Andromedan Orbiting Operations Center (and offworld adventures)

[Firuthi Dragovic]

We dealing with a bloodbender here. Taking him out is our top priority. Those hounds might come in handy now Kurt.
Ahrakas dodged most of the blood and made his way towards the bender.

*I blasted them*

Kurt snapped his fingers. The Hound that he'd let on to the ship went right for the bloodbender.

Universe's blasts were... singing the armor and causing concussive injury, but not penetrating through. He noted there were warding sigils on the armor of these soldiers.

"Keep doing it, Universe, those are reactive wards. Easier to undo while they're operational."

As for Ahrakas... he actually met some pretty heavy resistance from the few soldiers that hadn't been slowed down by Universe's blasts.

The bloodbender tried to take potshots at everyone, but it was all happening so fast.

 

[Universe]

Kurt snapped his fingers. The Hound that he'd let on to the ship went right for the bloodbender.

Universe's blasts were... singing the armor and causing concussive injury, but not penetrating through. He noted there were warding sigils on the armor of these soldiers.

"Keep doing it, Universe, those are reactive wards. Easier to undo while they're operational."

As for Ahrakas... he actually met some pretty heavy resistance from the few soldiers that hadn't been slowed down by Universe's blasts.

The bloodbender tried to take potshots at everyone, but it was all happening so fast.

*I dodged then went Mastered Ultra Instinct*

 

[Baron Tredegar]

Kurt snapped his fingers. The Hound that he'd let on to the ship went right for the bloodbender.

Universe's blasts were... singing the armor and causing concussive injury, but not penetrating through. He noted there were warding sigils on the armor of these soldiers.

"Keep doing it, Universe, those are reactive wards. Easier to undo while they're operational."

As for Ahrakas... he actually met some pretty heavy resistance from the few soldiers that hadn't been slowed down by Universe's blasts.

The bloodbender tried to take potshots at everyone, but it was all happening so fast.

Ahrakas sheathed his sword and began using his bare hands as he fought the soldiers in an attempt to prevent more blood from becoming available to the bender. He snapped the neck of the soldier he was engaged with and moved closer to the bender.

 

[Universe]

*I blasted them without thinking*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Ahrakas sheathed his sword and began using his bare hands as he fought the soldiers in an attempt to prevent more blood from becoming available to the bender. He snapped the neck of the soldier he was engaged with and moved closer to the bender.

Suddenly the bloodbender stumbled forward.

It was pretty clear why - there was a proboscis through his neck. He tried to manipulate the blood, but the Hound was just drinking it up.

*I dodged then went Mastered Ultra Instinct*

*I blasted them without thinking*

Cleaning up the soldiers was a non-issue once the bloodbender was incapacitated.


"I'm done down here. These guys were nothing. Even got a bunch of laser weapons and a hexane bomb out of the deal. How did the other crew fare?"

 

[Universe]

Suddenly the bloodbender stumbled forward.

It was pretty clear why - there was a proboscis through his neck. He tried to manipulate the blood, but the Hound was just drinking it up.



Cleaning up the soldiers was a non-issue once the bloodbender was incapacitated.


"I'm done down here. These guys were nothing. Even got a bunch of laser weapons and a hexane bomb out of the deal. How did the other crew fare?"

*I sensed a laser beam heading towards me but I smacked it aside*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I sensed a laser beam heading towards me but I smacked it aside*

That attempted cheap shot was pretty much the last of the effort the boarding party could muster.

It only took a few more blows for the rest of them to fall silent.

As for the bloodbender? Kurt's Hound drank enough of his insides through the proboscis that he expired swiftly.

"Cannot blame them for trying. Ship secured. Your call whether we clean up now or wait until the battle's over."

Firuthi returned from the hangar, carrying an armload of laser weapons - pistols and rifles, but a laser shotgun was included - and some form of encased device.

"I spaced the bodies of the ones that tried invading the hangar. Nothing useful besides their weapons and battery packs. And the bomb they were going to try to use."

 

[Universe]

Cosmos:”stop the enemy from fleeing”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Cosmos:”stop the enemy from fleeing”

"My job is to protect Kurt. You know that. Aeternus is busy keeping enemy armaments from hitting the rest of our fleet... you're going to want someone like Oliver, Kronos, Neptune, or Frost if you're looking for support."

 

[Universe]

"My job is to protect Kurt. You know that. Aeternus is busy keeping enemy armaments from hitting the rest of our fleet... you're going to want someone like Oliver, Kronos, Neptune, or Frost if you're looking for support."

*Cosmos grumbles* Cosmos:”I’ve got to do everything myself”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*Cosmos grumbles* Cosmos:”I’ve got to do everything myself”

"I heard my name called-"

"Yes, Cosmos needs backup on the Shogun flagship."

"Cosmos, sitrep?"

 

[Universe]

*he shuts down the engines* Cosmos:“help would be appreciated”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*he shuts down the engines* Cosmos:“help would be appreciated”

Cosmos saw a portal open, and Frost arrived on the scene.

"You actually don't look roughed up at all, father. Someone trying to scuttle the ship?"

 

[Universe]

Cosmos saw a portal open, and Frost arrived on the scene.

"You actually don't look roughed up at all, father. Someone trying to scuttle the ship?"

Cosmos:”Enemy escaping ship” *He was tired and also annoyed that nothing was going right*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Cosmos:”Enemy escaping ship” *He was tired and also annoyed that nothing was going right*

"This is the empire that threatened Solstice on live broadcast, yeah? I'm on it."

Frost made her way to the escape pods, the air dropping severely in temperature as she approached.

"Universe, be prepared to pull Cosmos and myself off the ship. I'm unleashing a burst to make sure they can't get away. I'm going to be exhausted."

And that would be her plan. Reach the escape pods and unleash her super - a flash freeze, enough to not just make the pods impossible to launch, but straight-up ruin the pods and freeze the ship's metal so cold it'd rip open the hull.

After all, as a celestial dragon goddess, she didn't have to worry about low pressure or the lack of air in space. But the crew of the Shogun flagship did have that concern. As for the ship itself? It had bulkheads around the escape pod area. That section could be sealed off and the rest of the ship would function just fine.

 

[Universe]

"This is the empire that threatened Solstice on live broadcast, yeah? I'm on it."

Frost made her way to the escape pods, the air dropping severely in temperature as she approached.

"Universe, be prepared to pull Cosmos and myself off the ship. I'm unleashing a burst to make sure they can't get away. I'm going to be exhausted."

And that would be her plan. Reach the escape pods and unleash her super - a flash freeze, enough to not just make the pods impossible to launch, but straight-up ruin the pods and freeze the ship's metal so cold it'd rip open the hull.

After all, as a celestial dragon goddess, she didn't have to worry about low pressure or the lack of air in space. But the crew of the Shogun flagship did have that concern. As for the ship itself? It had bulkheads around the escape pod area. That section could be sealed off and the rest of the ship would function just fine.

“I got it”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“I got it”

Frost eventually arrived at the escape pods. No lockdown could have stopped her, as she'd simply portal to the other side of sealed doors in order to make her way there.

Once she arrived at the escape pods, she'd snap her fingers and unleash her mental energy in one burst.

The water vapor in the air near the escape pods dropped drastically in temperature. It froze. But as it froze... it made contact with the floor, walls, and ceilings. They too started to freeze.

As the ice crawled, it got into the electronics of the escape pods. Those froze as well, and started to crack.

Eventually, the entire escape pod section of the battleship had frozen in ice. Even the bulkheads were frozen shut, rendering them impossible to open.

There was something very insidious about this ice. Its melting point. It couldn't melt except under temperatures just above lethal human body temperature. Without outside intervention, this area of the ship would be under an eternal winter.

The only thing different between this ice and the fictional ice-nine? This stuff was confined to the escape pod area as Frost's whim had dictated. It wouldn't spread throughout the whole battleship.

Frost sat down, exhausted, admiring the tiny paradise she'd created.

 

[Universe]

Frost eventually arrived at the escape pods. No lockdown could have stopped her, as she'd simply portal to the other side of sealed doors in order to make her way there.

Once she arrived at the escape pods, she'd snap her fingers and unleash her mental energy in one burst.

The water vapor in the air near the escape pods dropped drastically in temperature. It froze. But as it froze... it made contact with the floor, walls, and ceilings. They too started to freeze.

As the ice crawled, it got into the electronics of the escape pods. Those froze as well, and started to crack.

Eventually, the entire escape pod section of the battleship had frozen in ice. Even the bulkheads were frozen shut, rendering them impossible to open.

There was something very insidious about this ice. Its melting point. It couldn't melt except under temperatures just above lethal human body temperature. Without outside intervention, this area of the ship would be under an eternal winter.

The only thing different between this ice and the fictional ice-nine? This stuff was confined to the escape pod area as Frost's whim had dictated. It wouldn't spread throughout the whole battleship.

Frost sat down, exhausted, admiring the tiny paradise she'd created.

*I teleported Frost and Cosmos back to the ship and they both saw my Mastered Ultra Instinct*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I teleported Frost and Cosmos back to the ship and they both saw my Mastered Ultra Instinct*

"....hm?...."

Frost was still a bit too out of it from exhaustion to realize Ultra Instinct was involved, let alone realize Universe had truly gotten it down pat.

"...you've been practicing.... keep it going, nephew...."

 

[Universe]

"....hm?...."

Frost was still a bit too out of it from exhaustion to realize Ultra Instinct was involved, let alone realize Universe had truly gotten it down pat.

"...you've been practicing.... keep it going, nephew...."

*Cosmos was ecstatic*

 

[Universe]

Cosmos:”You DID IT I KNEW IT”

 

[Baron Tredegar]

Frost eventually arrived at the escape pods. No lockdown could have stopped her, as she'd simply portal to the other side of sealed doors in order to make her way there.

Once she arrived at the escape pods, she'd snap her fingers and unleash her mental energy in one burst.

The water vapor in the air near the escape pods dropped drastically in temperature. It froze. But as it froze... it made contact with the floor, walls, and ceilings. They too started to freeze.

As the ice crawled, it got into the electronics of the escape pods. Those froze as well, and started to crack.

Eventually, the entire escape pod section of the battleship had frozen in ice. Even the bulkheads were frozen shut, rendering them impossible to open.

There was something very insidious about this ice. Its melting point. It couldn't melt except under temperatures just above lethal human body temperature. Without outside intervention, this area of the ship would be under an eternal winter.

The only thing different between this ice and the fictional ice-nine? This stuff was confined to the escape pod area as Frost's whim had dictated. It wouldn't spread throughout the whole battleship.

Frost sat down, exhausted, admiring the tiny paradise she'd created.

*I teleported Frost and Cosmos back to the ship and they both saw my Mastered Ultra Instinct*

Ahrakas was excited once they arrived back.
It seems that with that Battleship out of commission we are finally winning this battle. Some of our allies have faced heavy casualties though.

Suddenly a broadcast was transmitted from the Battleship to our vessel and every ship present. The image of the Black Templar Space Marine appeared on the viewscreen. He appeared to be in a emergency command center and was surrounded by the bodies of what was left of the Shogun crew.
I FAILED TO PREVENT THE SHOGUN FROM TAKING CONTROL OF THIS VESSEL BEFORE.
I WAS IMPRISONED IN HERE FOR A CENTURY. BUT NOW THE ENEMIES OF THE GOD EMPEROR WILL CONTROL THIS VESSEL NO LONGER! THE SHIPS ENGINE CORE IS SET TO OVERLOAD AND WHEN IT EXPLODES IT WILL DESTROY THIS VESSEL AND CREATE A WARP STORM THAT WILL DRAG THIS PLANETARY SYSTEM AND ALL VESSELS IN ITS VICINITY INTO THE WARP.
THE EMPEROR PROTECTS.

I hope some of you have the power to protect us from whatever this nutter has planned. This could disrupt our entire war plan. Why couldnt the Shogun have just shot that guy out of an airlock when they found that ship?

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Ahrakas was excited once they arrived back.
It seems that with that Battleship out of commission we are finally winning this battle. Some of our allies have faced heavy casualties though.

Suddenly a broadcast was transmitted from the Battleship to our vessel and every ship present. The image of the Black Templar Space Marine appeared on the viewscreen. He appeared to be in a emergency command center and was surrounded by the bodies of what was left of the Shogun crew.
I FAILED TO PREVENT THE SHOGUN FROM TAKING CONTROL OF THIS VESSEL BEFORE.
I WAS IMPRISONED IN HERE FOR A CENTURY. BUT NOW THE ENEMIES OF THE GOD EMPEROR WILL CONTROL THIS VESSEL NO LONGER! THE SHIPS ENGINE CORE IS SET TO OVERLOAD AND WHEN IT EXPLODES IT WILL DESTROY THIS VESSEL AND CREATE A WARP STORM THAT WILL DRAG THIS PLANETARY SYSTEM AND ALL VESSELS IN ITS VICINITY INTO THE WARP.
THE EMPEROR PROTECTS.

I hope some of you have the power to protect us from whatever this nutter has planned. This could disrupt our entire war plan. Why couldnt the Shogun have just shot that guy out of an airlock when they found that ship?

"Into the Warp, he says? I've known celestial and reality dragons to go there on multiple occasions. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion the Warp is one of the byproducts of Ithaqua's travels."

"Hey, Oriana? Do you know anything about the Warp?"

"That... mortals typically can't go there. Celestial dragons have trouble there sometimes. There's been a few incarnations where I've had to grant access to the Warp for any sort of interstellar travel to happen, but even then it's only specific people who've touched the minds of the Architects directly who can safely navigate! Why are you bringing this up?"

"Because there's a ship whose core is about to overload-"

Kurt suddenly clutched his head and collapsed to the ground.

"-and send us into the Warp. Hang on a second- Kurt! KURT! ARE YOU OKAY?"

Kurt stood up. His eyes were glowing, his voice booming out an ancient language.

"L̷̼̀o̴̢͗ṇ̵̀ ̴̺̇s̸̙̔i̶̗̊g̶̣͆i̵̝͋n̷̳̈́e̸̻̾ ̸̨́m̷̱͝ý̴̘z̴͍͑r̷̢̀e̸͝ͅ ̶͇̾v̸͔̚i̴̧̚ ̵̝̆e̸̙͆h̶̜̑n̷̻͛ ̵̲̓e̶̬̒m̵̞̃p̶̨̂e̶̩̾r̸̙͌ó̴̮ṟ̴́-̵̝̀c̷̓ͅl̶̮̎ǎ̸͓s̴͛ͅs̸̱͌z̴͆͜ ̶̜̃f̴̧͛ḯ̴͚è̵̖t̵͕͝â̸̭k̶͙͂ ̸̨͂w̷̹̿ë̶̤́v̸͍̋v̵̪̍r̵͉̋ ̶̲̐d̶̫͠h̴̙̚e̷̫̾t̴̙̂ ̸̰͒1̶̖̇0̶͂͜8̶̧͛ ̶͕́f̴̱͗r̴̪̓ã̸͍ċ̶͚ȅ̵̦ś̶̟ ̵̦̄d̴̳̐e̴̡͊n̶͇̒ś̴̟ī̸̞ṭ̵̽v̵̦͑a̶͈͝ ̴̠́s̸͖̓ì̸̻ė̸ͅr̵̩͗g̷̮͌v̶̮̄a̴̢͋ ̷̬́m̷͓̀ȳ̴̩z̷͙̍n̴͈̑d̷̞̃u̷̡͗i̸̘͛t̵̜̑s̶̟̉z̸͔͝ ̶̤̓n̸̨͠ë̶̦́v̷͚̿t̸͇͌ ̷̥̅c̵͈̾r̴̗̔ė̸̞m̵͙̆y̷̞͝b̸̢̍ ̷͚̐a̵̮̾f̷̪̐f̷͎̐ã̸̳l̵̮̋ő̵̼n̶͇̊e̸̡̚.̶̛͔ ̷̭͌ ̵̙̎Ȍ̵͜v̸͓̉e̷͓̽r̷̰̀l̵̩̔o̴͈̓å̵̩ḍ̶̒ṟ̷̇ĭ̶̝ ̴̛͙c̷̱̽o̵̪̿m̴͖̅ḭ̵́n̷͕͂ẗ̵̬́ ̸̠̈́v̵̭͋i̸͎͂ ̸̝͐l̴̟̍ȉ̶̜n̸͉͗m̶̫̈ ̴̻̍a̴̪͑f̴͔̉ ̸̨̃m̶̪̃o̶͠ͅb̵͂ͅk̴͔͊ ̴̯͋ḁ̵̓b̶̥̌d̶͉̈ ̴̗̀c̷̪̒r̷̈́ͅe̴̠̾m̶͖͝y̵̨̑b̶̘͆ ̴̫͝p̸͕̓ő̷̹r̶̥͋ṱ̶̍ä̷̠́l̵̙̏s̵̹̄z̴̫̅ ̷͔̽ë̷̘́r̸̯͋ ̶̰̋ḻ̵͝õ̸̖n̸̘͛ ̴̜͌w̷̹͑a̵̪͂r̸̝̄p̷̢͘.̶̓ͅ ̴̗̍ ̴̝͌L̶͖͠i̸̥͌n̴̞̔i̸͔̋m̶̖͊ ̷̘͠d̶̞̔r̵͖͋i̵̜̒t̴̨͛ ̶̻͘ţ̶͊ả̸͈ ̵̬̑c̶̮̉ą̶̿y̵͎̅ê̸̩ǹ̸̖d̷̤͆i̶͚̋d̸̛͕,̷͎̋ ̷̱͗b̵̓͜ȧ̵̤n̶̖̚!̶̖̅"

Kurt collapsed again. Firuthi's voice was now suddenly at the pitch the Jormungandr spoke in.

"Good thing he has someone with translator powers here. Okay, Ahrakas, the overload can be stopped. There's 108 Plasma Reactors at the core of one of those battleships and his Warp portal plan requires them all going off at once. If you can sufficiently separate the reactors, that will stop the catastrophe."

"Whoo, it smelled like corruption in here for a moment."

"Kurt tapped into some ancient memory. I think his binding's creating the corrupting part. I've got Firuthi protected for now..."

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"Into the Warp, he says? I've known celestial and reality dragons to go there on multiple occasions. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion the Warp is one of the byproducts of Ithaqua's travels."

"Hey, Oriana? Do you know anything about the Warp?"

"That... mortals typically can't go there. Celestial dragons have trouble there sometimes. There's been a few incarnations where I've had to grant access to the Warp for any sort of interstellar travel to happen, but even then it's only specific people who've touched the minds of the Architects directly who can safely navigate! Why are you bringing this up?"

"Because there's a ship whose core is about to overload-"

Kurt suddenly clutched his head and collapsed to the ground.

"-and send us into the Warp. Hang on a second- Kurt! KURT! ARE YOU OKAY?"

Kurt stood up. His eyes were glowing, his voice booming out an ancient language.

"L̷̼̀o̴̢͗ṇ̵̀ ̴̺̇s̸̙̔i̶̗̊g̶̣͆i̵̝͋n̷̳̈́e̸̻̾ ̸̨́m̷̱͝ý̴̘z̴͍͑r̷̢̀e̸͝ͅ ̶͇̾v̸͔̚i̴̧̚ ̵̝̆e̸̙͆h̶̜̑n̷̻͛ ̵̲̓e̶̬̒m̵̞̃p̶̨̂e̶̩̾r̸̙͌ó̴̮ṟ̴́-̵̝̀c̷̓ͅl̶̮̎ǎ̸͓s̴͛ͅs̸̱͌z̴͆͜ ̶̜̃f̴̧͛ḯ̴͚è̵̖t̵͕͝â̸̭k̶͙͂ ̸̨͂w̷̹̿ë̶̤́v̸͍̋v̵̪̍r̵͉̋ ̶̲̐d̶̫͠h̴̙̚e̷̫̾t̴̙̂ ̸̰͒1̶̖̇0̶͂͜8̶̧͛ ̶͕́f̴̱͗r̴̪̓ã̸͍ċ̶͚ȅ̵̦ś̶̟ ̵̦̄d̴̳̐e̴̡͊n̶͇̒ś̴̟ī̸̞ṭ̵̽v̵̦͑a̶͈͝ ̴̠́s̸͖̓ì̸̻ė̸ͅr̵̩͗g̷̮͌v̶̮̄a̴̢͋ ̷̬́m̷͓̀ȳ̴̩z̷͙̍n̴͈̑d̷̞̃u̷̡͗i̸̘͛t̵̜̑s̶̟̉z̸͔͝ ̶̤̓n̸̨͠ë̶̦́v̷͚̿t̸͇͌ ̷̥̅c̵͈̾r̴̗̔ė̸̞m̵͙̆y̷̞͝b̸̢̍ ̷͚̐a̵̮̾f̷̪̐f̷͎̐ã̸̳l̵̮̋ő̵̼n̶͇̊e̸̡̚.̶̛͔ ̷̭͌ ̵̙̎Ȍ̵͜v̸͓̉e̷͓̽r̷̰̀l̵̩̔o̴͈̓å̵̩ḍ̶̒ṟ̷̇ĭ̶̝ ̴̛͙c̷̱̽o̵̪̿m̴͖̅ḭ̵́n̷͕͂ẗ̵̬́ ̸̠̈́v̵̭͋i̸͎͂ ̸̝͐l̴̟̍ȉ̶̜n̸͉͗m̶̫̈ ̴̻̍a̴̪͑f̴͔̉ ̸̨̃m̶̪̃o̶͠ͅb̵͂ͅk̴͔͊ ̴̯͋ḁ̵̓b̶̥̌d̶͉̈ ̴̗̀c̷̪̒r̷̈́ͅe̴̠̾m̶͖͝y̵̨̑b̶̘͆ ̴̫͝p̸͕̓ő̷̹r̶̥͋ṱ̶̍ä̷̠́l̵̙̏s̵̹̄z̴̫̅ ̷͔̽ë̷̘́r̸̯͋ ̶̰̋ḻ̵͝õ̸̖n̸̘͛ ̴̜͌w̷̹͑a̵̪͂r̸̝̄p̷̢͘.̶̓ͅ ̴̗̍ ̴̝͌L̶͖͠i̸̥͌n̴̞̔i̸͔̋m̶̖͊ ̷̘͠d̶̞̔r̵͖͋i̵̜̒t̴̨͛ ̶̻͘ţ̶͊ả̸͈ ̵̬̑c̶̮̉ą̶̿y̵͎̅ê̸̩ǹ̸̖d̷̤͆i̶͚̋d̸̛͕,̷͎̋ ̷̱͗b̵̓͜ȧ̵̤n̶̖̚!̶̖̅"

Kurt collapsed again. Firuthi's voice was now suddenly at the pitch the Jormungandr spoke in.

"Good thing he has someone with translator powers here. Okay, Ahrakas, the overload can be stopped. There's 108 Plasma Reactors at the core of one of those battleships and his Warp portal plan requires them all going off at once. If you can sufficiently separate the reactors, that will stop the catastrophe."

"Whoo, it smelled like corruption in here for a moment."

"Kurt tapped into some ancient memory. I think his binding's creating the corrupting part. I've got Firuthi protected for now..."

It seems like Universe and Cosmos are going to have to do this, your speed will be crucial for this plan to succeed. Ill order our ships to begin pulling back as a precaution.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

It seems like Universe and Cosmos are going to have to do this, your speed will be crucial for this plan to succeed. Ill order our ships to begin pulling back as a precaution.

Everyone on board the Asgard could hear a munching sound. Jormungandr looked pissed off.

"AETERNUS! Are you eating donuts at a time like this?"

"What? This portal and barrier stuff is hungry work! Plus someone from Planet Solaris heard what I was up to and dropped off two dozen of them. Dark chocolate honey glazed, my favorite!"

"At ease, everyone. Ahrakas, it looks like Aeternus is powering up for something massive if he's scarfing down the highest-energy donuts from Planet Solaris. One quirk of the species I feel safe divulging. Every one of their gods has a power food. Easy way to help them build up huge amounts of energy.... or if some villain extracts their essence, reshaping that essence into their power food makes it easy for them to make themselves whole."

"So here's the deal. I'm hearing something over the mindlink of an attempt to create a Warp wormhole by blowing up a bunch of plasma reactors at once. If someone can get the bundle of them loose from their moorings, I can create a mass portal that will separate all of the reactors at once so they detonate relatively harmlessly. And yes, that's why I'm scarfing donuts, I'm building up enough power to do that without passing out. Oriana's feeding me safe places to send those reactors, although she's sounding a little corrupt for some reason...."

"Ahrakas, should I be concerned about what the kids are doing? They are trying to stop a catastrophe, yes, but I think they're running up against the binding as they're doing it..."