Chapter Three (Closure)

[Akirapryde]

(OOC: So here is the closure for Chapter Three. I had to take a slight bit of liberty with last minute actions to make this post possible. Jake will tie the doctor and Nurse up long enough for the party to gain the benefit of this entire post. There will be enough time to shut the feed down before the doctor and nurse returns to this room. Now that the Closure is open, everyone is free to post in this thread.

Once I have a party direction I will open up Chapter Four. I will be looking for a direction for the party so I can set the stage for Chapter Four.

Adventure Points Awards

Erik: 4 AP, plus 1 for leadership
Jake: 4 AP plus 1 for being a hero
Adrian: 3 AP
Suki: 3 AP
Thorchan: 1 AP

Remember that each of you get your Learn equal to in Skill Points.)

The members of the party were escorted back to the medical bay under guard from the dropship security personal from where every they had been prior. As the party regrouped back in the medical bay, it was clear that something larger was at play. The dropship seemed to be at a heightened sense of alert. As the two groups united, Erik had a brief moment to clue everyone on to what was going on and the need for hacking. Everyone knew what was expected of them. Like a well-trained unit, the team leaped in to action once they reached the medical bay.

Upon reaching the medical bay, true to her promise, medical personal had been standing by waiting for Jake. Knowing that the computer in the medical bay was vital to understanding what was going on, Jake fell upon the sword and asked the doctor if he could be treated in privacy. Jake was escorted by the doctor and the nurse to a side treatment room. Jake’s wounds were slightly more serious than he had first given it credit. He required minor surgery to repair the damage to his rib cage. At the end of the treatment, he got a number of stitches to close up the wound. This extended treatment allowed the rest of the party to do what they had to do in the medical bay.

Once Jake and the medical personal had left the room, Erik asked Adrian to hack the security systems of the dropship. While Adrian worked at his task, Erik allowed Suki to listen to the conversation that Alice recorded. She was able to translate that this meeting was unplanned and the visitors were demanding to meet. Suki was able to discover the location of this meeting. Hanger Bay 6 was the information given to Adrian. Armed with this vital intelligence, Adrian was able to hack the security feed from that bay. Within no time, the image of the monitor was of Hanger Bay 6 and an arriving shuttle.

The shuttle arrived with a bit of flare that Jake would have enjoyed watching. Shortly after the shuttle landed and the bay was re-pressurized, Sho Sho Tetsuhara and her father made their way to the shuttle to greet the group of travelers. Three black cloaked figures walked from the rear of the shuttle. Their mannerism and cloaks caused them to be easily mistaken for Comstar, but their cloaks were black instead of white. Unlike Comstar, their hoods were down over their shoulders. Within the group was an older woman roughly the same age as Sho Sho Tetsuhara.

Her hair was neatly hidden behind a well maintained hijab. On the right breast of the cloak bore the unmistakable image of a menacing Grim Reaper. The boney figure was dawned in a traditional black cloak much like her own. His boney hands were wrapped around a sickle made of bone. Above the top of the sickle were two silver diamonds, one on top of another. All of the figures wore the same flag on their left shoulder as the bodyguards had.

To her left was a figure who walked with a hint of a limp. He was dressed similar to the woman next to him with the exception of the hijab. The hood of his cloak was pulled up over his head and the figure wore a skull like mask that covered the lower half of his face. It was clear that the figure was a male. Like the woman next to him, he wore a black cloak that bore the unmistakable image of a Grim Reaper. However, his Grim Reaper was different. It had large black feathery wings and its sickle was much smaller. Above the head of his Grim Reaper was a single silver diamond.

On the other side of the older woman was a much younger female. She too was dressed in a black cloak with a Grim Reaper. However, her Grim Reaper was more demonic in appearance and sitting upon a throne made of bones. Coming from its sickle and flashing around its head were arcs of purple lighting. It didn’t take long for party to realize that the throne was actually a Mech Command Chair. Above the head of this Grim Reaper was a blue upside down triangle with a solid blue strip above the triangle.

As the three walked down from the ramp of the shuttle, they lowered their heads in respect as did Sho Sho Tetsuhara and Major Tetsuhara. It was clear that there was some level of mutual respect between the two groups.

Sho Sho Tetsuhara spoke towards the man with the limp, “it’s good to see you again. How is the air group?”

Before the man could reply, the older woman spoke, “this isn’t a social call Linna. We are here to escort your ship back to Luthien.”

“You have always been quick to anger, Kat” Sho Sho Tetsuhara said with a sigh. “We have not traveled all this way, not to deliver Kimiko home.”

Kat waved her hand as if dismissing the statement while stepping forward, “spare us Linna. This isn’t a mission of mercy. We know about the treaty between President McGray and Coordinator Kurita. We know about the Destroyers. Linna, for the love of Allah, it’s not safe for Kimiko on New Earth.”

“Your ability to gather information will always surprise me” Sho Sho Tetsuhara said softly, “I told them that it would be foolish to hide this treaty from your group. Nonetheless Kat, President McGray needs Kimiko. No one on New Earth is as loved as she is. She could help him keep power out of the hands of the military.”

Anger crossed Kat’s face, “Linna, Kimiko is your niece! She……..”

“She is a member of the House Nobility and a servant of her people” Sho Sho Tetsuhara snapped. “Her place is by her mother’s side and in the appetence of her mother, she must help bring order to her people. That is her duty,” Sho Sho Tetsuhara rebutted.

It was clear that Kat was going to say something, but the opening of a nearby hatch distracted everyone’s attention. As a forth individual walked down the ramp dressed just like the first three. While his Grim Reaper was similar to the younger female, this one had a pair of wings on the throne like mech command couch. The mark above the Grim Reaper was an upside down triangle that was open on the top. It was his fair skin, blond hair and soft blue eyes that drew the attention of the party.

From the side of the camera angle, Kimiko and her bodyguards walked in. As she reached half way and the fourth person reached the bottom of the ramp, Kimiko brightened up as she ran across the deck, “Marcus”

“Short Round!” the man named Marcus said as he rushed out to greet her. He welcomed her in to his arms in a friendly hug.

After being set down, Kimiko looked around, “Where is my mother?” she searched up the ramp with her eyes, “Did she not come?”

Marcus looked at Kimiko as the cloaked group got very serious, “hey, look Short Round….”

Kat walked over to Kimiko and Marcus and rested her hand on Kimiko’s shoulder, “Kimiko, your mother’s air transport was discovered in one hundred meters of water just off the coast. Her body was identified along with nearly a hundred other presumed missing in action.”

Kimiko stepped back in horror. “No……..” she said with terror in her voice, “why???why????” she muttered as the tears started to flow down her face.

Kat waved the others off, “we don’t know all of the facts right now.” Erik knew that this woman named Kat was lying. “All we know is that the civilian transport she was traveling on was shot down sometime during the opening hours of the invasion a year ago. There was a great deal of confusion at the time and event was not recorded. This is why it was assumed that she was taken prisoner by the Lyrans.”

Sho Sho Tetsuhara angrily interjected, “Lyran bastards murdered my sister!”

Kat turned to Sho Sho Tetsuhara, “we don’t know that for a fact.” Again Erik knew that she was lying.

Major Tetsuhara finally spoke up, “how is this possible? We received an All Clear from Kimiko’s mother four months ago. This was the reason why we are on this journey.”

Kat turned to Major Tetsuhara, “that’s impossible. No such message was sent from New Earth.”

While the conversations and anger continued, Kimiko wondered back to her bodyguards. Clearly she was hurt beyond measure. The pain on her face was clear to those watching the monitor. For a young woman, she was being pressed to her limits today.

Kat finally said, “its settled” she said as if she was making the decision herself, “link up with the Enterprise and we will escort Kimiko and the rest of you back to Luthien.”

“NO” Kimiko said defiantly. She turned back to both groups. “Today someone tried to kill me” she said and as the words left Kimiko’s mouth Kat was already shooting a glare at Sho Sho Tetsuhara. “The same man that saved my life, told me that I just can’t runaway. With the death of my mother, I am now the Duchess of New Earth. I don’t have a choice but to serve my people and I can’t do that from Luthien.”

Kimiko was still showing signs of being unsure of her actions. But she still moved forward towards the black cloaked group, “The Brigade swore an oath to my father and mother to serve them. I ask you now, reaffirm that oath to me. Help me bring peace to my world.”

It was Marcus who dropped to his knee first, followed by the younger female. Kat however stood before Kimiko and looked deep in to her eyes. “Know this Kimiko Tetsuhara Death, we cannot win this war for you. What must be done, must be done by you. This is not an easy task and I am not sure you are up for it.”

Kimiko nodded, “A man I hardly knew was willing to give up his life for me. If I go back to Luthien and my world falls in to chaos, what then. Who will be there for my people?” She looked at Kat in the eyes, “my father’s hopes and dreams all rested on New Earth. If the world falls in to civil war again, then my father’s legacy will be of failure.” She shook her head, “if only that, then I must.” There was a kind of tone to Kimiko’s voice that echoed in other great leaders of history. It was something that Erik picked up on.

Kat continued to look in to Kimiko’s eyes, “It is a dangerous path and there are those who want to see you dead.” Kat slowly started to take a knee as did the masked man, “the Brigade will see you through this path. I give you, my word to that.”

Kimiko turned to Sho Sho Tetsuhara, “Please make best speed for New Earth and Conceptopolis Spaceport.” She walked back towards her bodyguards then paused, “There are three empty rooms on my level. I am sure that our visitors have proven that they are not a threat to me. Please move them to more comfortable accommodations.”

Before Sho Sho Tetsuhara could answer, Major Tetsuhara cut her off, “It will be done Duchess.” While it was a clear show of usurping the Sho Sho, she didn’t argue. Sho Sho Tetsuhara turned and walked towards one of the main hatches. Kat rushed forward to catch up, “Linna, we need to talk in private.”

The man named Marcus and the younger female rose and approached, “So when do we meet the Hero, Short Round?” Kimiko laughed as her group walked off the camera angle.

The masked man and Major Tetsuhara stood there for a moment while everyone else left the hanger bay. Finally, the Major Tetsuhara spoke up, “come, I have orders to issue. Then we shall have drinks and speak of past battles.”

The man nodded, “Hai Sensei” within moments the shuttle was left alone in the hanger bay.

[CarcerKango]

Jake returned to the room heavily bandaged. He breathed in, then out, waiting for the party to assemble. He began to speak, glancing at each party member occasionally as he did so.
"The assassin talked to me. He said that New Earth was a threat to the Lyran Alliance. He said something about a President McGray and someone named General Macko who they were going to pin the killing on--not directly, but he was going to implicate me as the...the killer, and upload false information and an ID for me through a virus in the communication network. He wanted to start a war, and stop them from "rebuilding the Terran Hegemony." He shuddered as he thought of the would-be killer's words. /Three long years...now her family line comes to an end./

[Ice Hellion]

Looking back at the computer screen

I failed to get in the system but someone went there before me, someone or should I say several of them?

Turning around in the seat

And by the way, we did get a picture of the stars and I am sure that some things are not what they should be here and now. Tech is slightly different, history too...

Turning one more time in the seat

And this guy was definitely a pro. Goof fake ID, no tatoo, no marks or anything to let us know who he was.

Turning around in the seat and stopping in the middle of it, right in front of Jake.

Wait. What did you say? A virus in the communication network? Now this is interesting.

[aipsylon]

Erik was sticking to Jake's side where he could, the aftershocks of this would have things moving quickly he feared that important bits of information going away unheard. Though he was standing next to Jake and the man was speaking, her found the initial interaction of those the two groups. There was obvious tension between them. Then a lie, another lie. When name came back into the room Erik listened to what he had to say. He nodded a few times as he was talking.

"Jake we need to get you to Kimiko before she gets to making decisions. She isn't being given all the pieces of the puzzle. She needs to know that what she heard, the news that upset her just now, her grandmother was being lied to. Also it could not hurt if you remind her what the assassin told you. The facts are likely related." He spotted, thinking for a moment he didn't want to apostasy himself from Jake, "Now should be a good time, let her know that you'd at least like to say goodbye before you go."

"Now we have to move fast" He looked to Alice, and when we get someplace private have Suki listen to that recording it should help to clarify why she was so nervous." A silent I hope added at the end of that statement before continuing. "Let's get back to that computer in med bay and we can see if your skills are up to snuff Adrian. We need audio access to the meeting the Sho Sho is in. The phones are networked and have no manual cutoff. Think you can get something done with that in a very short time frame?"

[Ice Hellion]

After having heard about the virus, Adrian turned back to the computer and began looking at some things.

He made some strange noises while seeming completely in his own world.

Yes. Mmm. And if I could get access that...

When suddenly, he turned again in his chair with a smile.

I found it.

Looking around him, he saw that no one understood what he was doing.

You don't get it, do you?

Looking disappointed

Nevermind.
What did you ask for? Audio access to a meeting? Easy.
I can think of at least 4 or 5 ways to do that.
Let's see.

Getting back in front of the computer for a few seconds

Yes, obviously, they are still unaware of this backdoor in the communication systems of this old Dropship, that allowed the network of the phones to be captured on a specific broadband section of the communication systems and transferred via a small routine to the speakers of a computer.

[aipsylon]

"I can't speak the language, can someone please translate for me when Adrian finds the channel?" Was all that Erik said, though he did give a nod of approval at the efficiency with which Adrian worked. He had no idea what he had done, but he knew enough about computers to appreciate its complexity.

[Akirapryde]

It didn’t take long for Adrian to find where the Sho Sho and Kat were having their meeting. He hacked the phone lines and overrode the electric disconnect on the phone in the room. Adrian couldn’t help but lean back with a smile on his face as the voices filled the Medical Bay. Sadly, there were no security cameras. This meant that the party only had the voices of what was going on.

Suki gladly translates where it was required. However most of the conversation was in English.

“Kat, we are in private now” she the Sho Sho, “tell me what all of this is about?” It was clear that the Sho Sho didn’t wish to mince words with Kat. It was a blunt approach that the party had already observed with the Sho Sho’s behavior. However even in what they had seen, this behavior signaled something between the two of them.

“War” Kat said plainly, “as you know, Macko is pushing for a war with Tharkad. A war that we can’t win. General Macko’s hatred of the Lyrans is well known. I have spoken with him after the invasion. He told me that his greatest regret was not being on New Earth during the invasion. But he promised that he and his 3rd Corps will make the Lyrans pay for the invasion. Despite the fact that we were lucky during the invasion, Macko is pressing for war and has his supporters. This is what is most dangerous about this whole situation is that the Lyrans seem to be pressing for war also.”

It was then that the voice of the Sho Sho cut in, “the Combine is well aware of this. We have been tracking Lyran military units in the area. While the Archon has been forced to shift her focus from New Earth to other more pressing concerns for the Alliance as a whole. Despite other issues, it is clear that the Archon is not done with New Earth. It is because of this reason, why the Coordinator has sent us.”

“What are you not telling me Linna?” there was clear surprise in Kat’s voice.

It was clear that Linna moved in her chair, “the Coordinator would rather fight a proxy for the Lyon’s Thumbs on New Earth with New Earth forces than risk Draconis units.”

“Linna, you can’t!” Kat said then was interrupted…

“Calm yourself Kat,” the Sho Sho said. “What the Coordinator wants and what he will get are not always the same thing. Yes, the Combine wants a proxy here on New Earth. But something larger is going on.”

Kat “what are you saying Linna?”

“I discovered a dispatch from a high ranking ISF officer. It was a high level investigation in to the events of Clearwater. I found a mention of a man by the name of Professor Walter Stevens. Within the report was the mention of Destiny.”

There was shock in Kat’s voice, “Destiny?”

The Sho Sho fell silent for a moment, “I took this mission to find this Professor Stevens and uncover his documents.”

“So Linna, do you know anything about this man,” Kat asked.

“No, all I know is that as of six months ago he was located on New Earth. The Lyrans were after him because had stolen documents from Lyran Intelligence. I suspect that these documents were what Lyran Intelligence had stolen from Clearwater. Accepting the Coordinator’s mission allows me to locate this man and secure these documents before they fall in to the wrong hands. I did not forget my promise. Destiny will be protected above all other loyalties,” Sho Sho explained. She paused a moment before adding, “your turn Kat.”

There was a silence, then the sound of something being placed on the table. “What you are about to hear is classified as Ultra.” Kat paused, “Listen, Kimiko can’t know this information. We cannot risk her siding with General Macko out of anger.”

There was no sound till a recording started to play. It was of two men speaking to each other.

“Who are they? Can you get eyes on them?”

“I don’t know. I can’t see them. They flew behind us.” The Co-pilot said then asked, “communications?”

“Long Range Communications with base are still being jammed. I just hope they are listening to Guard Frequencies.” He paused, “This is New Earth Air Flight 628 on Guard, we are an unarmed, civilian flight. We will follow you to which ever air bases you want us to land at. Hostile Fighters, please respond!”

“Allah be merciful, they fired on us!”

“No its just a warning shot. Keep calm Steve.” The man paused, “This is New Earth Air Flight 628 on Guard. Be advised we are a non-military flight with no weapons. Do not fire, we are a civilian flight. Please respond.”

“I think I can see one.” The man’s voice was frantic. “yes….I can see it now, their Lyran!”

“Hostile Fighters, be advised we are a civilian, NON-MILITARY flight with two hundred plus six souls aboard. We surrender. We will land where ever you dictate!”

A new voice come over the recording, “New Earth Flight, confirm you are New Earth Air Flight 628 out of Summerhaven.”

There was a heavy sigh of relief as the co-pilot uttered a pray of thanks to Allah while the pilot replied. “Yes, we confirm. We are a civilian flight, New Earth Air, Flight 628. We are heading for Franka but will allow you to escort us to which ever airfield you decide.”

A few minutes later the co-pilot sounded frantic, “I can’t see them anymore. They slowed down……..”

Then a loud explosion and a computer voice, “warning, Engine Flame Out, Catastrophic Hydraulic Failure” The recording stopped.

“The rest is their futile effort to save the transport” Kat said. “The Lyrans murdered those people to target your sister. And if Kimiko…..” she was cut off once more.

“If Kimiko knows the truth you fear that she will be swayed to support expanding the war with the Lyrans.”

“I love Kimiko like she is my own Linna. You know this. But she carries with her a great deal of public support. If she were to endorse General Macko’s plans, President McGray’s efforts at keeping war limited will be hindered beyond repair. Which is why Kimiko needs to return to Luthien.”

The Sho Sho spoke, “Kimiko has made up her mind. We will return to New Earth.”

A door opened up and the private conversation shifted to more mundane ship business. It was clear that the new comer was a member of the Dropship’s officer staff. The conversation didn’t return to the subject matters above.

[aipsylon]

"Opinions and reasons, what course off action should we pursue given our situation?" He had an idea off what course he would take but he had find it useful to have a number of course off action proposed. Often times you would end up with a better solution, but more often you would receive a way to improve upon each of them to create a solution better than any plan on its own.

[Ice Hellion]

With a smile

I just found out that we are not the only ones to have heard this conversation. Someone or several of them listened too. And they are much better than the ones who designed the so-called virus that should have implemented a false I.D.

Pausing

So there could be two groups but we don't know on which side the new one is.

After another pause

Shouldn't we find out in which year we are? I didn't look at the picture but I have it in my noteputer.

[aipsylon]

(sorry Hellion what is the in which year response to?)