that he will not have to go in. He anxiously awaits the results from the drone's scan.

[Mr. Handy]

"Demeter to Persephone," said Juliette on the comm, "do you keep a look-out for action on the surface? I would not like them to come at us from a different exit!"

The drone flew down the tunnel and was gone from view.

[Mr. Handy]

"Fire in the hole!" shouted Juliette after a little while.

[SSior.27]

Hu nodded, regardless of whether the motion carried over the comm. "Shi, I can keep an eye out up here for any sign of activity."

[Mr. Handy]

"The little buggers took a full blast without seeming more than injured," said Juliette. "I will withdraw the drone to see if I can lure them out. 1st. Lt Hu? Are you ready for action if they do come out? They need a full blast from a big gun to go down. If they do not come out I think we should take the specimen I've got packed up in my airlock and their gunthinghy in for closer study... "

[Mr. Handy]

"That's it, 1st Lt. Hu!" Juliette said a moment later. "We are going back. Let's take off and return to base." The Demeter gently lifted up and faced the Entrance weapons ready..."When you are ready, 1st Lt. Hu. Let's go home. I'll cover the entrance until we are ready, then maximum speed to base. Does that sound ok by you?" To the base she said: "This is Capt. Desjardins. Drone down. The Demeter and the Persephone will return to base. We all need to have a long chat now!"

"Affirmative," replied Lt. Colleen Rose. "I'll notify General Pryce and Colonel Patel."

[SSior.27]

Before Hu had a chance to reply, Juilette's voice came again. "Right, let's get back to base." He then proceeded to get the ship back in motion to go home. What on earth could have happened that fast?

[Mr. Handy]

Juliette followed Lt. Hu back in the Demeter. Soon they reached the docking bay module of Styx Base. As they hovered, the dome retracted to allow them to land.

"Persephone and Demeter," said Lt. Colleen Rose, "this is Ground Control. You have permission to land."

OOC,[b]Xiang[/b] is moving to the thread linked below.

Two Came Back