Andromedan Orbiting Operations Center (and offworld adventures)

[Baron Tredegar]

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..."

I think we should have the kids hold back if they can. These energies we are dealing with are a bit too unstable for my liking.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

I think we should have the kids hold back if they can. These energies we are dealing with are a bit too unstable for my liking.

"You hear that, kids? Hold back if-"

"̶̥͝T̴͉͠h̷̨̄ȅ̷̮y̷͍̓'̴̟̿r̴̯̊e̸̳̅ ̵͙̇g̶͈̾o̶̮̕i̵͕̒n̴̫̈́g̵͕̾ ̴̝̈t̸̪̉ǒ̷͙ ̷̦͆h̸̫̚u̷̗͘r̶̮͆t̵̖̎ ̵̦̈́D̸̺͗a̸̺͌ḑ̶̽!̵̝͠"̶͖̑

"̷̣̋T̵̘̕h̷̜̐e̷̹͐ ̸̩̒V̵͎̍i̵̛͈l̴̡̊é̵̪s̴̺̔.̵̄ͅ.̶̫̄.̸̚͜ ̸̨̓T̴̖̏ȟ̷͇e̵̥̋ ̸̲̆V̴͍̀ḯ̵̮l̶̹̈e̴̥͆s̶̳̄ ̷̙͝h̸͔̐a̶̛͜v̵̭̈́e̵̫͝ ̴̥̽c̶̡̈́r̸̢̆ḙ̴͊a̴̗̍ť̷̳e̵̥͌ď̶̩ ̷̖͝Ẉ̸͐a̷̞͐r̶̛̬p̷͎̄ ̵͔́s̵͙̓t̷͙́o̵͓͛r̸͎̎m̵͇͆ś̶̼ ̸̛̮ļ̵̈́ȋ̴̮k̸̢̐e̴̞͛ ̷͍͋t̸̤̑h̶͍́ȅ̴̱s̴̘̐e̵̩͌ ̸̣̇b̴̯̋é̸̺f̴͖̊ő̶̪ŕ̸̭ë̴̙́!̷͉̇.̸̼̌.̸̰̄.̴͚͗ ̴̗͒I̶̼͒.̴̯̂.̶͍͘.̶̝͗ ̵͔͠Í̴͖ ̶̱́c̸̡͐a̸̘̿n̴̫̅ ̵̼͊ŝ̴̩t̸͙̂i̷̬͝ĺ̷̮l̴͈̓ ̷͓͛h̵̞̾e̷̖̓a̶̻̋r̵̘̓ ̵͎̂ẗ̷̼ḫ̸͝ĕ̴̥ ̴͎̏H̴͇̀ȯ̷̠u̸͈͐ń̶̝d̴͔̓s̸͍̕'̸̮̉ ̶̖̄s̴̪̋c̶̞̑r̷̛̤e̴͕͋a̶͈̍m̵͕͗s̸̻̽.̶̥͆.̵͈͂.̸̠́"̵̡̈́

"̴͚̊I̶̘͆.̵͎̚.̷̢̓.̷̫̈ ̸̰́Ǐ̶̖ ̵̲͠c̴̡̔a̶̛̟n̴̘̓ ̶͚̋h̷͉̓e̶̤͒a̴̗͑ŕ̵͕ ̵̢̋A̵̳͂z̴̙͛a̷̢̓ẗ̴́ͅh̶̜̽ǫ̵̚t̶͇͑h̷̤̽ ̶̰̔i̵̘͐n̵̠̋ ̵̪͋p̶̪̿à̷̼i̴̥̽n̴͖͝,̴̮͐ ̶͈̄j̷̺͌u̶̞̓s̷̭͂t̴̰̓ ̸̬̔l̴̜̕i̵̯̇k̸̙͂ě̸̳ ̸̑͜b̵̫͆e̸̡̿f̷̖͑o̸͍͠r̷̺̉ë̸͍́!̵̭͗.̸̳́.̵̯̇.̵̪̇.̵̫͛"̸͚̾

"You two are about to pop, and it's corrupting-"

"̷̥͑T̸̢̀H̸̩̒E̴̾͜Y̷̔ͅ'̸̼̈́R̷̳͊E̶̮̎ ̸͙̀G̵͇͐O̷͉͒I̷͕͝N̴̻͌Ḡ̷̭ ̸̼̈́T̶̨̐Ō̴̝ ̷̬͒Ţ̶̓Ę̵̈́A̷̫̒R̵͍̃ ̶͉̄A̸͙̐ ̷͓̂Ḣ̷̺O̴̢̎L̴̙͝E̴̬̓ ̷͔̊I̵̝͠Ň̸͉ ̶̪̒A̶͎͌Ẕ̶̈́Ä̸͙́T̶̬̓H̵̜̀O̶͚͂T̴̩̀H̷͇͗!̵̞͐"̷̩̃
̵̬̔
̸̲͂"̵͇̓T̴̗̽H̴̳̕I̶̾ͅS̷̱͋ ̷̹̀I̴̠͌S̵͔̿ ̷̒ͅW̸̢̾H̷̫͂Y̸̘̓ ̸͔̈́Ŵ̴̦Ḛ̷̌ ̵̥͋Ť̴̤R̷̮̾Ḯ̷̥E̵͖͐Ḑ̵̏ ̶͇͂T̵̳́Ỏ̸͍ ̷̪̑S̶͔̆T̶̫̓O̷̞͝P̴̘͊ ̴͓̌T̵͉̈́H̵̖̽E̵͔͋ ̷͙̈́Ṽ̵̗I̵̼͝L̶̼̋E̴̜̅S̴̜̓!̷̣͛ ̷͖̏ ̵̡͆Ṫ̶ͅȞ̸̬E̸͍̎Ý̶̩ ̸̩͠W̵̉͜Ȇ̴͉R̵̰̚Ê̴͖ ̴̥̿S̵̬̓I̵̺̾M̸̫̈́Ṕ̴̪L̴̩͑Y̸̬͂ ̷͜͠S̸͒͜H̴̡̏Ŕ̶̻E̸̢͆D̶̘̈Ḋ̷̟Ǐ̸̟N̵̞͗G̴̮̒ ̸̙̋T̸̗̀H̷̥̓Ë̷͚ ̶͍͊Ẃ̵̰Ḩ̷̽E̵̼̿Ĕ̶̞L̵̩͛ ̴͂͜L̵̬̎I̷̝͌K̷̼̀Ȅ̶̤ ̴̗͋T̴͇̆Ȟ̷̞Ị̴̛Ṣ̷̀!̶͈̐"̴̬͊
̴̗̈́
̵̫͂"̴̻̃T̶̡̔H̵͖͑E̵̻͊ ̵͇̏B̷͎̏Į̶̊N̵̪̚D̵͈̄Ǐ̸̟Ṉ̸̓G̴͙̽.̴̠̅.̶͓̇.̸̳̂ ̶̯̂Ȉ̵̳T̷͉̾'̶͍͐S̵̬̐ ̸̙̅Ć̵̗H̶̗͠O̴̡̍K̷̥̈I̵̠̿N̴̹̄G̷̝̑ ̸̲͛Ọ̴̈F̸̢͝F̷̪̔ ̷͚̏M̴̙̔Y̸͉͆ ̵̡͊S̶̾͜Ơ̶̧Ȗ̷̲L̷̰̍ ̷̝̋A̶͇͑Ḡ̸͉Á̸͍I̸̬̚Ṉ̶̿!̵̤́.̶̞̃.̶̟͌.̴̲͂"̸̡͛
̸̮̈́
̷̯̓"̸̭̓S̴̹̍Ō̶͕M̵̪͊E̵̔͜B̸̝̆O̸̬͝Ḍ̸͘Y̶̙͊ ̸͖̎D̷̹͊Ȯ̴̦ ̵͉̔S̸̯̅O̸̯̽M̴̲̌E̷͍̾T̶̮͝H̵͈́I̸̩͑Ņ̴̓G̴̘͊ ̴͙͊B̸͔͑E̷̬͆F̷̗͊Ö̸̼́R̷̙͂E̷͓̚ ̷̬̾T̴͚̀H̴͉̑E̸͚̋ ̵̞͑W̶͎͝A̷̧̔R̵̜͂P̴̱͠ ̴͔̅S̶̠͝T̶̨͆O̸̾ͅR̸̤̔M̷̝̽ ̴͕͌Ḣ̴͕A̷̼̓P̸̟̌P̵̘̒E̴̝̐N̸̨͝S̵̢͆!̸̜͛"̸̫́

Back on the ship, Kurt was crying profusely.

"Sorry Ahrakas, no dice. This Warp storm thing... they're remembering their battles with the Viles. Apparently ripping open Warp storms is a thing the Viles used to do. It's overwhelming their ability to think rationally and I can't get through to them until the threat's gone. ...I understand now why they're called the Viles, if they've been attacking Azathoth directly like that."

"Cosmos, Universe... while I think Oriana is just remembering the pain rather than it already happening, you two have to move quickly. I... Cosmos, I wish your wife or your sister was here..."

 

[Universe]

"You hear that, kids? Hold back if-"

"̶̥͝T̴͉͠h̷̨̄ȅ̷̮y̷͍̓'̴̟̿r̴̯̊e̸̳̅ ̵͙̇g̶͈̾o̶̮̕i̵͕̒n̴̫̈́g̵͕̾ ̴̝̈t̸̪̉ǒ̷͙ ̷̦͆h̸̫̚u̷̗͘r̶̮͆t̵̖̎ ̵̦̈́D̸̺͗a̸̺͌ḑ̶̽!̵̝͠"̶͖̑

"̷̣̋T̵̘̕h̷̜̐e̷̹͐ ̸̩̒V̵͎̍i̵̛͈l̴̡̊é̵̪s̴̺̔.̵̄ͅ.̶̫̄.̸̚͜ ̸̨̓T̴̖̏ȟ̷͇e̵̥̋ ̸̲̆V̴͍̀ḯ̵̮l̶̹̈e̴̥͆s̶̳̄ ̷̙͝h̸͔̐a̶̛͜v̵̭̈́e̵̫͝ ̴̥̽c̶̡̈́r̸̢̆ḙ̴͊a̴̗̍ť̷̳e̵̥͌ď̶̩ ̷̖͝Ẉ̸͐a̷̞͐r̶̛̬p̷͎̄ ̵͔́s̵͙̓t̷͙́o̵͓͛r̸͎̎m̵͇͆ś̶̼ ̸̛̮ļ̵̈́ȋ̴̮k̸̢̐e̴̞͛ ̷͍͋t̸̤̑h̶͍́ȅ̴̱s̴̘̐e̵̩͌ ̸̣̇b̴̯̋é̸̺f̴͖̊ő̶̪ŕ̸̭ë̴̙́!̷͉̇.̸̼̌.̸̰̄.̴͚͗ ̴̗͒I̶̼͒.̴̯̂.̶͍͘.̶̝͗ ̵͔͠Í̴͖ ̶̱́c̸̡͐a̸̘̿n̴̫̅ ̵̼͊ŝ̴̩t̸͙̂i̷̬͝ĺ̷̮l̴͈̓ ̷͓͛h̵̞̾e̷̖̓a̶̻̋r̵̘̓ ̵͎̂ẗ̷̼ḫ̸͝ĕ̴̥ ̴͎̏H̴͇̀ȯ̷̠u̸͈͐ń̶̝d̴͔̓s̸͍̕'̸̮̉ ̶̖̄s̴̪̋c̶̞̑r̷̛̤e̴͕͋a̶͈̍m̵͕͗s̸̻̽.̶̥͆.̵͈͂.̸̠́"̵̡̈́

"̴͚̊I̶̘͆.̵͎̚.̷̢̓.̷̫̈ ̸̰́Ǐ̶̖ ̵̲͠c̴̡̔a̶̛̟n̴̘̓ ̶͚̋h̷͉̓e̶̤͒a̴̗͑ŕ̵͕ ̵̢̋A̵̳͂z̴̙͛a̷̢̓ẗ̴́ͅh̶̜̽ǫ̵̚t̶͇͑h̷̤̽ ̶̰̔i̵̘͐n̵̠̋ ̵̪͋p̶̪̿à̷̼i̴̥̽n̴͖͝,̴̮͐ ̶͈̄j̷̺͌u̶̞̓s̷̭͂t̴̰̓ ̸̬̔l̴̜̕i̵̯̇k̸̙͂ě̸̳ ̸̑͜b̵̫͆e̸̡̿f̷̖͑o̸͍͠r̷̺̉ë̸͍́!̵̭͗.̸̳́.̵̯̇.̵̪̇.̵̫͛"̸͚̾

"You two are about to pop, and it's corrupting-"

"̷̥͑T̸̢̀H̸̩̒E̴̾͜Y̷̔ͅ'̸̼̈́R̷̳͊E̶̮̎ ̸͙̀G̵͇͐O̷͉͒I̷͕͝N̴̻͌Ḡ̷̭ ̸̼̈́T̶̨̐Ō̴̝ ̷̬͒Ţ̶̓Ę̵̈́A̷̫̒R̵͍̃ ̶͉̄A̸͙̐ ̷͓̂Ḣ̷̺O̴̢̎L̴̙͝E̴̬̓ ̷͔̊I̵̝͠Ň̸͉ ̶̪̒A̶͎͌Ẕ̶̈́Ä̸͙́T̶̬̓H̵̜̀O̶͚͂T̴̩̀H̷͇͗!̵̞͐"̷̩̃
̵̬̔
̸̲͂"̵͇̓T̴̗̽H̴̳̕I̶̾ͅS̷̱͋ ̷̹̀I̴̠͌S̵͔̿ ̷̒ͅW̸̢̾H̷̫͂Y̸̘̓ ̸͔̈́Ŵ̴̦Ḛ̷̌ ̵̥͋Ť̴̤R̷̮̾Ḯ̷̥E̵͖͐Ḑ̵̏ ̶͇͂T̵̳́Ỏ̸͍ ̷̪̑S̶͔̆T̶̫̓O̷̞͝P̴̘͊ ̴͓̌T̵͉̈́H̵̖̽E̵͔͋ ̷͙̈́Ṽ̵̗I̵̼͝L̶̼̋E̴̜̅S̴̜̓!̷̣͛ ̷͖̏ ̵̡͆Ṫ̶ͅȞ̸̬E̸͍̎Ý̶̩ ̸̩͠W̵̉͜Ȇ̴͉R̵̰̚Ê̴͖ ̴̥̿S̵̬̓I̵̺̾M̸̫̈́Ṕ̴̪L̴̩͑Y̸̬͂ ̷͜͠S̸͒͜H̴̡̏Ŕ̶̻E̸̢͆D̶̘̈Ḋ̷̟Ǐ̸̟N̵̞͗G̴̮̒ ̸̙̋T̸̗̀H̷̥̓Ë̷͚ ̶͍͊Ẃ̵̰Ḩ̷̽E̵̼̿Ĕ̶̞L̵̩͛ ̴͂͜L̵̬̎I̷̝͌K̷̼̀Ȅ̶̤ ̴̗͋T̴͇̆Ȟ̷̞Ị̴̛Ṣ̷̀!̶͈̐"̴̬͊
̴̗̈́
̵̫͂"̴̻̃T̶̡̔H̵͖͑E̵̻͊ ̵͇̏B̷͎̏Į̶̊N̵̪̚D̵͈̄Ǐ̸̟Ṉ̸̓G̴͙̽.̴̠̅.̶͓̇.̸̳̂ ̶̯̂Ȉ̵̳T̷͉̾'̶͍͐S̵̬̐ ̸̙̅Ć̵̗H̶̗͠O̴̡̍K̷̥̈I̵̠̿N̴̹̄G̷̝̑ ̸̲͛Ọ̴̈F̸̢͝F̷̪̔ ̷͚̏M̴̙̔Y̸͉͆ ̵̡͊S̶̾͜Ơ̶̧Ȗ̷̲L̷̰̍ ̷̝̋A̶͇͑Ḡ̸͉Á̸͍I̸̬̚Ṉ̶̿!̵̤́.̶̞̃.̶̟͌.̴̲͂"̸̡͛
̸̮̈́
̷̯̓"̸̭̓S̴̹̍Ō̶͕M̵̪͊E̵̔͜B̸̝̆O̸̬͝Ḍ̸͘Y̶̙͊ ̸͖̎D̷̹͊Ȯ̴̦ ̵͉̔S̸̯̅O̸̯̽M̴̲̌E̷͍̾T̶̮͝H̵͈́I̸̩͑Ņ̴̓G̴̘͊ ̴͙͊B̸͔͑E̷̬͆F̷̗͊Ö̸̼́R̷̙͂E̷͓̚ ̷̬̾T̴͚̀H̴͉̑E̸͚̋ ̵̞͑W̶͎͝A̷̧̔R̵̜͂P̴̱͠ ̴͔̅S̶̠͝T̶̨͆O̸̾ͅR̸̤̔M̷̝̽ ̴͕͌Ḣ̴͕A̷̼̓P̸̟̌P̵̘̒E̴̝̐N̸̨͝S̵̢͆!̸̜͛"̸̫́

Back on the ship, Kurt was crying profusely.

"Sorry Ahrakas, no dice. This Warp storm thing... they're remembering their battles with the Viles. Apparently ripping open Warp storms is a thing the Viles used to do. It's overwhelming their ability to think rationally and I can't get through to them until the threat's gone. ...I understand now why they're called the Viles, if they've been attacking Azathoth directly like that."

"Cosmos, Universe... while I think Oriana is just remembering the pain rather than it already happening, you two have to move quickly. I... Cosmos, I wish your wife or your sister was here..."

*Eternity shows up and sends the reactors outside of reality*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*Eternity shows up and sends the reactors outside of reality*

"....what the-... Okay, everyone, help me get these kids under control."

Psychically, Firuthi/Jormungandr could actually get a foothold in the kids' minds again.

 

[Universe]

"....what the-... Okay, everyone, help me get these kids under control."

Psychically, Firuthi/Jormungandr could actually get a foothold in the kids' minds again.

Eternity:”Seems like I made it in time”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Eternity:”Seems like I made it in time”

"Eternity, I see where you put the reactors. If that many explode in the same spot outside reality it's still going to cause some issues. I'll handle separating these to minimize the damage, you head over to the Asgard. Firuthi needs you."

"Okay, listen everyone. I can finally get into the kids' minds without the threat to Azathoth - it seems whatever binding they have shoves out any other influence when there's existential danger, so I was locked out for a bit. Anyways, now that I'm back in, I'm going to grab Kurt and resonate. In order to generate enough energy to bring the kids back down, I need two other reality dragons to hug me as I'm hugging Kurt. Ready?"

Firuthi picked up Kurt, hugged him, and began resonating with energy.

 

[Universe]

"Eternity, I see where you put the reactors. If that many explode in the same spot outside reality it's still going to cause some issues. I'll handle separating these to minimize the damage, you head over to the Asgard. Firuthi needs you."

"Okay, listen everyone. I can finally get into the kids' minds without the threat to Azathoth - it seems whatever binding they have shoves out any other influence when there's existential danger, so I was locked out for a bit. Anyways, now that I'm back in, I'm going to grab Kurt and resonate. In order to generate enough energy to bring the kids back down, I need two other reality dragons to hug me as I'm hugging Kurt. Ready?"

Firuthi picked up Kurt, hugged him, and began resonating with energy.

*I hugged you as well as Cosmos Eternity hugs you as well*

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

*I hugged you as well as Cosmos Eternity hugs you as well*

Firuthi linked his energy with that of Cosmos, Universe, and Eternity.

It resonated through them, and through the Architects.

"It hurts... feeling the pain of our father..."

"I felt something tear at me back there..."

"I... this binding does not have long. We felt what was going to happen..."

"Can we make it through this war long enough for a safe unbinding?"

"It seems everyone was feeling the struggle that I felt at the Palace, right there. I can only hope Ahrakas' decision to hold off on undoing the binding turns out to be the right one."

"Ssh... ssssh.... everything's going to be alright, children."

 

[Baron Tredegar]

Firuthi linked his energy with that of Cosmos, Universe, and Eternity.

It resonated through them, and through the Architects.

"It hurts... feeling the pain of our father..."

"I felt something tear at me back there..."

"I... this binding does not have long. We felt what was going to happen..."

"Can we make it through this war long enough for a safe unbinding?"

"It seems everyone was feeling the struggle that I felt at the Palace, right there. I can only hope Ahrakas' decision to hold off on undoing the binding turns out to be the right one."

"Ssh... ssssh.... everything's going to be alright, children."

I wish you were all older going through this, it must all be so overwhelming.
Either way it seems what is left of the Shogun fleet is in retreat, we will be able to land on the planet soon.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

I wish you were all older going through this, it must all be so overwhelming.
Either way it seems what is left of the Shogun fleet is in retreat, we will be able to land on the planet soon.

"Truth be told, when we unbind... we are probably going to need an eon or two before we're ready to rule. We've been sealed so long..."

"....so long that we'll need that much time just to readjust to our old bodies."

"I think we may need to give an extra bit of oomph to the Lords' powers."

"Is this about the risk of being rapidly re-bound? Don't worry about that Oriana, I think we're going to have a lot longer than an eon before we have to worry about beings trying to bind us again."

"Either way, once we're unbound you're pretty much going to be serving as Lord-Regent for that eon. You're potentially looking at up to a billion-year kingdom, Ahrakas."

"It is too soon for him to think about that. Universe, Cosmos, Eternity... keep going, they're starting to come down from their corruption..."

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"Truth be told, when we unbind... we are probably going to need an eon or two before we're ready to rule. We've been sealed so long..."

"....so long that we'll need that much time just to readjust to our old bodies."

"I think we may need to give an extra bit of oomph to the Lords' powers."

"Is this about the risk of being rapidly re-bound? Don't worry about that Oriana, I think we're going to have a lot longer than an eon before we have to worry about beings trying to bind us again."

"Either way, once we're unbound you're pretty much going to be serving as Lord-Regent for that eon. You're potentially looking at up to a billion-year kingdom, Ahrakas."

"It is too soon for him to think about that. Universe, Cosmos, Eternity... keep going, they're starting to come down from their corruption..."

That is a burden I am willing to bear, though I should make efforts to truly produce an heir in case anything unfortunate occurs.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

That is a burden I am willing to bear, though I should make efforts to truly produce an heir in case anything unfortunate occurs.

Firuthi hesitated for a second.

"...why do I get the feeling we met your potential first choice for a mate back at that party?"

 

[Baron Tredegar]

Firuthi hesitated for a second.

"...why do I get the feeling we met your potential first choice for a mate back at that party?"

I hope I survive this whole ordeal, she was quite a special woman.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

I hope I survive this whole ordeal, she was quite a special woman.

"She did seem like it."

"While I'm coming down from my corruption, let's talk ground battles-"

"Kurt, have you ever heard of Dynasty Warriors?"

"No I haven't, Tyrim. Why?"

"The Shogun plans on using human wave tactics. Back when we fought the Webbed One, we were up against armies of feral clones and even Dural was able to pull horde-clearing charges by himself... and that was WAY before he got the Lord powers. That horde-clearing stuff reminds me of Dynasty Warriors, hence why I bring it up."

"We could probably send a handful of Lords and sweep the place... but to be safe, we should send a number of them and their troops to land, plus a couple of the dragons."

"I wonder if Nova's up to the task or if he's still too squeamish given the last time he fought."

"Are there any specific Lords, either Imperium or Convergence, that you want to send down on the away mission?"

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"She did seem like it."

"While I'm coming down from my corruption, let's talk ground battles-"

"Kurt, have you ever heard of Dynasty Warriors?"

"No I haven't, Tyrim. Why?"

"The Shogun plans on using human wave tactics. Back when we fought the Webbed One, we were up against armies of feral clones and even Dural was able to pull horde-clearing charges by himself... and that was WAY before he got the Lord powers. That horde-clearing stuff reminds me of Dynasty Warriors, hence why I bring it up."

"We could probably send a handful of Lords and sweep the place... but to be safe, we should send a number of them and their troops to land, plus a couple of the dragons."

"I wonder if Nova's up to the task or if he's still too squeamish given the last time he fought."

"Are there any specific Lords, either Imperium or Convergence, that you want to send down on the away mission?"

Myself. A leader should go into battle with his men. It would feel good to have Firuthi by my side.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Myself. A leader should go into battle with his men. It would feel good to have Firuthi by my side.

"Dural? Dural, can you hear me?"

"What is it?"

"We're assembling the away team. Which Chorus users did you bring to this battle?"

"Roger's tied up with the Railjack and Aifric's manning the Basileia. Look, most of the longterm mages and Chorus users that I brought along are crew captains. I could spare maybe Aenor or Geoffrey."

"Nada. Keep those two up here, they're not suited for a battle like this. Kurt, any particular Convergence Lords who'd be best suited to a crowd fight?"

"Most of them got picked off by the Imperium over the years. The Chaos Gods aren't being called on until we're face-to-face with the Shogun himself, and many of the rest are simply better off in small fights. I can think of one Lord who can do an urban crowd battle."

"Who is it?"

"Ahrakas, what do you think of Afanc taking the field alongside you two? I know he has hoverbike squads and a massive monowheel-like contraption he calls the Doomwheel, and he's got other technology he hasn't fully explained to me...."

 

[Baron Tredegar]

"Dural? Dural, can you hear me?"

"What is it?"

"We're assembling the away team. Which Chorus users did you bring to this battle?"

"Roger's tied up with the Railjack and Aifric's manning the Basileia. Look, most of the longterm mages and Chorus users that I brought along are crew captains. I could spare maybe Aenor or Geoffrey."

"Nada. Keep those two up here, they're not suited for a battle like this. Kurt, any particular Convergence Lords who'd be best suited to a crowd fight?"

"Most of them got picked off by the Imperium over the years. The Chaos Gods aren't being called on until we're face-to-face with the Shogun himself, and many of the rest are simply better off in small fights. I can think of one Lord who can do an urban crowd battle."

"Who is it?"

"Ahrakas, what do you think of Afanc taking the field alongside you two? I know he has hoverbike squads and a massive monowheel-like contraption he calls the Doomwheel, and he's got other technology he hasn't fully explained to me...."

Sounds good. Lets head planetside in one hour to give our forces time to mop up the remaining Shogun naval forces.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Sounds good. Lets head planetside in one hour to give our forces time to mop up the remaining Shogun naval forces.

"Got it."

"Afanc!"

"Yes, Holy-Blessed One?"

"You're on the Mandalore away team. Still got that Doomwheel?"

"I've got that, the hoverbike squads, and a complement of Warlock-Engineers ready to go with flamethrowers and lightning guns."

"What, none of your infamous ratling guns?"

"We had trouble-difficulty with the ammo feed. Can't get them single-rat portable unlike the other two and still have enough ammo."

"I should teach you about shaved-block guns one of these days. Shooting slivers at relativistic speeds."

"All these laser guns and power swords gives me an idea how to go into battle, Ahrakas. Especially since I'm not just restricted to the Jormungandr's plug tentacles anymore."

 

[Universe]

"Got it."

"Afanc!"

"Yes, Holy-Blessed One?"

"You're on the Mandalore away team. Still got that Doomwheel?"

"I've got that, the hoverbike squads, and a complement of Warlock-Engineers ready to go with flamethrowers and lightning guns."

"What, none of your infamous ratling guns?"

"We had trouble-difficulty with the ammo feed. Can't get them single-rat portable unlike the other two and still have enough ammo."

"I should teach you about shaved-block guns one of these days. Shooting slivers at relativistic speeds."

"All these laser guns and power swords gives me an idea how to go into battle, Ahrakas. Especially since I'm not just restricted to the Jormungandr's plug tentacles anymore."

“What about me?”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“What about me?”

"Looks like the kids have finally come down from their corruption."

Firuthi sighed.

"Look, Universe.... it's your call whether you go down to the planet with us."

 

[Universe]

"Looks like the kids have finally come down from their corruption."

Firuthi sighed.

"Look, Universe.... it's your call whether you go down to the planet with us."

“I’m coming with you”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

“I’m coming with you”

"Looks like four of us, Ahrakas. You, me, Universe, and Afanc. Universe and I won't need retinues most likely."

Firuthi finally let Kurt out of the embrace.

"I should warn you that in addition to Marendar's talents, in the chrysalis I may very well have gotten mere glimpses of what the kids can do. Nowhere near their raw power, of course, but a few of the talents themselves seem to have made themselves known to me. Given I can also see through the kids' eyes when I wish, I get the feeling this was an effect of Azathoth's command to me."

 

[Universe]

"Looks like four of us, Ahrakas. You, me, Universe, and Afanc. Universe and I won't need retinues most likely."

Firuthi finally let Kurt out of the embrace.

"I should warn you that in addition to Marendar's talents, in the chrysalis I may very well have gotten mere glimpses of what the kids can do. Nowhere near their raw power, of course, but a few of the talents themselves seem to have made themselves known to me. Given I can also see through the kids' eyes when I wish, I get the feeling this was an effect of Azathoth's command to me."

*I was eerily calm*

 

[TrixieFox]

*Wakes up* Da HECK??

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

((....I must update that first post one of these days, so we can track where we are.))

"....did we have any stowaways on board?"

"There was a few medical capsules we recovered from the Thulcan lab. One of them had someone in there but... they weren't responding. I decided they needed to be on the Asgard."

"I'm seeing life signs from the medbay."

"Hang on..."

*Wakes up* Da HECK??

In the medbay, a middle-aged masculine voice spoke over the intercom.

"Can you hear me? This is Captain Tyrim of the Asgard carrier ship. If that's the specimen from the medbay capsule we recovered, please respond. We're in the middle of a war situation, we just repelled a boarding attack... we're all on edge here."