The Intrepid: Episode 1 (Pilot) The Walls Have Eyes!

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Heep's intuition may have been kicking in...

The officer pulled out his personal datapad with the same C logo as the drone, and hooked it up with the bot Dorien was still holding.

The Ascendancy and the Consortium had a bit of bad blood... and the slug creatures were a prominent part of the less than scrupulous organization. They played fast a loose with morals, and cared little for the lives of others and any sense of duty, honor, or integrity. It was nothing for them to play games that sacrificed innocent creatures in the process, for the sake of entertainment and scientific 'progress'. There were only masters and slaves in the Consortium.

At least, that's what Heep had likely heard, maybe even Dorien.

Rikiti, pointed across the bay a little meekly, now that the officer was there... clear in the opposite direction that Heep had presumably heard. Whatever Dorien was thinking, he may have been on to something...

Heep gestures to the side with his head, opposite where Rikiti pointed.
"The sounds came from back there."
He notices the pad used by the officer. Curious. It could be that the alien was using Consortium tech specifically to interface with the bot, but, that pad seemed more of a personal item than a specialized tool.
The evidence was coming together. Maybe Heep would be getting some blood after all.

"Nice pad there, officer, good tech. Definitely better than what I was given."
Heep speaks like an engineer just commenting on something they like, and keeps working with his magic. Hopefully Dorian, if he hadn't noticed yet, would realize the origin of the pad. And maybe the slug rabbit would respond by saying something incriminating, though that would be more luck than Heep could ask for.

It was hard to tell whether Dorian caught on or not. All he knew is that while these bots were relatively small, his arms didn't like the situation they were in.

Nor did Dorian appreciate that fog.

"Two questions. One, can Rikiti go back to fixing the atmo systems yet so security can see again? And two... is it safe to set this down yet? My arms are starting to cramp..."

 

[Marius Merganser]

Mambi's shriek made him jump! He accidentally fired the tazer, hitting Marius square in the chest with a charged electrical dart and delivering quite a few volts to the avian.

The duck's body went rigid for a few seconds before he collapsed to the floor with an unsettling thud.

The sabertooth pulled the first officer still a little shaken back to get a report as one officer tackled Mambi to the ground and the other turned the now tazed Marius around to cuff him.

Though... their ordeal was just beginning...

Marius didn't resist but while struggling to catch his breath, he began repeating his name, rank, and serial number.

"Merganser, Marius. Ensign. Two four six oh two."

 

[TrixieFox]

"Not a request Lieutenant! A lawful order from a higher ranking officer!" Senemen replied back at her.

Sgt. Sterling just stood there, almost completely still, then looked between the otter and Trixie. "Sgt. Sterling. Zone Trooper of the Ascendancy, currently assigned tactical survival specialist for the United Worlds on the Intrepid, accompanied by Sgt. Seren, Corp. Niaga, and Corp. Rosri. I to find dissatisfaction in being unarmed on duty. However, with the mixture of questionable nations, I surmise the captain and his cohorts concluded it would lead to less casualties and conflict. However, Ascendancy soldiers are trained in all forms of martial combat. Firearm or not, it makes little difference to us."

He glanced over to one of the large dino-crocs, who noticed, and in tern held up her hand briefly to show off her vicious set of claws, which said nothing about all her teeth... The fact they were paying attention to the conversation at all might have been considered rude to some, but the Ascendancy marines seemed to carry themselves differently, watching out for their colleagues, even in this mundane environment.

"Aight," Trixie said... *she snaps her fingers and the rifle vanishes* "bet"

"You don't have to be formal around me Sgt... but its nice to meet you"

 

[Silverthunder]

"Aight," Trixie said... *she snaps her fingers and the rifle vanishes* "bet"

"You don't have to be formal around me Sgt... but its nice to meet you"

"Not formal, ma'am," Sterling replied, "professional."

He took a step back, as if expecting something to happen...

The Major gave pause, then spun around on his paws like in formation. He stared forward, not at anyone in particular, and moved towards Trixie.

"Stand at attention when you talk to me," he commanded coldly, completely opposite of his prior demeanor, looking up at Trixie, head tilted slightly to the side. "Perhaps, I've been too informal with you. You seem to think you can speak to me like your peer. I generally consider myself rather forgiving and polite, so I don't mind a little friendly banter. Do you think this means I tolerate insubordination, lieutenant?"

The tram car went a bit quiet as the other marines tried not to look their way.

"I expect an answer, yes or no!?" he snapped at her.

 

[Silverthunder]

Heep gestures to the side with his head, opposite where Rikiti pointed.
"The sounds came from back there."
He notices the pad used by the officer. Curious. It could be that the alien was using Consortium tech specifically to interface with the bot, but, that pad seemed more of a personal item than a specialized tool.
The evidence was coming together. Maybe Heep would be getting some blood after all.

"Nice pad there, officer, good tech. Definitely better than what I was given."
Heep speaks like an engineer just commenting on something they like, and keeps working with his magic. Hopefully Dorian, if he hadn't noticed yet, would realize the origin of the pad. And maybe the slug rabbit would respond by saying something incriminating, though that would be more luck than Heep could ask for.

It was hard to tell whether Dorian caught on or not. All he knew is that while these bots were relatively small, his arms didn't like the situation they were in.

Nor did Dorian appreciate that fog.

"Two questions. One, can Rikiti go back to fixing the atmo systems yet so security can see again? And two... is it safe to set this down yet? My arms are starting to cramp..."

"Of course it is," the officer chuckled, "Consortium technology is far superior than anything someone like you could get your hands on... well, maybe you play your cards right and you might requisition something half as good from the ship exchange?"

He paused what he was doing and glanced at Dorien, "what did I say about keeping your questions to yourself?"

The officer pointedly did not answer his question about putting the bot down.

As they spoke, and the officer flipped through whatever data he was examining on his personal datapad, two more officers finally arrived, looking a little out of breath.

"Ah! You finally arrived..." he said sarcastically as he made a gesture with his paws to them, still fixated on the information from the bot. "Take these three, and escort them to their worksite. Leave once complete and return to your section. Keep everything you saw here to yourself and your section commander. Understood!?"

 

[Silverthunder]

HEY!!! Augh, hold on there! Stop! I didn't do anything!!! Innocent victims!! MMPHH!!!

<the cat protests through a muffled face as the guard holds him down to the ground. As his paws get pried behind him into handcuffs, the cat sighs and with an eye roll of familiarity and trying to relax as much as possible, starts to recite a well-rehearsed speech> "I am innocent sir, and I am not resisting so no need to use your taser, sir!! Do not hurt me please! I will comply with all commands but I assure you this is a mistake and that I will be found innocent of whatever you think I...", MMMPHH!!!!

<the officer shoves the cat's face back into the ground to shut him up as the cuffs are re-adjusted for maximum tightness>

The duck's body went rigid for a few seconds before he collapsed to the floor with an unsettling thud.



Marius didn't resist but while struggling to catch his breath, he began repeating his name, rank, and serial number.

"Merganser, Marius. Ensign. Two four six oh two."

"Yea yea, tell it to the judge!" One of the officers replied sarcastically to Mambi.

The other looked a little confused why Marius was giving his information like he was, but the sabertooth officer by the wolf furrowed his brow as he seemed to interpret it a very specific way.

"Prisoners of war recite their information to their captors... perhaps these are the terrorists we're looking for?" he stated darkly. "Take them to the brig, keep an eye on them at all times."

The guards picked them up and hauled them along roughly and with little care for their comfort! It was a long, dreadful walk of shame as they passed other crewmembers and groups of people making their way about the ship, whispering and commenting on the two detained persons being unceremoniously trotted along.

The rest of the ship, or at least the parts they went through to get to security, didn't look like they had been effected by whatever was going on.

 

[TrixieFox]

"Not formal, ma'am," Sterling replied, "professional."

He took a step back, as if expecting something to happen...

The Major gave pause, then spun around on his paws like in formation. He stared forward, not at anyone in particular, and moved towards Trixie.

"Stand at attention when you talk to me," he commanded coldly, completely opposite of his prior demeanor, looking up at Trixie, head tilted slightly to the side. "Perhaps, I've been too informal with you. You seem to think you can speak to me like your peer. I generally consider myself rather forgiving and polite, so I don't mind a little friendly banter. Do you think this means I tolerate insubordination, lieutenant?"

The tram car went a bit quiet as the other marines tried not to look their way.

"I expect an answer, yes or no!?" he snapped at her.

"insubordination? no.... Morale booster so no one thinks you're a God... yes" Trixie replied coldly (whos the major again?)

 

[Silverthunder]

“I think I should go back I have a bad feeling I am being watched”

"Hmm, well sir, there are AI monitored cameras all over the ship, with security officers taking a look at them from time to time. That would make the most-"

The lights on the wide beltway road shuttered and went dark, causing some gasps from the dozens of people walking by. The lights were normal back where they had come though, it seemed just that particular section. To make matters worse, the atmospheric sensors seemed to be on the fritz there too! Condensation and humidity was beginning to rise...

 

[Silverthunder]

"insubordination? no.... Morale booster so no one thinks you're a God... yes" Trixie replied coldly (whos the major again?)

(Major Senemen, the otter and ship Armorer)

"Did I ask you for an excuse!?" he snapped back at her abruptly. "I asked, do you think I tolerate insubordination, yes or no!?"

"As far as your concerned I am a god! And if you don't want to respect me, then you will fear me, do you get me!? I will have you eating the deck plating if you don't shape up! Your weapon will be secured in the armory, or I will have it confiscated and melt it down for scrap, and you'll be demoted to a gods damned fuzzy in recycling!"

 

[The_Happiest_Husky]

"Of course it is," the officer chuckled, "Consortium technology is far superior than anything someone like you could get your hands on... well, maybe you play your cards right and you might requisition something half as good from the ship exchange?"

He paused what he was doing and glanced at Dorien, "what did I say about keeping your questions to yourself?"

The officer pointedly did not answer his question about putting the bot down.

As they spoke, and the officer flipped through whatever data he was examining on his personal datapad, two more officers finally arrived, looking a little out of breath.

"Ah! You finally arrived..." he said sarcastically as he made a gesture with his paws to them, still fixated on the information from the bot. "Take these three, and escort them to their worksite. Leave once complete and return to your section. Keep everything you saw here to yourself and your section commander. Understood!?"

The horse sheltering behind Heep may notice his hackles raise. A slight breeze flows through the room, one more crisp, more natural than that of the air circulating from the environmental systems and the magic flowing between Heep's hands shifts to a deep grey, the same as the fog around them.
"I've still got a job to complete, sir."

 

[TrixieFox]

(Major Senemen, the otter and ship Armorer)

"Did I ask you for an excuse!?" he snapped back at her abruptly. "I asked, do you think I tolerate insubordination, yes or no!?"

"As far as your concerned I am a god! And if you don't want to respect me, then you will fear me, do you get me!? I will have you eating the deck plating if you don't shape up! Your weapon will be secured in the armory, or I will have it confiscated and melt it down for scrap, and you'll be demoted to a gods damned fuzzy in recycling!"

*A tear forms in Trix's eye that Sterling saw*
*she straightens her posture*
"NO, Major... I don't think you do tolerate it..." she said almost choking on tears.
"As for my gun though...sir... if you can find it you can do whatever you fancy with it"

 

[Silverthunder]

*A tear forms in Trix's eye that Sterling saw*
*she straightens her posture*
"NO, Major... I don't think you do tolerate it..." she said almost choking on tears.
"As for my gun though...sir... if you can find it you can do whatever you fancy with it"

(Sorry, remember, no personal weapons)

"Still insubordinate I see. And you only just arrived," he shook his head, disappointed. "very well. You'll be stripped of your rank in the United Worlds and removed from the ship for violating the law and risking the lives of everyone on board with unauthorized weapons and ordinance."

He made a gesture with one of his paws. "Niaga, Rosri."

The two hulking reptilian creatures stepped over, grabbing both of Trixie's arms rather roughly, regardless of her resistance. "Once we arrive, take her to the brig."

"Hopefully, your superiors back home, whatever nation you come from, are more forgiving of your behavior than I. Considering your lack of discipline though, I doubt it." Senemen added harshly.

 

[TrixieFox]

(Sorry, remember, no personal weapons)

"Still insubordinate I see. And you only just arrived," he shook his head, disappointed. "very well. You'll be stripped of your rank in the United Worlds and removed from the ship for violating the law and risking the lives of everyone on board with unauthorized weapons and ordinance."

He made a gesture with one of his paws. "Niaga, Rosri."

The two hulking reptilian creatures stepped over, grabbing both of Trixie's arms rather roughly, regardless of her resistance. "Once we arrive, take her to the brig."

"Hopefully, your superiors back home, whatever nation you come from, are more forgiving of your behavior than I. Considering your lack of discipline though, I doubt it." Senemen added harshly.

"wait..." Trix said before the two grabbed her "here" *she snapped and the rifle reappeared* *she turned and looked at the two* "paws off please... and please reconsider sending me home..." Trix said "I just got away from that hell hole"

(please dont strip the rank... Trix is very informal so the sudden change kinda sucked for her XD)

 

[Marius Merganser]

"Yea yea, tell it to the judge!" One of the officers replied sarcastically to Mambi.

The other looked a little confused why Marius was giving his information like he was, but the sabertooth officer by the wolf furrowed his brow as he seemed to interpret it a very specific way.

"Prisoners of war recite their information to their captors... perhaps these are the terrorists we're looking for?" he stated darkly. "Take them to the brig, keep an eye on them at all times."

The guards picked them up and hauled them along roughly and with little care for their comfort! It was a long, dreadful walk of shame as they passed other crewmembers and groups of people making their way about the ship, whispering and commenting on the two detained persons being unceremoniously trotted along.

The rest of the ship, or at least the parts they went through to get to security, didn't look like they had been effected by whatever was going on.

Like most ducks, the mergansers were a proud species, but now he was shamed. Marius trudged along in silence, avoiding eye contact with anyone he passed. He was so close to sitting at the helm of a massive ship on a mission for the ages but now all the work he had put in to get to this point was going up in flames. Even if he did get to continue to serve by some miracle, he would never make captain now. Not with charges like these on his record. Maybe he could find some brochures on privateering? He silently wondered if being eaten by those things would have been the preferable fate.

 

[Universe]

"Hmm, well sir, there are AI monitored cameras all over the ship, with security officers taking a look at them from time to time. That would make the most-"

The lights on the wide beltway road shuttered and went dark, causing some gasps from the dozens of people walking by. The lights were normal back where they had come though, it seemed just that particular section. To make matters worse, the atmospheric sensors seemed to be on the fritz there too! Condensation and humidity was beginning to rise...

“I don’t like this at all”

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

"Of course it is," the officer chuckled, "Consortium technology is far superior than anything someone like you could get your hands on... well, maybe you play your cards right and you might requisition something half as good from the ship exchange?"

He paused what he was doing and glanced at Dorien, "what did I say about keeping your questions to yourself?"

The officer pointedly did not answer his question about putting the bot down.

As they spoke, and the officer flipped through whatever data he was examining on his personal datapad, two more officers finally arrived, looking a little out of breath.

"Ah! You finally arrived..." he said sarcastically as he made a gesture with his paws to them, still fixated on the information from the bot. "Take these three, and escort them to their worksite. Leave once complete and return to your section. Keep everything you saw here to yourself and your section commander. Understood!?"

The horse sheltering behind Heep may notice his hackles raise. A slight breeze flows through the room, one more crisp, more natural than that of the air circulating from the environmental systems and the magic flowing between Heep's hands shifts to a deep grey, the same as the fog around them.
"I've still got a job to complete, sir."

<<He did not just...>>

Dorian had seen the snobby attitude plenty. That wasn't what bothered him. It was the way the slug rabbit had blown off a critical question. The fog was a major security hazard. It needed to be fixed, NOW.

As far as Dorian was concerned, the jig was up.

"If you think blowing off an engineer's request to help is a smart play, especially when they're trying to fix a known hazard, you don't know the first thing about security. And then you even attempt secrecy, in full earshot of all of us?"

Dorian tried to shove the officer's hand away from the datapad.

"TALK. Any hostility or attempt to issue orders will prove you the saboteur."

 

[Universe]

“WHAT’S GOING ON?”

 

[Silverthunder]

The horse sheltering behind Heep may notice his hackles raise. A slight breeze flows through the room, one more crisp, more natural than that of the air circulating from the environmental systems and the magic flowing between Heep's hands shifts to a deep grey, the same as the fog around them.
"I've still got a job to complete, sir."

<<He did not just...>>

Dorian had seen the snobby attitude plenty. That wasn't what bothered him. It was the way the slug rabbit had blown off a critical question. The fog was a major security hazard. It needed to be fixed, NOW.

As far as Dorian was concerned, the jig was up.

"If you think blowing off an engineer's request to help is a smart play, especially when they're trying to fix a known hazard, you don't know the first thing about security. And then you even attempt secrecy, in full earshot of all of us?"

Dorian tried to shove the officer's hand away from the datapad.

"TALK. Any hostility or attempt to issue orders will prove you the saboteur."

Startail behind Heep silently gasped, covering his mouth as the wolf began to channel his magic. The horse clearly expected something bad to happen as he seemed to silently panic, not quite understanding why he was feeling such an air flow to begin with.

But, the room went utterly silent, you could hear a pin drop as the slug rabbit paused, seething... He balled his paws into a fist for a moment, seemingly ready to strike Dorien after he swat his hand away from the datapad.

"I... apologize..." he replied, clearly frustrated as he cleared his throat while staring forward. "You misunderstood my command. I meant you three engineers, continue your work. Then, you will return to your section and report to your section commander as per protocol, and keep the incident on a need to know basis, so as not to cause any unnecessary panic."

"I am not accustomed to the... sensibilities... of your kind, but I will have this under control soon." he stated harshly. "If you would like to continue your work in peace, you may, or I can send these two officers to escort you."

It sounded like he were trying to recite some somewhat pre-rehearsed lines... and it was difficult to tell if he was gaslighting them or being genuine, given the clear level of aggression he displayed when being challenged by those he likely considered his lesser...

"Yes you MAY put the drone down." he said a little sarcastically.

 

[Firuthi Dragovic]

Startail behind Heep silently gasped, covering his mouth as the wolf began to channel his magic. The horse clearly expected something bad to happen as he seemed to silently panic, not quite understanding why he was feeling such an air flow to begin with.

But, the room went utterly silent, you could hear a pin drop as the slug rabbit paused, seething... He balled his paws into a fist for a moment, seemingly ready to strike Dorien after he swat his hand away from the datapad.

"I... apologize..." he replied, clearly frustrated as he cleared his throat while staring forward. "You misunderstood my command. I meant you three engineers, continue your work. Then, you will return to your section and report to your section commander as per protocol, and keep the incident on a need to know basis, so as not to cause any unnecessary panic."

"I am not accustomed to the... sensibilities... of your kind, but I will have this under control soon." he stated harshly. "If you would like to continue your work in peace, you may, or I can send these two officers to escort you."

It sounded like he were trying to recite some somewhat pre-rehearsed lines... and it was difficult to tell if he was gaslighting them or being genuine, given the clear level of aggression he displayed when being challenged by those he likely considered his lesser...

"Yes you MAY put the drone down." he said a little sarcastically.

Dorian carefully set the drone down. He was actually quite astonished that what he'd done solved the issue without actually coming to blows. They were no closer to catching the saboteur, but maybe at least they could undo the damage.

"Thank you for clarifying all of this. Perhaps we can talk sensibilities in more detail when this is under control."

Dorian looked around. He had a job to do and any misgivings about the slug rabbit would have to wait.

"Rikiti, please show us to what you were trying to fix earlier. And... I would like the two officers to come with us."

 

[Silverthunder]

Like most ducks, the mergansers were a proud species, but now he was shamed. Marius trudged along in silence, avoiding eye contact with anyone he passed. He was so close to sitting at the helm of a massive ship on a mission for the ages but now all the work he had put in to get to this point was going up in flames. Even if he did get to continue to serve by some miracle, he would never make captain now. Not with charges like these on his record. Maybe he could find some brochures on privateering? He silently wondered if being eaten by those things would have been the preferable fate.

@Mambi

Not much longer... and they arrived at the security section somewhere in the center rear of the ship. Of course, all of Mambi's things had been left on the deck in the education section, likely to be confiscated, along with anything Marius had of his own personal belongings. Once at the security station processing desk, a few folks with black eyes sitting on benches in the waiting area with cuffs, the two criminals had their fingers inked and eyes scanned. A quick pat down, and they snatched Marius' ID among other things.

"Dang... I can't believe the bridge crew was trying to sabotage the ship?" one of the officers behind the desk remarked, shaking his head, while another commented, "who can you trust you know?"

The two at the desk gave Mambi and Marius some condescending stares, before the arresting officers took them further back, into the prison section...

It was cold and dark, well lit, but the colors of the metal plates of the deck were such that it just felt oppressive altogether. They were taken to one of the cells, fairly roomy with four bunks imbedded into the wall and a toilet hidden only partially behind a short wall in the middle. Once inside, cuffs still on, the metal gate shut first, followed by some kind of forcefield.

 

[Universe]

“I don’t like what I’m seeing alpha full spectrum Analysis”

 

[Silverthunder]

"wait..." Trix said before the two grabbed her "here" *she snapped and the rifle reappeared* *she turned and looked at the two* "paws off please... and please reconsider sending me home..." Trix said "I just got away from that hell hole"

(please dont strip the rank... Trix is very informal so the sudden change kinda sucked for her XD)

Major Senemen made another gesture as he turned his back to Trixie. The wolf went to take her rifle, and to her credit, respectfully handled it.

Gradually the Tram finally began to come to a stop. Senemen's wrist device dinged with some updates on something happening elsewhere. He looked over it before glancing back at Trixie.

"I'll offer my recommendations in my report..." he replied curtly. "Take her to the brig."

The two marines, without going easy on her, hauled her off the tram without a word, while the rest of Fear team gathered outside on the platform as Senemen began to dish orders, having to continue his temporary command over the team while they sorted out who was to lead them.

The officers took her up to the security section HQ, where there were already some folks being processed.

"Wait, Lieutenant?" one of the desk sergeants remarked as he looked at his computer, while the other took Trixie's prints and eye scan.

"Yup, they sure know how to pick 'em. Trips off to a great start hu?" The two desk officers chuckled.

@Marius Merganser @Mambi

Once that was complete, she was taken to the brig. A cold sterile place, with large prison cells lining the hall on either side. There were already two crewmembers shoved in one of the cells, Trixie was pushed into the one across from them in the hall. The bars slammed shut, and an energy field activated. But hey, at least the disgraced officer wearing her fatigues, would have the four bunk cell all to herself. Not that that meant much with the two criminals across from her, even with the toilet half conceled in the middle of her room...

 

[Silverthunder]

“WHAT’S GOING ON?”

Universe didn't have to wait long- the fog began to thicken and fill the air! Obscuring all visibility, the other crew began to shout in panic and tried to run for either end of the hall.

Universe' escort remained calm and kept vigilant.

To Universe' credit, his sensors flipped through visibility modes, identifying some kind of chaff in the atmosphere. It was no ordinary fog, it was a smoke screen!

 

[TrixieFox]

Major Senemen made another gesture as he turned his back to Trixie. The wolf went to take her rifle, and to her credit, respectfully handled it.

Gradually the Tram finally began to come to a stop. Senemen's wrist device dinged with some updates on something happening elsewhere. He looked over it before glancing back at Trixie.

"I'll offer my recommendations in my report..." he replied curtly. "Take her to the brig."

The two marines, without going easy on her, hauled her off the tram without a word, while the rest of Fear team gathered outside on the platform as Senemen began to dish orders, having to continue his temporary command over the team while they sorted out who was to lead them.

The officers took her up to the security section HQ, where there were already some folks being processed.

"Wait, Lieutenant?" one of the desk sergeants remarked as he looked at his computer, while the other took Trixie's prints and eye scan.

"Yup, they sure know how to pick 'em. Trips off to a great start hu?" The two desk officers chuckled.

@Marius Merganser @Mambi

Once that was complete, she was taken to the brig. A cold sterile place, with large prison cells lining the hall on either side. There were already two crewmembers shoved in one of the cells, Trixie was pushed into the one across from them in the hall. The bars slammed shut, and an energy field activated. But hey, at least the disgraced officer wearing her fatigues, would have the four bunk cell all to herself. Not that that meant much with the two criminals across from her, even with the toilet half conceled in the middle of her room...

*trix broke down and started crying... she just wanted to do something for the good of people and once again she found a way to screw it up* "I NEED HELP!!!!!!!" *She Screamed at the top of her lungs, she looked at the camera* "please reinstate me and give me one more shot major... please"

 

[Universe]

Universe didn't have to wait long- the fog began to thicken and fill the air! Obscuring all visibility, the other crew began to shout in panic and tried to run for either end of the hall.

Universe' escort remained calm and kept vigilant.

To Universe' credit, his sensors flipped through visibility modes, identifying some kind of chaff in the atmosphere. It was no ordinary fog, it was a smoke screen!

“IT’S A SMOKE SCREEN! I’ve seen these before”