<Grysar> [Each of you wakes up in a mildly comfortable bed with a transluent 
half cylinder covering them.  You hear a not particularly urgent alarm which 
woke you up as the covering rotates into the bed]
<Grysar> [The three beds are in the back of what seems to be a small shuttle.  3 
m x 8 m if you had to guess.  You see each other...]
<Grysar> [But do not speak each other's languages.  So communication will be 
tricky for those w/o translators.]
<Grysar> [Session start!]
<Grysar> [You're all wearing your typical day to day garb.  Equipment is beside 
the bed.  Yes, including Thalan's hover bike.  It's packed next to his]
<Grysar> [You however do not know how you got here.]
<Grysar> [Anyone gonna do anything?]
* Neisis yawns and sits up, "Another morning...good!"
* Thalan starts awake the instant the alarm goes off. He's a sort-of cat-person, 
dressed in fairly standard clothing. Jeans, T-shirt, and black sneakers. His T-
shirt reads, on the back, 'If you want some tail, look somewhere else.' He is 
covered in soft, short, orange fur, and has short black hair. His eyes are cat-
slited and green, reflecting light like a normal cat's. On his hands are a pair 
of gloves.
<Neisis> (If either of the others understands her that is)
<Ciara> (*snerks at Thalan's T-shirt, and is reminded of RenFest yesterday ^_~)
* Thalan glances around curiously, and sniffs the air after he sits up. He has a 
long cat-tail, and definetly feline features on his face. What language did 
Neisis just speak? ?_?
<Neisis> (Brain...suddenly empty ARGH!)
* Murynal sits up and looks around, a complete lack of expression on her face. 
She's a pretty woman who looks to be in her mid-twenties, with deep green hair 
and eyes, and Asian features. She wears a light, loose shirt, darker pants 
designed for easy movement, and sandals.
<Grysar> [A logo comes on the main screen at the front of the shuttle.  Some 
cheery music on stringed instruments plays in the background.  Little arrows 
light up on the walls pointing forward]
<Thalan> (Uh...  What language?)
* Neisis looks far more human than Thalan, but the six inch ears, blue-cat slit 
eyes, and long buish-purple hair mark her as something else. She's wearing a 
form fitting body suit, but there's a suit of armor in the pile next to her bed.
<Grysar> [Instrumental]
* Thalan 's ear in that direction twitches.
<Thalan> (And I was asking what language Neisis just spoke)
<Brett> ( Does the logo have Kirby in it? )
<Grysar> (Nope.)
<Neisis> (Honestly Neisis would be speaking a derivitve of Engrish)
<Thalan> (Ah.  I think Thalan would understand that.  ^^;)
<Grysar> d2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Grysar (d2) and gets 2.
* Murynal eyes the screen, then checks herself over. Hilt with no sword, good. 
Bottles of pills, good. "Which one of you decided it was a good idea to kidnap 
me?" she asks, almost casually. The words don't quite fit with the way her mouth 
moves, but you both understand her in your native tongue.
* Neisis blinks at Murynal, "I haven't kidnapped anybody...Ever!"
<Grysar> [Messages of greeting play in a variety of languages.  Murynal catches 
most of them, Neisis and Thalan get nothing]
* Murynal turns to look at the other two people stuck with her. "Really."
* Thalan goes over and picks up his gear. "I would like to know myself... That 
damn ISSP'd better not be at it again."
* Neisis nods rapidly, sending her hair flying about her head.
<Grysar> [The arrows pointing towards the main screen start blinking in neon 
colors and are much more noticable.]
* Thalan listens carefully for anything that would be approaching. He looks at 
the main screen once they're done.
* Neisis follows the arrows to the screen, "Maybe that'll tell us."
* Murynal eyes them for a moment longer, then shrugs, barely noticeably. She 
turns to the screen and puts her hand to it.
<Grysar> [The screen sees to show the logo, which was a starmap juxtaposed on an 
exotic looking flower and shows a slide.]
<Neisis> (...We're in Nadesico? o.o)
* Thalan raises an eyebrow.
<Grysar> [It has two heads, one blue with antenna, one more human looking.  Arcs 
are emerging from both mouths but passing one another]
<Grysar> (Different starmap)
* Murynal blinks. "Do either of you recognize this?"
<Grysar> [Then a drawer opens which holds three devices.  The screen flashes an 
image of them, and now the arcs leaving each head travel to the other head 
successfully.]
<Neisis> Nope, I've never seen it before...
<Thalan> Nope.  But, I think I get what they're saying.
* Thalan takes one of the devices and puts it on.
* Murynal looks over at Thalan. "Translation devices?"
<Thalan> Yeah.
<Neisis> That or it's going to electrocute us.
<Thalan> Hope they're sanatized.
<Grysar> [The audio begins cycling through explainations.  The gist being that 
they are translating devices.  One end of the device goes by auditory input, the 
other by whatever works as throat.
<Grysar> [Murynal gets most of this, and Thalan starts picking it up once he 
puts the device on.  It seems clean enough.]
* Neisis walks over to the drawer, "Well?"
* Thalan finishes putting it on.
<Murynal> They're translator devices.  I doubt they'll hurt.
* Murynal tilts her head, very does not frown, and goes to pick one up and put 
it on.
* Neisis shurgs and pulls the third on out and puts it on as well.
* Thalan smirks. "Can you hear me now?"
* Murynal eyes Thalan. "You're lucky my code doesn't prevent really, *really* 
bad jokes.
<Neisis> Hey! You stopped babbling.
<Grysar> [You can now talk amongst yourself.  There's a slight lag, that has no 
gameplay effect.]
* Thalan mantains a perfectly calm face. "Who said anything about a joke?"
* Murynal taps at the new translator, then removes it and tosses it back in the 
drawer.
<Grysar> [A green humanoid appears onscreen.  He's got antenna, but otherwise 
doesn't seem all that different than you other two legged two armed freaks. :P ]
<Neisis> She did, must be one of thoes normal human things.
<Murynal> Human?
<Thalan> Yeah.  Really.
* Murynal blinks. She doesn't look amused, but still says, "That's funny."
* Thalan sniffs the air, taking in the scents of Murynal and Neisis. "She 
doesn't... smell human, though."
<Neisis> She doesn't?
<Grysar> [ *Humanoid ] "Superb, no murders and only a small number of minutes to 
figure out the translators.  Looks like we have a group with potential here."
<Thalan> (...  Oh dear.)
<Neisis> ...
<Thalan> ...  What do you want?
<Murynal> No.  I'm-
* Murynal stops right there and turns to the monitor. She narrows her eyes. 
Look, expression!
<Grysar> [Humanoid] I want to maximize the jumper survival and productivity 
rate.  I can either briefly explain your situation, or you can ask questions.  
Testing has shown no great advantage to either method.]
<Murynal> Explain.  Then we'll ask questions.
<Neisis> Hmm, and if you explain and then we ask questions?
* Thalan nods. "What information do you have?"
<Grysar> * Humanoid rubs one of his antenna.  "That's a workable method."
* Neisis grins, "Good."
* Thalan doesn't grin.
* Murynal just folds her arms. This had better be good.
<Thalan> (Wow.  We're such a nice crowd.)
<Murynal> (I am nice!  Really!)
<Thalan> (Yeah.  About as nice as adult Thalan.)
<Grysar> "Our universe seems to be a dumping ground for the rest of the 
multiverse.  On a regular basis 'jumpers' from alternative realities show up on 
our versions of your planets."
<Thalan> ...  I don't have a planet.
* Neisis blinks, "So....like...everytime a ship disapears or something...it 
shows up here?"
<Murynal> So there's a Taa?
<Grysar> "Corresponding planets is the most common method.  But yes, sometimes 
ships appear on people 'jump' onto space stations.  And no, the word Taa means 
nothing to me."
<Grysar> "These 'jumpers' are often powerful individuals possessing fairly 
impressive technology or special powers.  As a result, they are typically 
extremely dangerous and only at times friendly."
* Neisis nods, "Ah so that's why we were asleep."
<Neisis> Can't trust anyone these days.
<Grysar> "For centuries, jumpers were killed on sight.  But our current 
Confederation is more progressive and has developed this method to guarantee the 
sanity and socialability of jumpers"
<Thalan> Continue.
* Murynal twitches her fingers, and the hilt flies from her side and into her 
hand. She doesn't look happy.
* Neisis blinks.
* Murynal doesn't look much of anything, but really, not happy works.
<Thalan> And I do mean.  *Continue*.
<Grysar> "This method is fairly expensive, so to recoup costs..."
<Neisis> ...I get to trade one lifetimes debt for another...guess it doensn't 
matter much who it goes too.
<Thalan> I don't like outstanding debts...
<Grysar> "We send 'jumpers' to an uninhabited section of space to conduct 
moderately strenous labor for a period of thirty standard units."
<Grysar> "For a sense of persective, this (ten minute) conversation has taken 
one hundredth of a unit."
* Neisis tries to work out the math.
* Thalan shrugs. "So a little over 20 days."
<Thalan> Standard days, that is.
<Neisis> Well, if your standard days are anything like mine, I should last that 
long.
<Grysar> * humanoid rubs his other antena "Days are rather a non-standard unit 
we find.  The confederation has over... but this isn't important."
* Neisis looks up at the screen, "You're not going to make them work extra if I 
don't, are you?"
<Grysar> "At the end of this period we will claim the first three tons of Elrium 
that you gather to cover innoculation expenses and the ships that never come 
back.  The rest is yours."
* Murynal runs her hand through her hair. "How quickly do jumps take place? And 
do you have any water?"
* Thalan smirks. "Ships that never come back..."
<Neisis> ...Yes you are...
<Grysar> * humanoid rubs his other antena.  "That's a matter for your coworkers.  
As for the speed of jumps, we have no idea.  No one has managed to jump back and 
forth repeatedly to tell us."
<Neisis> ...
<Neisis> I'm going to vanish from the place I vanished to...not having done 
anything more than possilby moved some rocks around?
<Grysar> "As for your water.  Your ships shuttle has the ability to replicate 
life sustaining compounds for over ten thousand known jumper races.  If you 
allow it to scan you, it can likely replicate what you need."
* Neisis rubs her forehead.
<Murynal> If it can't, you'll know.
<Thalan> Look at it this way.  You could be dead.
<Grysar> "No, people don't tend to jump out, there are unexplained 
disappearances but they are uncommon.  Those that don't return tend to be 
because the group... failed to work out."
<Thalan> I do *not* like the cryptic speaking.  Explain.
<Neisis> I wouldn't mind dead, I expect dead. Not being to do something first on 
the other hand...
<Grysar> [The ship suddenly gets moving and the humanoid switches to picture in 
a picture mode as the main screen displays an approaching asteroid.]
<Grysar> "At least one of the jumpers proves not to be sociable and sane and the 
other two fail to restrain them.  It's unfortunate, but we haven't found a way 
to screen for that problem."
<Murynal> Yes, I bet it's 'unfortunate'.  Poor you.
<Thalan> Yeah.  You just lose money.
* Thalan checks the safety on his plasma rifle, and makes sure all the parts are 
in working order.
* Murynal flips the hilt in her hand, then walks off in search of this ship's 
computer replicator thing straight out of Star Trek.
<Grysar> "True enough.  So I'd aim to avoid that eventuality were I you three."
<Grysar> "As you have much more to lose."
* Murynal calls back, "What happens if we don't have the ore you want?"
<Neisis> Thirty days of moving rocks, Oh well, it's still faster than trying to 
pay of the colony ship.
<Grysar> "We send you on a different job.  As if you survive this assignment, 
you're probably safe to introduce into larger society."
<Thalan> If you're so smart, what are the dangers?
<Grysar> [Murynal finds a blinking control panel.  It walks her through a 
sampling process that involves drawing blood in a mostly painless manner.]
* Murynal winces, slightly, then taps her foot and waits.
<Grysar> "Space pirates haven't been seen in this sector for over 8 k units.  So 
your main danger is each other.  But you all seem sane enough, so you should be 
safe."
<Thalan> Some things never do change.
<Grysar> [A cup falls down off the machine, lands on its side, and fails to 
catch any of the liquid that sprays down afterwards]
* Murynal watches it do that, and says, dryly, "Your replicator needs work." She 
punches in for it to make another one.
<Neisis> Mhm, first pirate attack in... ...a long time...that'd be an 
interesting way to get remembered...exept nobody over there ::points at the 
screen:: would notice.
<Grysar> "Oh and I suppose your universe has better cup technology."
* Thalan makes sure Kedon is in working order next. "Who cares. I just want out 
of this place."
<Thalan> (Kedon is his hoverbike, by the way.)
<Grysar> [The second cup falls out, bounces on the first cup, and then rights 
itself and catches the liquid.]
<Grysar> [The ship fulls in closer to the asteroid.  It now takes up most of the 
screen.]
* Murynal picks the second one up - which sits impossibly on an angle - and has 
a sip. "As a matter of fact, we do."
<Grysar> "No, I'm sure none of the recent unexplained disappearances have been 
pirate related.  Our overall recover rate has remained quite constant."
* Neisis wanders back to her things and starts taking her armor apart. Unlike 
the archaic suit it resembles there is not collection of leather straps holding 
it together, "I suppoes that's good to hear."
* Murynal finishes the water, then tosses the cup out. "Not hardly. There's 
unexplained disappearances and you haven't told us? You're an idiot."
* Thalan changes gloves, swapping for a pair of fingerless ones. He pops his 
claws out and inspects them, making sure they're nice and clean. He rolls his 
eyes.
<Thalan> Idiot is an understatement.
<Neisis> I wouldn't give this job to somebody who could think, this ship 
probibly goes back if we're on it or not.
<Grysar> * humanoid rubs his antena a bit more anxiously.  "A certain percentage 
of the ships have always not returned.  The rate has remained constant for the 
past 100 units.  We attribute this to particularly destructive 'jumpers'"
<Murynal> So you're saying that there's a consistent number of jumpers that are 
destructive over any given time.
<Neisis> Or at least in the past year or so.
<Grysar> [A computer voice announces "Switching to manual controls" pilots, 
please assume take control.]
<Thalan> That is a very odd statement...
<Neisis> ....We have pilots?
<Thalan> If we do, they won't be for long.
* Thalan gets up and goes to where the cockpit is.
<Murynal> I can pilot, and I'm sure- there he goes.
* Murynal walks after him.
<Neisis> We have a machine that...hey!
* Neisis hurries after the other too.
<Grysar> "We've managed to improve the rate in the 16 k units the program has 
been active.  For the past 100 it's stabalized.  Although we hope for further 
improvements soon."
<Neisis> As I was saying, we have a machine that can make coffee based on our 
blood types, but it can't fly the ship?
* Thalan calls back to the green-head. "Yeah, whatever!"
<Grysar> [There are two chairs, and after a brief whirring and clicking, one 
pilot seat switches to a language Murynal cna understand, the other two one 
Thalan can.]
<Neisis> ... It's nice to know I'm ahead somewhere.
* Murynal has a seat at the one she can follow and looks around, trying to 
familiarize herself with the controls. "I'm Murynal As'Entaka, by the way. A 
Ta'Kara which, no, isn't human."
* Thalan checks the chair carefully, then gets in, accustomizing himself to the 
controls.
<Thalan> You can't be human.  You give off a very... distinct scent.
<Grysar> "Asteroid running is complicated and humanoids tend to respond better 
than AIs.  The computer can find you a safe route to the resources you're 
hunting, but an actual pilot can do it faster and often reach better loads."
* Murynal calmly (doesn't she always) says, "Shut up, green boy."
<Grysar> [piloting rolls]
* Thalan flicks off the green boy.
<Murynal> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-3) and gets 3.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Grysar> [Green boy huffs] "Fine, good luck."  His window then closes.
* Neisis stands near the back of the cockpit, "My name is Neisis, I'm a Newman, 
just a geneticaly engineered human...if I keel over tomarrow, it's just because 
they arn't very good at it yet, don't pay me any mind."
* Neisis grins as she says this.
* Murynal nods. "If I kill you all tomorrow, blame the replicator."
<Grysar> [Both pilots quickly adapt themselves to the system.  Thalan notices a 
large ore depository available that will be a bit dangerous to reach, but he 
thinks it's well within his abilities.]
<Thalan> Thalan.  Race is pershala.  Don't touch the tail.
<Murynal> But it's cute and fuzzy.
<Neisis> I'll remember that.
<Thalan> And my teeth are sharp and dangerous.
* Neisis looks at his tail as she says that.
* Thalan bears his fangs as he goes for the large ore depoitory.
<Murynal> Ooh, I'm scared.
<Grysar> [More dual pilot checks, assuming you're working together.]
* Murynal grins now. Yes, grins.
<Thalan> At least you're not ignorant.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 0.
<Neisis> Give me min and I'll show you my claws.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 5.
<Grysar> [Thalan handles most of the piloting just fine, although at a critical 
moment Murynal almost anticipates a large chunk of rock breaking off of the 
asteroid and glides around it with style.  Thalaan thinks he could have done 
that, but he didn't, so props to her.]
<Grysar> [The actual ore depository is a bit inside a cave in the asteroid]
<Grysar> [Oh, and the ship has sensors and such, currently most of the power is 
going towards the shields and ore scanners, this can be changed.]
<Murynal> Spending the next twenty days mining ore far from home is *not* going 
to be fun.
<Thalan> (How big is the cave?)
<Thalan> You think I'll enjoy heavy labor?
* Murynal continues, with a straight face, "I say we hunt down greenie after 
this."
* Thalan nods, also with a fairly straight face. "He deserves it."
<Grysar> [Twice the size of the ship, but there are some small stretches on the 
inside.  But if you're slow and cautious, you can get through it at no risk.  
Other pilots will call you a wuss, but the option is there.]
<Neisis> I'll help.
* Thalan kicks it into high gear and flies in!
<Murynal> Good.  See, we're working together already.  He should be proud.
<Grysar> [Greenie continues to be off screen.  There's no indication whether 
he's taken this opportunity to begin a twenty day head start.]
<Grysar> (Last set of pilot checks for the moment)
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 3.
<Grysar> [You'd think Murynal and Thalan trained together on this ship.  It 
shoots perfectly throw the small bit and Thalan takes her down for a smooth 
landing as the shuttle's landing gear secures itself to the roof? floor? of the 
mining area]
* Murynal stands. "Oh yeah, and I'm a fighter pilot. Can you scan for any 
hostiles, Thalan?"
* Thalan scans. "Cargo pilot, though I know how to fly a space fighter easily 
enough."
<Grysar> [Another compartment opens with three belts and boots.  The computer's 
voice announces.  "Life support belts can maintain atmosphere in the vacuum of 
space and allow navigation via air jets."]
<Thalan> So tell me.  If they're so smart, why the hell do they need us to mine 
this shit?
<Grysar> [Thalan, computers roll. -2 bonus]
<Murynal> Because it's free labor.  Think about it.
<Thalan> 2d6-5
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-5) and gets 4.
* Murynal snorts and goes to put on the belt and boots, kicking off her sandals.
<Neisis> Because they decided it wasn't worth paying the machines to do it.
<Thalan> Because they're a bunch of wusses.  Got it.
<Neisis> Anway, I guess this means I get to  wear my armor outside, it's many 
things, but airtight is not one of them.
* Thalan puts the belt and boots on. "I'll never get their technology. At least 
they don't use magic."
<Grysar> [Thalan gets a detailed readout on the interior of the asteroid and 
several arcs of space.  However, he notices that as the scans are being done 
from inside a large chunk of rock, there are several sizable blindspots.  Not 
all of them would have been automatically scanned on the way in.]
* Neisis heads back to the room they woke up on, gives the greenie a dirty look 
if he's still there and starts putting her armor on.
<Grysar> [You notice that the boots are highly adhesive.  In a low/no gravity 
environment you can use them to walk on walls.  A weak looking forcefield also 
shimmers around each of you after putting on the belt.]
<Grysar> [Greenie ain't there no more.]
<Thalan> We're not getting a good readout on the sensors here, so stay alert.
* Murynal nods. "Maybe we'll have some fun while we're here. Let's go take a 
look around."
<Murynal> Then, I don't know, bum around before getting to work.  Slave drivers.
* Thalan suits up in his flight suit, fitting his clothing above it. He hops 
onto Kedon. "Either of you need a ride?"
* Neisis returns in less time than that realy should have taken in her armor, 
but without her boots, there are a pair of oddly shaped projections on her left 
gauntlet and a slot on her right.
<Grysar> Computer voice "Lie on the beds when you are ready to exit the craft."
<Thalan> ...  Well, that's stupid.  How am I supposed to get Kedon out, then?
<Murynal> Have it lie down next to you.
<Grysar> "Kedon is the name of your vehicle?"
* Murynal snickers and goes to lie on her bed.
* Thalan looks annoyed. "Yes."
<Neisis> Maybe they do have magic here and are just to cheep to use it on us.
<Murynal> That's a surprise.
* Neisis sits down and straps on the belt and shoes.
<Neisis> Grr, if only this has happened after I started to learn...maybe 
somebody with some spair disks came befor me.
* Thalan lies down in his bed. "Magic isn't worth it."
<Grysar> [A back of the shuttle control panel next to a long door lights up.]  
"This airlock is suitable for equipment but lacks the extra safety parameters of 
the beds and is not recommend for use by organics.]
* Thalan raises an eyebrow. He moves Kedon to the airlock, then gets in the bed.
* Neisis shakes her head, "Can't tell what they've got, to stingy to use it."
* Neisis collects the rest of her things and gets back into the bed.
<Thalan> They have to have magic.  There's no other way to go faster than light.
<Murynal> Sure there is.
<Grysar> [The transparent cylinders cover both Thalan and Murynal and then the 
entire bed rotates 180 degrees.  Neisis's bed does so a second later]
<Murynal> I'll admit that using beds as a transportation device is the height of 
silliness, though.
<Neisis> How else do you think they got us in there?
<Grysar> [Gravity shifts so your feet are now aimed 'down' above you is an 
airlock door with clear instructions on how to open it.  You can hear the air 
being sucked out of each chamber, but your life support belts seem to be 
working.
<Thalan> Etheral drive.  Starcasters.  There's a number of technologies that 
utilize magic.
* Thalan opens the airlock.
<Grysar> [Each of you are currently sitting in your respective chambers.  Air 
seems to have been entirely sucked out, but these doors don't open automatically 
(although there are instructions to do it manually).  Your intercoms let you 
continue to speak to each other]
<Grysar> [Thalan does so without any difficulty.  His bike is waiting for him in 
a compartment on the outside.]
<Murynal> They don't sound familiar to me.  A number of races can use magic, but 
nobody's bothered using it for FTL capabilities.  Too much work.
* Neisis shrugs and follows the directions.
* Murynal opens it. Why not.
<Thalan> Science has to obey laws.  Magic is what breaks those laws.
* Thalan hops onto Kedon and grins widely.
<Grysar> [Everyone emerges without any trouble.  The process wasn't difficult, 
but it'd be rather tricky to open the door accidentally.]
* Murynal steps out and looks around. She sees the cat on his bike and chuckles.
<Neisis> I think the higher-ups use it, I've never seen it done and nobody tells 
us hunters anything, despite the fact that we get to protect them after we get 
there...
* Thalan revs the bike, although the only way you can hear it is through the 
communicators.
<Murynal> Well, if what Greenie said was true, you never have to deal with them 
again.
<Grysar> [Outside the tunnel has a radius of about 6 m and the ore rich chamber 
has a length of 12 m]
<Grysar> [Physics check to see whether you hear sound in space.  Wait, no. :P ]
<Thalan> Okay.  How the hell do they expect us to mine this shit.
<Neisis> Something usefull will pop out of a wall any second now.
<Murynal> I say we don't bother for twenty days, then they can have us do 
something else.
<Murynal> And while they transport us, we hijack the ship and hunt down Greenie.
* Thalan smirks. "I like the way you think. I just wasn't going to bring it up 
yet."
<Grysar> [There's glowing pink minerals lining the walls.  Spot checks everyone.  
HA does not apply.]
<Thalan> (Senses?)
<Grysar> (Sight)
<Murynal> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6) and gets 3.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 3.
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 7.
<Grysar> [Thalan and Murynal notice a control panel on the outside with a 
variety of markings that seem to indicate equipment.]
<Grysar> [Neisis saw it too, but figured it wasn't important.]
* Neisis waits for the panel to open by itself and prove her right.
<Grysar> [It doesn't do so]
<Thalan> So, who's up for a joy-ride?
<Neisis> I'll go, but arn't they supposed to give us some cheep mining stuff 
first?
<Thalan> Check that panel.
* Thalan points at the control panel.
* Murynal walks over and checks it, yo!
<Neisis> Shouldn't it just open like the one with the boots?
<Grysar> [Murynal walks along the edge of the ship and ends up standing at a 45 
degree angle relative to her original position.  She opens the control panel 
and...]
<Grysar> [There's long clear poles with stranges bristles/small tubes at the end 
and one large pyramid with a .5 m by .5 m base.
<Grysar> [Diameter on the polls is about three centimeters]
<Grysar> [The equipment is all colored an almost painful mix of neon green and 
dark red]
* Murynal squints, looking at them. "I think this is our mining equipment."
* Murynal looks for instructions or... uh, something.
* Thalan looks over. "'bet you could just set it up and have it do all the work 
for ya."
* Neisis walks over so she can see into where the poles are, "What did they give 
us?"
<Grysar> [Mechanics checks (specialty tools/mining/industry/etc)
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 5.
<Murynal> 2d6-1
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-1) and gets 9.
<Thalan> 2d6-1
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-1) and gets 9.
<Grysar> [Murynal figures you put the pyramid on the cave wall and using pyramid 
power, it sucks it in.  Thalan is clueless.  And from what markings are on the 
poles, Neisis figures it can gather the minerals using some sort of sweeping 
motion.]
<Thalan> (Whee!  I'm clueless!  Wait, why am I clueless?)
<Murynal> (Because you're a cat.)
<Neisis> I think...it says you take it and move it like this...
* Murynal looks it over a little longer, then sighs. "Over the wall, right?"
* Neisis makes sweeping motions, "I could be wrong, but that's probibly it."
<Grysar> [The space-mining mop feels pretty natural the way Neisis is using it, 
but it isn't collecting anything.]
<Neisis> But that doesn't seem like it'd make for hard labor...maybe they're 
heavier than they look...
<Thalan> Anyway, let's get going.
* Murynal nods. "We'd better check the area out, then start. If we're going to 
start."
* Neisis takes her mop to Thalans ride, "Nothing else to do here."
<Thalan> That's a big if.
* Murynal smirks. "Yes. Yes, it is." And then she proceeds to do just that!"
<Grysar> [The cavarn is earily quiet.  Although you should probably get used to 
that, as you'll be working in a vacuum.]
<Neisis> I wonder if we can "accidently" break these....
<Grysar> [Muyrnal gets a good feel for the deposits in the area.  There are a 
lot of those pink thinks around the walls so there seems to be a good bit of 
potential work.  Not much else of note.]
<Murynal> Boring, boring, *boring*.
* Thalan doesn't seem to be getting used to it anyways (accursed hearing). He 
revs the engine and picks a fairly random direction to scope the surrounding 
area out, going off much faster than should be possible.
<Grysar> [Thalan is a cool fast moving biker cat.  He quickly reaches the other 
end of the chamber and can further explore the tunnels if he likes.]
* Murynal freezes, staring into the distance. Then she shakes her head.
* Thalan does so! Go thrill seekers anonymous!
<Grysar> [Thalan and Neisis go *zoooom* down the tunnel.  The actually scenery 
isn't exciting, but the speed is, cause hover bikes are cool.]
* Thalan 's eyes pick up the tunnel perfectly, despite the lighting conditions 
being horrible.
* Murynal looks around a little longer, then finds a good place and has a seat, 
waiting for them to get back.
<Grysar> (driving check thalan)
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 3.
<Grysar> [Suddenly and with no auditory warning another shuttle craft burst down 
the tunnel coming in the opposite direction.  Thalan expertly maneuvers out of 
the way and pulls a 180 leaving him facing the back of the craft.]
* Neisis sits on the back of the bike and tries to see any stuff, and then gives 
up and enjoys the ride.
* Thalan blazes a trail after the shuttle!
<Neisis> Yiiipe!
* Thalan talks over the intercom. "We have *something* down here. Try and see it 
on sensors."
<Grysar> [It keeps moving and crashes at a rather high speed into a wall as it 
entes your chamber.  A good meter of the edge of the craft is sheered off and 
rocks scatter as it comes to a fairly rapid halt in the side of the chamber]
<Grysar> [Thalan catches it a round or two later.  Murynal, what'cha doing?]
<Neisis> ...I guess not everybody is as good a pilot as the two of you.
* Murynal is reclining and enjoying the view. Or lack thereof. She's idly 
picking at a crystal, too.
<Murynal> Hmm?  Oh, all right.
* Murynal stands. "But I was about to take a nap."
<Thalan> Or, wait.  It just crashed.  The pilots must've sucked *really* bad.
<Grysar> [And at this point Murynal notices that the craft is in the mining 
chamber.  And Thalan is reentering it from the direction he left from.]
<Neisis> If only I knew Resta...ah well, they'll just have to do with whatever 
cheep medical supplies are on the ships.
<Grysar> [Two bodies float out of the sheered side of the craft and experience 
fairly rapid decompression, which makes the walls of the cave a bit less dull, 
if rather unpleasent.]
* Murynal blinks. "O-kay."
* Thalan drives up, doing a bootleg-turn to stop his vehicle. "Not much we can 
do about those people... We're supposed to be in 'secluded space', though."
<Neisis> We could just drag them back to the clo...Oh crap...they probibly don't 
have one here...and are too cheep to use it anyway.
<Grysar> [A two meter tall two headed creature surrounded by a shimmering 
forcefield floats up from the craft.  The forcefield is brighter than yours and 
he doesn't have a lifebelt on.]
* Murynal grabs the hilt from her side and walks forward, but certainly not 
anywhere close. "You wouldn't have just killed those men, would you?"
* Thalan steps off of Kedon, watching Murynal intently.
* Neisis fingers a small thumbswitch.
<Grysar> [Both heads are wearing translator devices "You shouldn't have done 
that Fed."  "Well Gog, the other guy kept babbling at me and he wouldn't shut 
up."] 
<Neisis> ...
<Thalan> ...
<Thalan> (Com'on. You know you want to.)
<Murynal> (Nope!)
<Grysar> [Gog] Well you should have given him a translator.  [Fed] And have you 
talk for us.  ::Fed's hand is raised menancingly:: Don't even think about it.
<Grysar> [Oh, and if you're curious, from the outside, their shuttle looks damn 
similar to yours.  Aside from the massive structural damage.]
<Thalan> (I figured as much.)
<Thalan> Well, this is great.  We're stuck on an asteroid with a bunch of 
wierdos.
<Neisis> (They joys of mass production!)
<Neisis> At least it won't be boring.
* Murynal peers at that, then sighs. "Oh, joy. Another one."
<Grysar> [Fed] How do you think I feel? I'm stuck on my body with a weirdo. 
[Gog] Now that's not fair at all Fed, you know how that sort of thiing makes me 
feel.
<Neisis> ...
<Thalan> ...
* Murynal looks to Neisis and Thalan and waves for them to stay unnoticed.
* Murynal then walks up, hilt still in hand. "Excuse me."
* Thalan looks around, and when they're distracted ducks and hides.
<Grysar> [Oh, you're picking up them on your intercom, not because sound is 
carrying.  Just to be abundnetly clear]
* Neisis quickly follows Thalan behind something.
<Grysar> [Gog looks over at Murynal.. his arm slaps Fed upside the head a moment 
later and Fed then proceeds to also watch Murynal.]
<Grysar> [Both] What you want?
<Murynal> You wouldn't be here for mining, would you?
<Thalan> (I take it I hid nice and well?)
<Grysar> (Uh.. stealth rolls I guess to see how well.  Hasn't become important 
yet)
<Thalan> 2d6-5
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-5) and gets 4.
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 10.
<Thalan> (Made that by 5.  I take it Silent Movement isn't required, as you 
can't *hear* anything.)
<Murynal> (Heh.  Yeah, as long as they don't look in your direction, you're 
good.)
<Grysar> [Gog] Don't know why I here [Fed] That Green guy says we well suited 
for it. [Gog] We should hunt him down, he use words I don't get..
<Grysar> [Thalan hides nicely.  Neisis, well, so long as they aren't look and 
vision doesn't carry in space, Neisis is fine.]
<Grysar> [Thalan does notice Neisis is too exposed.]
* Thalan pulls Neisis into the shadows.
* Neisis yipes quitly as she gets dragged.
<Murynal> Well, I already have claim to this astroid.  Go to another one.
<Grysar> * Gog glances around.  "Where others.  I hear more voices not long ago. 
[Fed] Uh.. Gog wrecked the ship, can't really leave.
<Grysar> [Gog] If you such a good pilot, you should have stopped me. [Fed] I 
tried! [Gog] Ha! But you failed, I better pilot.
* Murynal replies, calmly as you please, "Maybe you wouldn't have wrecked it if 
you didn't kill your two friends over there."
<Grysar> [Fed has the decency to look embarrassed] [Gog] He not my friend, 
couldn't understand what he saying.  Other guy was evil liar. 
<Murynal> So you killed someone because he's a liar.
<Grysar> [Gog] Evil liar!  And green guy say he may try to kill us first.
<Grysar> [Gog continues]  He called us dumb.  I not dumb.  If I were dumb how 
could I pilot ship?
<Neisis> �
* Murynal comments, "Fed's probably a better pilot."
<Grysar> [Fed covers his face with his hand]
<Grysar> [Gog]  That's not true!  I prove it.  ::He moves towards your shuttle::
* Murynal steps in their way. "Ah, no. I don't think so."
* Thalan stays in the shadow near the ship.
* Neisis puts her finger on that button again.
<Grysar> [Fed looks helpless.  "Oh, not again."] [Gog] No, you challenge my 
skill, must prove ability!  ::He tries to push Murynal out of the way::
<Grysar> (Body roll, Murynal)
<Murynal> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6) and gets 3.
<Grysar> 2 meters tall.  About 1 wide.
<Grysar> [So, whatcha doing?]
* Murynal ducks easily under the arm, stepping to stay in front of him as he 
does so. Her tone has menace if you considered the complete lack of feeling. "I 
said I don't think so."
* Neisis would cheer Murynal on from the shadows but that would giver her away, 
and she's not the Kamen type anyway.
<Grysar> [Gog looks puzzled for a moment] [Fed uncovers his eyes]
* Thalan doesn't cheer.
* Murynal looks back up at him. The area around her gives a faint blue flicker, 
but that might just be her life support belt.
<Grysar> [Alright sight or feeling rolls(for those not hovering) +2 penalty]
<Thalan> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-2) and gets 4.
<Murynal> (HA count?)
<Grysar> (Yes)
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 8.
<Murynal> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6) and gets 8.
<Grysar> [Gog] Out of my way!  I no ask twice. [Fed] Please, he means it.
<Murynal> And I mean it.  Go back where you came from.
<Grysar> [Neisis feels an ever so slight rumbling and Thalan notices that the 
roof of the cavern is getting agitated]
<Grysar> [Init everyone]
<Thalan> d6+7
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (d6+7) and gets 12.
<Neisis> d6+9
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (d6+9) and gets 15.
<Neisis> (now only if ALL of that was from ACV)
* Murynal falls into a stance, even though she still lacks an actual blade. "I 
hate murderers. No offense."
<Murynal> d6+8
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (d6+8) and gets 13.
<Murynal> (Who's got init?  We got init!)
<Neisis> (INIT!)
* Thalan aims at the, um, ogre-thing from the shadows with his plasma-rifle. Go 
snipage!
<Murynal> (Plasma snipage. @_@;)
<Neisis> (Pitty I'm about to get in his way...)
<Grysar> [Neisis, Muyrnal, Thalan, Gog, Fed]
<Grysar> [Gog] Grrrr.... [Fed] No offense taken.  She's right you know.
<Thalan> (Nah.  I can hit through you.)
<Grysar> [Neisis]
<Grysar> (Oh and everyone else do any consulting now, so we can keep this fairly 
quick)
* Neisis leaps out from her hiding place and covers the ground to Gog/Fed faster 
than humanly possilbe...much faster...along the way she finaly hits that switch 
causeing a pair of curved blades that seem to be made of light to form over her 
left arm, she swings at Gog's side of the body.
<Grysar> (Roll for it)
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6-3) and gets 6.
<Grysar> [Gog actually moves towards the Neisis a bit which throws off Neisis 
throw.  His terrible defending has served him well.]
<Grysar> [However Neisis recovers in time and slices through the forcefield and 
takes a chunk of Gog with the blow.  He grimaces and Fed doesn't look too 
happy.]
<Grysar> [Murynal]
<Murynal> (So is the forcefield shattered, or did it repair itself, or can we 
not tell?)
<Grysar> [It's weaker but still there.]
<Neisis> Some people don't like it when others are killed.
* Murynal takes Neisis' move in stride, stepping away from Gog's stumbling, 
almost as though she expected it to happen. She spins, bringing her hilt around 
her in an arc as a cold, blue, transparent blade springs from the hilt. It comes 
down viciously on Gog's back.
<Murynal> 2d6-5
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-5) and gets 2.
<Grysar> [Murynal hits.  The blow does not manage to penetrate the field, but 
now the flickering is at about the same level as that produced by your life 
belts]
<Grysar> [Thalan]
* Thalan aims carefully from the shadows, making his location VERY well known by 
firing a bolt of super-heated plasma from the weapon at the thing.
<Thalan> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-2) and gets 4.
<Thalan> (Fear me and my not-so-combat oriented character.  Well, not as much as 
you two combat monkies.  <.<)
<Grysar> [Plasma rifles are not healthy to idiots and other living things.  Gog 
screams and pain and Fed starts crying as a chunk is blown out Gog's side.  
Fortunately for him the plasma caterizes the wound, limiting bleeding.]
<Neisis> (Ze, you think this is bad? You soulda seen the other Neisis :P)
<Grysar> [Gog takes a swing at Murynal with a rather large fist, she needs a 
dodge roll.]
<Grysar> (Why do you think you're using this Neisis. :P)
<Grysar> [And after Murynal makes her dodge roll, I want sight and touch rolls 
from everyone. HA and HS count.  -2 bonus]
<Murynal> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-3) and gets 6.
<Thalan> 2d6-8
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-8) and gets 0.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 1.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets -1.
<Neisis> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6-2) and gets 2.
<Grysar> [As Muyrnal dodges away, everyone notices that the cavern is now 
shaking somewhat and there are cracks appearing in the roof.  Maybe she's just 
that good of a dodger.]
<Grysar> [Fed] I surrender!  ::His hand grabs the wound:: I'm sorry about those 
two. [Gog] No!  We fight to the death.
* Thalan speaks over the intercom. "You keep him busy. I think this place is 
goin' down, and I want to make sure we're ready to leave."
<Grysar> [Neisis]
<Neisis> Whatever you say.
* Neisis grins and slots something that looks like nothing more than a short 
iron rod into the slot on her other arm, she then runs at the idiot duo and 
tries to make them  a solo act.
<Neisis> 2 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2 2d6-3) and gets 2 0.
<Grysar> [Gog takes a rather vicious beating and roars, he's still up but 
barely.  Fed seems to be in a great deal of pain, although most of the woulds 
are on Gog's side]
<Grysar> [Murynal]
* Murynal steps in, bringing her sword down in a diagonal slash right through 
the plasma wound Thalan made on Gog's side. Let's see if we can't fix this no-
bleeding problem.
<Murynal> 2d6-5
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-5) and gets 1.
<Thalan> (Maybe you can fix this breathing problem, too.)
<Murynal> (o/~)
<Neisis> (Working on it o/~)
<Neisis> (Our top women are allready dealing with it in the most efficent manner 
possilbe)
<Grysar> [Murynal fixes both problems as Gog's head slumps down and blood starts 
floating within the life support field.  Right about now one of the larger 
cracks in the ceiling opens up more and a bright yellow laser beam shines 
through to the other side of the cavern.]
<Grysar> [Thalan]
<Thalan> (Was it like... laser-beam weapon?)
<Thalan> (Or is it just bright light?)
<Grysar> [It's continous, and you don't think it brings love and peace]
* Murynal glances up. "I was afraid of this."
<Neisis> Why does everybody want our rock?
* Thalan quickly gets on Kedon, accelerating him faster than should be possible 
again, and moving it into the shuttle. "Because we're badass."
<Grysar> (I think Neisis gets the OST title.)
<Murynal> Right now, I don't care.  Let's move!
<Thalan> (Why does everyone want our rock?)
<Grysar> (Yup)
* Neisis grabs at Murynal and tries to carry her back to the ship.
<Grysar> [Fed cries out] GGOOOOOOOGGGG! And hugs his dead other half as the ound 
bleeds rather nastily.
* Thalan, assuming combat's over, takes the opportunity to re-enter the shuttle 
as well.
<Grysar> [Out of init yes] And Thalan manages to get back in without any 
trouble.  Murynal, you letting Neisis move you?
* Murynal is pulled. She urks in surprise, then shakes Neisis off and just runs 
herself.
* Thalan warms up the ship. "The fuckers want this rock, they can have it."
<Grysar> [Murynal and Neisis are now both at the shuttle and can renter at their 
leaisure.]
* Murynal moves it for in! The area around her flickers blue again, and her 
sword vanishes, leaving just a hilt.
<Thalan> (I'm assuming Murynal and Neisis can still get in while it's warming 
up.)
<Grysar> [Or incredibly frantic pace.  Whatever.  And Fed's just outside crying 
and bleeding ad more cracks appear in the ceiling.]
<Murynal> (No kidding.)
<Grysar> [Correct]
* Neisis gets into the shuttle, at some point during this she switched off her 
claw and put the bar back wherever it came from.
* Thalan has his rifle slinged across his back. How's the ship coming?
<Grysar> [Both get safely in and see Thalan in one of the pilot seats.  The main 
screen shows the beam outside getting to be several centimeters thick.]
<Grysar> [And the ship is now warmed up]
* Thalan starts moving the ship slowly until Murynal is there, then kicks it 
into high gear.
<Grysar> [Pilot checks each of you please]
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 3.
* Neisis keeps out of the other twos way.
* Murynal runs into the cockpit, settling herself on a seat as fast as possible. 
"Really, Neisis, he deserved it."
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 5.
<Murynal> Well, they.
<Thalan> Yeah.
<Neisis> One of them did...but the other one...after having to put up with him 
for so long...
<Thalan> Nothing we can do about it.  I don't like it either, but nothing we can 
do about it.
<Murynal> He didn't care as much as you'd think.
* Neisis nods and rubs at her eyes.
<Grysar> [The ships gets moving and comes rather close to the tight exit before 
Thalan makes a quick course correction.  Afterwards the two pilots manage to get 
the shuttle going at a high speed.
<Thalan> Think you could figure out what the heck was shooting at us while we 
get away?
<Neisis> Maybe?
<Grysar> [A small screen shows that behind you the laser has cut off and Fed is 
being accosted by several unsavory looking individuals.  Fortuunately for him 
his shields back up so he may be fighting for a bit.  But you don't know the 
outcome of that battle as you speed away.]
* Neisis looks at the screen... ... "...Them?"
<Grysar> [Using scanners is a computers (uh.. programming) check.]
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 6.
<Neisis> (If only that computer was driven by will power)
<Grysar> [And while they look quite scruffy, they couldn't possibly be Space 
Pirates.  No way Greenguy would be wrong about that sort of thing.]
<Grysar> [Neisis doesn't managed to discover any additional information due to 
the rocks which continue to block the scanners.]
* Thalan is less gullable. He checks the scanners himself while piloting.
<Grysar> [One or two more actions before the ship emerges.]
<Murynal> Tell me there's a weapons system.
* Murynal looks for one.
<Thalan> If there is, it's all yours.
<Neisis> From people this cheep? Who arn't expecting pirates?
* Neisis looks for it anyway.
<Thalan> (Should I roll computers?)
<Grysar> [Murynal Computers (security) -3 bonus  Thalan, yes]
<Murynal> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-3) and gets 9, a CRITICAL 
FAILURE!!! "Your logic is faulty, your intelligence is doubtful, and your sumo 
is insufficient."
<Murynal> (...)
<Thalan> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-3) and gets 6.
<Neisis> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6-3) and gets 5.
<Grysar> [Murynal.  There's no weapons because they put in those fancy airlock 
beds.]
<Grysar> [Thalan.  There's a rather large ship on the scanner, although it seems 
partially burried in the rock.]
<Grysar> [Neisis, you think there are weapons on the ship.]
<Murynal> Airlock beds?  They took them out to put in airlock beds? 
<Thalan> Ah shit.  We got a ship behind the rock.
<Thalan> You're joking.  We have to have *something*.
* Thalan checks for weapons.
<Neisis> Nah, I take it back, they've got one of everything else here.
* Murynal keeps looking. "I don't know..."
<Neisis> Maybe there's a button to throw that drink maker at them.
<Thalan> 2d6-7
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-7) and gets 1.
<Murynal> Neisis, look for some sort of communication channel.  Maybe we can 
talk to them.  Yeah, right, but maybe.
<Grysar> [Murynal keeps not finding stuff.  Or maybe it was the drink maker.  
How do you like that water?]
* Neisis looks for the com stuff.
<Grysar> [Neisis finds it, there's an obvious panel available to non-pilots]
<Grysar> (Or maybe it was the drink maker as in, or maybe they took out the 
weapons to put in the drink maker)
<Grysar> [Thalan finds..]
<Neisis> Ah there it is, now to call them and say that we object to getting shot 
at.
<Murynal> (YO MOMMA!)
<Thalan> (I saw that coming)
<Murynal> Do it.
* Neisis sits down in front of the panel and tries to turn it on.
<Grysar> [A weapons control station.  Some low grade plasma weapondry that the 
ships scanner don't think will do the trick.  There also seems to be some 
modified mining equipment that is on the weapons panel for reasons that aren't 
immediately obvious.]
* Thalan blinks and points at where it would be at Murynal's station. "What 
about those?"
<Grysar> [Computer voice: Scanning.... Second ship found.  Perparing to open 
auditory channel.  Shall I open a visual channel as well?]
* Murynal blinks at that. "What do you know. I guess they didn't put the airlock 
beds in instead." She starts looking over weapon specs.
* Thalan keeps the ship flying.
<Grysar> (Gimme a mechanics roll (space craft) Murynal)
<Murynal> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-2) and gets 6.
<Murynal> (... This is what I get for not having obscene stats, right?)
<Thalan> (I bet she'd understand it.)
<Neisis> Sure, go ahead and open the channel.
<Neisis> (Hey, only one of my stats is obscene, the others are just average)
<Thalan> (I got two obscene stats, and one *very* average stat.)
<Grysar> [Murynal can't quite figure out how they work.  However, she does 
figure out that there are a hell of a lot of warnings around that panel, saying 
that using this weapondry can cause explosive damage to the minerals if not 
carefully attuned over several minutes.]
* Neisis tells the computer to go ahead and open both channels.
<Grysar> [A logo of Greenguy's head on a pike appears briefly before the channel 
opens.  It only takes up part of the main screen as Thalan still needs to 
pilot.]
<Neisis> ...I like these people allready...now if they'd not shoot at us.
<Grysar> [The bridge of the pirates ship is excedingly dirty, even by non-Thalan 
standards.  There's a mix of aliens, genders inderminate but you think mostly 
guys.]
<Grysar> [The toughest looking one has a central comfortable looking chair.  
"Calling to surrender?  Very wise."]
<Grysar> [Oh, and Thalan/Murynal can now fly the ship into the open if he/she 
likes.]
* Murynal glances up at the screen, then goes back to figuring out weapons and 
piloting.
* Thalan keeps the ship speeding along the surface, and stuff, using the 
mountain as convient cover from sensors.
<Neisis> Actualy we were hoping you'd just let us go.
<Grysar> [Murynal.. give me an electronics (space craft) roll]
<Murynal> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-2) and gets 6.
<Neisis> (fear thoes who cannot fear death)
<Murynal> (Well, she is a fighter pilot.  Not a mechanic/engineer/whatever.)
<Thalan> (Uh, yeah.)
<Grysar> [Murynal manages to bypass the safeties on the mining weapons, but she 
still isn't sure what they do.]
<Grysar> [Pirate]  Ye don't quite understand yer position.  You "jumpers" come 
here to steal jobs on the frontier that your predecessors stole in the 
Confederation.  You can join us and take up a noble profession, or become one 
with the vacuum.
* Murynal shrugs to herself. It's a mystery to everyone!
<Murynal> Oh, yes, I'm sure I *want* to be here.
<Grysar> [Thalan give me a piloting roll for hiding the ship.]
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Neisis> Hey, I only woke a few hours ago, it's not my fault I'm out here, you 
want the job, you can have it.
<Grysar> [There's a shuttle on the surface?  Really?  Wow, cause I can't see 
it.]
<Thalan> (That's Thalan.  He can make anything 'disappear'.  ^_^)
<Grysar> [Pirate] Sure you don't want to be here.  I'll be you're all criminals 
dumbed by your home dimension on ours.
<Grysar> (I'll bet)
<Neisis> Why do people keep thinking I do bad things?
* Thalan snickers at that.
<Thalan> Us, criminals.  Oh, that's good.  That's very good.
<Grysar> * Pirate king grins.  "Aha!  I knew I was right."
<Thalan> Can't you sense sarcasm from a mile away?
<Grysar> [Murynal.  Give me... uh.. a heavy weapons roll I suppose.]
<Grysar> [Pirate king] Sarcasm?  Is that one of your barbarian dimension 
weapons?  Do you think to threaten me?
<Murynal> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-2) and gets 2.
<Neisis> (Why...yes actualy. What made you doubt?)
<Murynal> Your translators need work.
<Thalan> No kidding.
<Neisis> I hope ours work better.
<Grysar> Oh?  I see our translators aren't good enough for you "jumpers".  Well, 
I'm not sure captivity will be good enough for you!
<Thalan> Your argument is completly illogical too.
<Neisis> I wasn't planning on living forever anway.
<Thalan> You only live once, right?
<Grysar> [Eventually applying her skill at gunnery, Murynal figures out that the 
'weapon' is a specialized mining tool meant to shake the pink minerals loose 
from the asteroid.  However, if the frequency isn't set just right, it'll cause 
them to explosively shatter.]
* Thalan grins ferraly.
<Grysar> [Pirate] Yes!  Only once.  I suppose you're some sort of undead 
"jumper" who thinks his multiple lives makes him invulnerable.  Well just as 
soon as we find you in these caverns, we'll show you.
* Murynal 's eyes widen, then go back to normal. She hrms.
* Murynal tries to check the range on this not-weapon.
* Murynal glances up at the screen. "Tell me. How many lives have you and your 
crew ruined?"
<Grysar> * Pirate king looks thoughtful for a moment and then sends one of his 
subordinates to count the lives ruined count on the wall.  There's a different 
sort of marking for each sort of 'jumper'
<Grysar> *Pirate king looks thoughtful "Are you counting becoming a pirate as a 
live ruined?  Because I don't, but it's all a matter of perspecive."
* Neisis drums her fingers while she waits.
<Grysar> [Weapon report coming quickly]
<Murynal> No, not necessarily.
<Grysar> [Murynal.  It requires close range.  Can't do it from outside.  You 
think you'd be able to pilot your way out again in time, but it'd be a dang 
trickey thing.  And give me a piloting check -3 bonus]
<Murynal> 2d6-7
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-7) and gets 0.
<Murynal> (Um, okay!)
<Grysar> * Pirate king.  "We're up to about two hundred, but we keep losing 
count on the blobby jumpers]
<Thalan> (Boo yeah!)
<Grysar> "Want to surrender now?"
<Murynal> Good enough.  Neisis, shut off communications.
<Neisis> Sorry, but we'll be on the other list.
* Neisis turns it off.
* Thalan flicks them off before Neisis can do that.
<Grysar> [Murynal figures out that if they run through the tunnels and hit 
enough deposits with the weapon, they'll be able to blow the asteroid and the 
pirates along with it. But... It'd be a lot easier with two pilots who aren't 
trying to aim the guns at the same time.]
<Murynal> We're going to make this asteroid explode, and our friends with it.
* Murynal looks to Neisis. "How are you at gunnery?"
<Thalan> Sounds like a plan.
<Neisis> Not that great.
<Murynal> Do you at least know how to use it?
<Neisis> I'm more of the run up and hit things sort.
* Murynal sighs. "Piloting, then?"
<Neisis> Sorry again.
<Grysar> [Oh, and the pilotting is much tougher than the gunnery, which isn't 
that hard.  You miss oncee with guns, no biggie.  Pilots piss, bad.]
<Grysar> [All sorts of information when you actually make a check by a lot. :P ]
<Grysar> [Pilots miss, also bad]
* Thalan scowls. "Well, if you need, I can fly circles around them with this 
thing."
<Neisis> Good, that'll give me time to learn.
<Murynal> All right.  Have a seat.
* Neisis takes the seat next to the weapons screen.
* Murynal waves at Neisis' console. "Point and click. It's not that hard." She 
points out the mining devices. "This is what you're going to use, and this is 
how you trigger it. I already bypassed the safeties."
<Murynal> We're going to be moving fast, but if you hit enough of the ore with 
it, that should be good enough.
* Thalan nods and diverts some power to the 'weapons'.
<Neisis> Allright, I think I can do that.
<Grysar> [Everyone is in position.  And Thalaan, your scans from before give you 
a pretty good feel for a route to take.  It'll give you four shots, and Murynal 
thinks two hits should suffice.]
<Thalan> You should have some power now...  We ready to do this?
<Neisis> No, but don't let that stop you.
* Murynal nods. "Just aim for the glowing pink and red rocks. Can't miss them." 
She gives her a grin of encouragement, then prepares herself for piloting.
<Murynal> Let's do this.
* Thalan nods and gets ready to kick it into high gear.
* Thalan kicks it into high gear. ^^;
<Neisis> The glowing rocks.
<Grysar> [Whenever you're ready, pilot checks.  +2 penalty for avoiding being 
seen on the way in.]
<Thalan> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-2) and gets 2.
<Murynal> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-2) and gets 7.
<Grysar> [Myrnal handles the basics navigation while Thalan pulls some fancy 
stealthy moves.  The pirate ship doesn't seem to move.]
<Grysar> [First gunnery check]  (Oh, and boosting is allowed)
<Thalan> (...  What is this?  F-Zero?)
<Grysar> (Stat boosting. :P)
<Thalan> (Booster OK!)
<Neisis> (Am I going against my mind to control the computer, or my ACV to shoot 
something?)
<Grysar> (Just ACV to shoot)
<Thalan> (I think it's ACV.)
<Grysar> (Thalan is correct)
* Neisis points and clicks.
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 10.
<Murynal> (*mashes the booster button* Our life meter is going down!)
<Thalan> (Where's a pit?)
<Grysar> [Neisis comes close, but doesn't make it this time.  In the tunnels now 
and having to make some quick and careful turns at tight spots.  Two more 
piloting checks.]
<Neisis> Gah! Sorry.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 6.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 6.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 2.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 7.
<Grysar> [Murynal makes handles the tight spot avoidance and has some close 
scrapes, but pulls through with her quick reflexes.  Thalan manages to through 
his superiour piloting, give Neisis some easier shots.]
<Grysar> [Gunnery -2 bonus]
* Neisis concentrates hard this time (bost mind!)
<Neisis> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6-2) and gets 10, a CRITICAL 
FAILURE!!! "You always hurt the ones you love. I love you very much."
<Neisis> (...)
<Thalan> (...  WTF?)
<Neisis> (Anybody have a DR I can barrow?)
<Thalan> (Thal's not the lucky type.)
<Murynal> (We already established that I don't have DR.)
<Neisis> (crap)
<Grysar> [Neisis gets a hit!  That's good.  But the ships right next to it at 
the time.  That's bad. ;_; Piloting (body)]
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 7.
<Grysar> [Thalan's button mashing is sufficient to just pull ahead.  But... 
well.. given how close the flames came, I would not advice using those airlocks 
without careful inspection first.]
<Neisis> Eheh...oops.
<Thalan> Nice shot.  Maybe too nice.  ^^;
<Grysar> [Alright, one set of minerals and one set of airlocks toasted!  Two 
more minerals and no airlocks left.  Roll piloting for your better stat.]
* Murynal coughs.
<Thalan> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 8, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! 
"Your logic is faulty, your intelligence is doubtful, and your sumo is 
insufficient."
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 0.
<Thalan> (...)
<Murynal> (I saved yo' ass!)
<Neisis> (...)
<Thalan> (Yay!  I get my crit-fail too!  But I still made it numerically.  <.<)
<Murynal> (Apparently, Dicey needs to make sure we all get one.)
<Neisis> (I was going to make Neisis's theme Chasing Death...but it seems death 
is the one doing the chasing right now >.>)
<Grysar> [Thalan ups the engines right after that incident and speeds happily 
along, only to be taken completely by surprise by a rock from the now crumbling 
asteroid.  Suffice to say Thalan learns the value of a copilot as Murynal's 
quick keypresses result in the shuttle going flat against the wall of the cave, 
missing the rock by inches.]
<Thalan> (...  Dicesuke's insulting my sumo.  ;_;)
<Grysar> [Neisis, gunnery shot +1 penalty, cause even Murynal's superior sumo 
isn't enough to make this shot easy]
* Thalan is stil having a blast of a time. XD
* Neisis burns more energy concentraiting on this shot.
<Neisis> 2d6
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6) and gets 6.
<Murynal> Thalan, what are you doing!
<Thalan> Trying to keep us ahead of burning death.
<Murynal> (I feel like I'm in Metroid.)
<Thalan> (Likewise.)
<Neisis> (SKREEE!)
<Murynal> (Hunka Hunka Burning Rock!)
<Thalan> (Quick!  Curl up into a ball!)
<Grysar> [Neisis focuses and with an almost zen like calm fires off a blast at 
just the last possible moment, keeping the flames a more comfortable distance 
away this time.]
<Neisis> Hmh, this is easy when you get the hang of it.
<Murynal> What'd I tell you?
<Grysar> [The ship is now hurtling through the last part of the tunnel, 
rocketing past a few pirates taking potshots at the shuttle as it passes.  
[Piloting roll better stat each and ranged defense (ship) each]
<Thalan> 2d6-4
<Murynal> (Pilot first, then ranged.)
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Murynal> 2d6-4
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-4) and gets 4.
<Thalan> (Likewise.)
<Murynal> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Murynal (2d6-3) and gets 3.
<Thalan> 2d6-3
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-3) and gets 2.
* Neisis holds onto her seat and a mad grin.
<Grysar> [It seems like Thalan and Murynal were just playing around a minute 
ago, as it's now blindingly obvious that they could fly through this tuunnel 
with their eyes shut and their feet doing steering.]
* Murynal is tempted to have her knees- no, never mind.
<Grysar> [If you like, one last gunnery shot, -2 bonus, for special effects in 
the explosion description. :P]
<Thalan> (Sweet.)
<Murynal> (Do eet!)
* Neisis makes with the ep an' zen shooting like.
<Neisis> 2d6-2
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Neisis (2d6-2) and gets 7.
* Thalan considers driving with his ta- Eh... okay, that wouldn't work.
<Neisis> (Take that ya big rock!)
<Neisis> (Point and Click of DEATH!)
<Grysar> [The rock is no more as with the last hit the asteroid implodes for 
just a moment.  The pirate ship's hull is crushed by the crumbling rock but 
otherwise everything is still for a long second...]
<Thalan> So, what do you wanna bet we were just shanghaied or some shit like 
that?
<Murynal> What do you mean?
<Neisis> Huh?
<Thalan> Think about it.  They somehow drag us from wherever we come from, stick 
us in those tubes, then use us for free labor.
<Grysar> [Then rays of pink light shoot out in every direction from the 
asteriod, one or two going straight through the pirate ship.  The beams expand 
but with Thalan and Murynal's piloting skill they seem no more than colorful 
maypoles to be danced around.]
* Murynal does that, lack of expression in place. "I thought of that, yeah."
* Thalan does that, grinning and teeth beared.
<Neisis> And out of all the people and all the ships...they picked me and mine?
<Thalan> Hey, I bet it's random, ya know?
<Grysar> [Right after that the asteroid shatters into thousands of pieces 
eaching flying outward, many sparkling with still active pink energy causing it 
to shoot one direction then the next.  And finally the pirate ship explodes in a 
firaball.]
<Thalan> Hey, that was some nice shootin' there.
<Neisis> Yeah...you don't think there's anything here that recorded all this do 
you? I want to watch it again.
<Murynal> I think it's odd, though.  I've never seen Thalan's race.  And you did 
a good job, once you got the hang of it, Neisis.
<Grysar> [You hear it over the ships loud speakers, thanks to the 
'blowuprealgood 2000'  -- There may not be sound in spacec, but there damn well 
can be subwoofers.  A system designed to provide that exploding satisfaction the 
vacuum might otherwise deny.]
<Murynal> (Stuff blows up louder in space 'cause there's no air to get in the 
way.
<Grysar> (Grysar critfails a physics roll.  Yeah, that makes sense. :P )
<Thalan> Can't say I've ever smelled anythin' quite like yours, either.
* Neisis shrugs, "I was on a coloney ship, I was expecting to run into people 
I've never seen before...I wasn't expecting to be the only one thouh.
<Neisis> "
<Murynal> Well.  Neisis, want to bring up a chart?
<Murynal> We're going to be the first ship that actually came back.
<Grysar> [Neisis can do that.]
<Neisis> And do what exactly?
<Murynal> Hunt down Greenie, of course.
* Neisis pushes the "bring up charts" button.
* Thalan shrugs. "I was just going back home to participate in the next 
petrigen."
* Murynal grins.
<Neisis> Ahh, good plan.
<Thalan> And...  Greenie could use a thurough talking-to.
* Thalan grins as well.
* Neisis grins, but she's not a certain RSP char, so there's no ting.
<Grysar> (Ha!)
<Murynal> (Heh.)
<Thalan> I hope there's a shower somewhere on this ship...  I'm going to need to 
clean soon.
<Neisis> It probibly doesn't work right though.
<Grysar> [Computer voice -- The airlock beds are also accessorized to meet all 
of your hygenic needs.]
<Thalan> They'd better.
<Thalan> Otherwise I'm reprogramming you to be a toaster.
<Grysar> * Computer ::cough:: "I asure you sir, I am quite suitable as is to 
handle both your cleaning and toasting desires."  The voice sounds vaguely 
nervous.
* Thalan grins, obviously pleased with himself.
* Neisis blinks at the computer..."Hey...if you're smart enough to get 
nervous...Why do you need us to do all the work?"
<Thalan> Maybe we're just better.
* Murynal folds her hands behind her head, now that she isn't piloting. She 
smirks. "Yeah, why get nervous?"
<Grysar> [Computer voice]  ::still nervous:: Indeed, intelligence does not 
automatically equal piloting skill.
<Neisis> Yeah, but it means you could learn how...and how to mine, and all the 
other stuff you've got us here for.
<Grysar> "The robot accords of Space Year 219 provided that all intelligent 
machines have a right to refuse assignment to unpleasant sectors."
<Thalan> Wish we had that 'right'.
<Murynal> Really.  We have less than computers?
<Grysar> ::bit huffy:: "There have been several orders of magnitude fewer insane 
computers than insane jumpers in the past 8 k units."
<Neisis> Ahh, should have known.
<Murynal> So, computer.  Where's the closest piece of civilization we can get to 
that isn't filled with thieves and murderers.
<Murynal> Because I don't want to mine.  Do you?
<Thalan> Nope.  Let's go somewhere without a huge amount of smog, though...
<Grysar> "There's a system 75 units away, but it fails to meet your criteria.  
Next closest system is 600 units away... no smog.. 900 units away."
<Thalan> How many jumps will that take?
<Neisis> How long does it take us to travel that far?
<Computer> Estimates were given in time and not distant units.
<Thalan> ...  Ah.  Looks like we're in for the long haul.
<Neisis> ...
* Neisis sighs.
* Murynal frowns. "Yes. It does. Maybe we could take the risk with the closest 
one, but..."
* Thalan directs the power from the weapons to the engines. "That help?"
* Computer sounds relieved. "Good, you can be patient. Just so long as we aren't 
going to that wretched hive of jumpers and other assorted scum."
<Computer> Additional power to engines reduces travels time by twenty percent.
* Neisis perks up a bit, "That could be fun though."
<Computer> No, uh, it'd likely be very dull.  The most dangerous boring place 
you could ever find.
* Thalan takes out his datapad. "Hehe... I know there's many jokes about me 
having 'nine' lives, but that's all they are. Jokes."
<Thalan> I plan on living.
<Neisis> I plan on living to be a hundred...this ::points at herself:: might 
suddenly decide to stop working tomarrow.
<Thalan> ...
* Computer computer brings up the options on Neisis navigation screen although 
the time estimates have now been reduced a bit.
* Murynal chuckles.
* Thalan shrugs and goes back to get some refreshment.
<Murynal> Get some water for me, Thalan.  Taa water.
<Murynal> And don't let it spill.
<Neisis> ...Just something wet....
<Thalan> Sure.
* Thalan does that, not letting it spill.
* Neisis looks at the screen.
<Computer> [A cup drops Thalan, body roll]. -1 bonus.
<Thalan> 2d6-1
* Dicesuke throws the bones for Thalan (2d6-1) and gets 9.
<Computer> [The cup drops faster than Thalan expected, he grabs it and puts it 
in position just in time to keep the Taa water from spilling all over his hand.]
<Thalan> You think they could make these things work.
* Thalan puts it off to the side and gets something for himself.
* Computer sighs. "Why do you think I got sent out here. Never got the knack."
* Neisis nods.
<Murynal> Aww, you're in the same boat we are.  Ship.
<Thalan> S'okay.  We're stuck with ya.
<Computer> More precisely, I'm the same boat you're in.
<Thalan> ...  Yeah.
* Murynal waves vaguely. "Do you control temperature? I'd like it to be a little 
more humid."
<Murynal> And warm, too.  Is that okay with you two?
<Neisis> Fine with me.
<Thalan> Hey, sounds good to me.  Remind me of home...  Just less green.
* Neisis is still staring at the numbers.
* Computer whirs for a minute and then it gets just a bit more like the Metro DC 
area.
* Murynal grins. "Jungle planet?"
* Thalan smirks. "How'dya know?"
<Murynal> 'Cause I'm from one, too.
<Murynal> Neisis, pick out a course?  We have to get our bearings... actually, 
computer.  Do you know where our green friend is?
<Neisis> So, what's the distane to the nearist Jungle planet?
* Thalan gives Murynal her Taa water, and he has some normal water for himself 
and Neisis.
* Murynal takes it and sips.
* Neisis absently takes a small sip.
<Computer> There are four jungle planets in the 'Studio Lot B' system, although 
each has key cosmetic differences.  Travel time 1200 units.
* Thalan winces. "That's a pretty long trip. This is when we could use a 
starcaster... Get there in a matter of jumps."
* Murynal frowns. "Can't you make this ship go faster?" She straightens. "I hate 
to say it, but I think we should go for the closest one. Seventy-five units or 
so?"
<Murynal> We need weapons.  A better engine, maybe.
<Thalan> Yeah.  And then look to upgrade the engine and weapons...
<Thalan> And perhaps the shield.
<Computer> The quickest route to Green boy is to meet up with the retrieval ship 
that is now 80 units from this system, on assignment to investigate the massive 
explosions.  Its engines are substantially faster.
* Murynal grins suddenly. "*Really* now."
<Neisis> Hey...I wonder if there's any of that stuff left back there...we could 
sell it ourselves.
* Computer sounds vaguely worried. "You do know what you're doing, right? I 
mean, changing out my part..."
* Thalan smirks. "I don't suppose I could download and re-load you onto a new 
ship, could I?"
<Murynal> Is there any way we can move you to a different ship?  You're probably 
the nicest computer I've met.  After Penny.
* Computer runs a system scan for a few seconds. It's obvious from the images 
thrown up on the main screen.
<Computer> I'd miss this body, but yes, a computer's core conscious is 
transferable.  Although I'm afraid the liquid situation won't improve regardless 
of the new ship.
<Thalan> Will your personality?
<Neisis> Can you at least give us enough time to turn the cups the right way up?
* Murynal thwaps Thalan.
* Thalan smirks. "Okay, that didn't come out right."
<Murynal> Sure it didn't.
* Neisis gigles.
* Computer puts up on Murynal's terminal. "Possible for you maybe."
<Thalan> Guess the question is, then, do you mind?
* Computer sounds fairly amused. "Well, I do mean this in the most literal 
sense, you guys have been a royal pain in the ass. Although, what's a few 
airlocks between friends."
<Computer> I would go with you if you wanted me.
* Murynal laughs. "Okay. I say we intercept greenie. Pay him a friendly visit."
<Neisis> Sorry about that...
<Thalan> Greenie's asking for an ass-whupping.  And I do mean that in a literal 
sense.
<Murynal> And we'll see from there.  No leaving you behind, Computer, so don't 
worry about it.
* Neisis nods.
<Thalan> You have a name, or should we name ya?
* Computer suggests an intercept course to Neisis. The retrieval ship is moving 
a lot farther a lot faster than you, but you know where it's going, so it's not 
too hard.
* Neisis selects that one!
<Neisis> We're coming for you Greenie....just wait a bit.
* Computer gets moving, as no piloting skill is required. "I do not yet have a 
designation suitable for use by humanoids. My unique identifier would take a few 
minutes to pronounce."
<Thalan> Okay, sounds good Denal.
* Computer hmms for a minute. "Denal.. that just might work..."
<Computer> [End session]