forum The Lost Fleet: A new experience {DeadRP}

Started February 14, 2019 by @ThatOneWeirdLostFleetFan

tune

Carabali had been all too quick to turn on her heel and walk towards the engine room, maybe she should've put the power core on the list but so far, it wasn't in any risk of exploding soon. So she left that off all too easily. Hearing the questions she wrenched herself out of her thoughts and gave a nod to the second question. "We are expecting engagement, of what type or sort will be dependant on what arrives in the system. As soon as it arrives in however many light-hours, we'll engage in the battle and attempt to gain victory. What we're planning to do during that engagement, will be the Admiral's idea of what directions this ship changes to." She replied easily.

"Do you, however, want to ask anything about the battles Admiral Geary has been through or anything in general about him?"
~~~
"Disagreement will always be around no matter how supportive ones men and women are previously… But of course. I apologise personally that our ships are out of date by thirty years but we'll still kick those Enigmas to Old Earth and back if I have anything to say about it. And you don't have to be asked to be excused, Fleet Admiral, you're a higher rank than me at the moment… We'll see you in battle for perhaps the last time."

Elizia pondered this question for a moment. Maybe this guy wouldn't be as bad as she thought. Brella would tell her to run, but she wanted to know. She was helping them, after all. Mechanists never work for an anonymous client. She said it herself.

"Well, I do have one," she admitted slowly, her young age raising her voice, "Why do you all trust him so much? All the comms chatter I heard bordered on… reverence," she stopped, trying to make it more specific to her hopes, "How long have you served under him?"

(Back now myself!! Internet at home cut out since Telstra is working but otherwise I am ready to be RP'ing now if Telstra tries to keep this up and such.)

Carabali thought over those questions easily. How to answer such innocent questions… Well, innocent enough. "Personally, we've served under him for a year, well. Around a year and a half now, maybe more. Time flies when you have a great Admiral in charge. But we trust him ever so much because he's gotten us out of the most tough situations in the galaxy. The old Admiral, before Geary took us under his wing, ran a fleet at least four hundred strong. We barely got two hundred out of it with even that much. And he took those ships with only the rank of Captain and tactically maneuvered them right back to Alliance space without any, if at all, major losses. The closest to death we got with his command was the two battles of Lakota. Syndicate space. Hypernet gate destroyed by their own forces and the force of a supernova with Battleships at our back with aft shields so strong it blocked off most of the damage… Tore up the world of Lakota real good though…"

She gave a brief cough nonetheless. She did not personally like recounting such stories about what those hypernet gates could do, if exploded. "You know what hypernet gates are at least, right? They're whole sciences in itself. Huge explanations by them I might as well hand you the comm to Captain Cresida to let her explain what it all is."

Elizia raised made a cross with her arms, a so-so sign in her native tongue, "I've done basic research, but Hypernet gates have been so convoluted compared to the technologies we Mechanists use that we barely even bother with it." She thought on that, then her eyes lit up as she came to a realization, "Speaking of the Mechanists, I don't think I ever truly explained myself to you, did I? It must be strange, having a xenos board your ship on a whim…"

Elizia launched into explanation before giving Carabali a good chance to answer, "We are a splinter group of Lovuthans, broken from the main Lovuthan Theocracy that inhabits Love. They use the technology of our previous greatness for worship. A waste, and a shame… I really wish we could change them…."

Carabali raised a brow now at her. "Really? You want to change things? What for? Technological advancements every now and again are fine but everyone needs to start somewhere with where they get technology. Hell, if Captain Jaylen could she would be getting all she could about making new shields or better hull structures. She thinks more about life of a ship and their crew rather than the weapons. Captain Smythe carries out her designs and well, Furious is basically the test ship for all of this. Plus, she's been adding better numbers to the engines to keep up with the heavier hulls. Though when something does go right, Captain Casia just swoops in, takes the hull and claims the design as her own… Something we all hate but we have to deal with. It's slowed Jaylen's progression of technologies but at least we have even one battleship from our fleet with us."

Realising what she just said, she gave a brief laugh. "I apologise, I'm the oldest person besides Geary on these ships so I may ramble on like I'm old. So, what's the deal with your detachment? You do jobs like these repairs on a whim and as fast as possible or what? Personally I think the Admiral should have turned you away from Dauntless to the Tanuki but what do I know. I'm a Marine, I don't get to ask questions like that."

Elizia thought about that, then smiled sheepishly, "I expect your Admiral was probably expecting to meet me in person, first. That we haven't yet met seems to have been an oversight on my part. That's customary on Lovuthan ships, anyway. Not that the main force really takes on guests from another species…. And that's the issue with the Theocracy. They don't use the technology for anything more than objects of worship. They built a religion off a lost golden age, made using the old tech is forbidden to all except the military. The only thing they used was the ships. The great, terrible ships left behind by our ancestors. With them, they can ground all opposition to dust. This is why the Mechanists want to change things. This is not what our ancestors made that fleet for. Mechanists know how to use that technology."

She took a breath, then continued, the previous fire in her voice gone, "It'll be for the best that I talk to your Admiral eventually. But after we ensure our survival. Warnings do no good if you're already cold."

Carabali raised a brow at that but she gave a light nod to that thinking. Reasonable, very reasonable… "Admiral Geary might've been expecting that. Or he just had too little time to do what he thought he could. Or, he just wanted you aboard and assigned me to you so we knew you weren't lying. Plenty of theories, who knows what goes on in his mind. We certainly don't, even if we've been under his command for around a year or more. However, I see why your guys want the change. Help and defence instead of attack and war. Am I correct on that? I personally don't know. All of us except the Admiral have known war for the last hundred years. When you meet the Admiral, you can make your own assumptions instead of listening to… What does he call it… Hero worship from his crew. Trust me, he doesn't let these praises get to his head. He does care about the men and women under his command and he feels every loss personally. Saw it once on a call within the barracks. Lost three Battleships when we had to leave Lakota the first time. They were going to hold the enemy off for as long as they could, and with these new losses he is really hurting personally. That make sense? I feel like I rambled again." She stated with a light chuckle.

Nevertheless, the trip to the engine room was a little long, going down an elevator or two at times to get to where it was deeply and carefully seated within the hull of the Cruiser.

Elizia smiled happily as she listened. This made more sense to her. He had earned his place at the top of their hearts. He wasn't a god to them. Just a saviour. The difference was good enough for her to fully embrace the idea of talking to him.

However, as she had said before, there was a job to do first.

"You've rambled me to good conclusion, friend," Elizia responded, "I'll speak with him as soon as your engine room's working, assuming he has a minute. And as far as the Lovuthans are concerned, the idea is far beyond attack and defence, but it serves as a basic principle. Allow me to pass what may be life-saving knowledge to you in this regard."

She held out her hands, palms up, and energy sprouted out, curving and twisting to form to solid shapes. Two signs soon rested in her palms. In her left were two V's overlayed atop each other, one upside down. This symbol was also sewn into her jacket. In her right hand was the Lovuthan Theocracy's symbol. Fire, flanked by square brackets, a sword rising up from the flames.

She held her right hand to Carabali, "This symbol, should you find it on ships and space stations, will not treat you well. Stray from it. This one in my left hand, though, will forever be a safe haven. To you and all who request it."

Carabali gave a small smile. How interesting… The symbols were certainly unique. The one on her right, to the others left, was so simple and yet she could understand why it was such. Not that she could at all complain about it, sometimes simple was always better. The one to her left, the others right, was definitely something she would have to account for and keep check of next time. "Well, I shall add this to the major report I will be sending the Admiral about his willing trust to you. Personally I saw it only going three ways, I'm glad he welcomed you aboard… Master Chief Gionini is in this section, Tarrini will be up with the weapons. Just be mindful of the consoles, even if you are… Basically a mystical being to us, those consoles could be extremely dangerous to you as well.

"From what I remember, most of the consoles here blew out, wires went everywhere, at least thirteen or so injured or dead… Numbers were still trying to be collected, and then there is the power core itself, borderline unstable. I hope it isn't too bad that even you can't handle it. From the engineering space here, we keep track of how much power is going to the shields, weapons, the engines of course. This is just the main power station for all three compartments. I'm surprised the other two cores aren't borderline unstable too." She stated now as she went into light thought. "Do whatever you need to, I won't stop you. The Master Chief though, probably will if he thinks you're going to damage something especially precious to his consoles and all."

Elizia nodded and stepped off again, joining the next shift of engineers as they gathered up their equipment. She control panels were still being brought in, so in the meantime she worked once more on the interior circuitry. Sleeves rolled up and wings alight, she opened panel after panel locating broken leads and removing scraps of metal that had caused short circuits. Cuts on her arms began to collect, but she ignored them and continued working. A few of the engineers here threw wary glances at her. Some just ignored her. Others greeted her warmly.

For a species at war with so many aliens, Elizia noted, I feel that these humans find this to be a rather normal experience.

Again, there was the gaze of supervisors watching her. Again, Elizia just smiled and worked on, makking sure not to mess up anything.

Personally, Carabali was quite impressed that the engineers were taking to her so well. Though, she supposed they were too tired to make a ruckus about it, or they like her believed that Geary was doing another one of the many miracles… Even if it was a new species, it was a good two out of four species found… Well, two out of five if they included the two sub-factions. But that was just a little complicated. She continued the report to Geary nonetheless, glad to have a slight distraction from the losses an hour or two earlier now. Keeping large track on what she was doing before she huffed, hearing an all too familiar voice muttering to himself about the alien in his engineering bay.

"Master Chief, please, she is helping."

"Yeah right, she could be ruining those wires and crossing them! I bet she has no idea how valuable and exquisite our technology is."

"Actually, she is doing fairly well, Gionini. You need to lay off the sugar at times you're going ecstatic thinking she's going to trip and lay waste to the bay."

"Whose orders are she one? I bet she snuck aboard and you're helping her because you Marines break stuff too."

"I must state, because I am a Marine and break stuff, I break it on the enemies side, not ours. And she was invited after a reply from the Admiral's request for all warships that are deemed threats to keep away. You need to relax and take help once in awhile. If you're so flustered about it, go help Tarrini with the weapons. Out of both of us here, I am the most senior. You're a squid and I am simply doing my job."

"Watch your remarks before I throw you out the nearest airlock."

"Good luck with that, now if you don't mind, I'll be getting back to my report about this one and you have a bay and Lieutenants to annoy."

The larger man grumbled something about aliens before passing on to other sections of the bay. Carabali, almost as usual whenever this happened, just shook her head and went back to what she was doing, focused once more.

(Oh dear! It appears I've been gone for far too long. My apologies…)

Elizia hummed and pointed here and there, etching in connections onto the circuit boards, testing them from one end to another, then continuing. On the dented and broken plates, she simply used her energy-powered fingers as an arc-welder. Just as she lifted her fingers from the plate she'd been reattaching, she heard a rising wail sound up around the ship. Klaxons were blaring, and the noise level of the crew was beginning to compete. Movement picked up, and in a moment of panic Elizia sought out Carabali among the panic-stricken engineers. She found her at the far edge of the room, standing back to avoid the stampede of men.

"What is happening?" Elizia asked, trying as hard as she could to be heard, "Where are they all going?"

(It's alright mate!!)

"Battle stations! All of you! Now! If you don't have a job in a battle station, please head to your quarters and wait until a position in your specialization opens!" Carabali had ordered easily and quickly. Damn! They hadn't gotten the weapons needed up. Tarrini wouldn't be able to do all that… Ah well, if Geary could bring up miracles like it was nothing, she was sure the Chief could do it too.

At the questions and Elizia coming near her she looked quickly at her. "Enigmas. The Admiral's not in a bad position but this is exactly why we don't take Tanuki out of her spot, I hope this is clear to you now. Not that I blame you anyways… I recommend you take your ship and get the hell out of here. If they sense you on our ship, they'll target. If you really want to ask clearance though you can head up to Captain Desjani on the bridge. I can show you there if you wish." She stated, trying to keep track of how many were going and such.

"But the weapons! They're not charged!" Elizia cried, "How will you fight?"

One of the screens displayed their emerging threat tearing a hole in space. She started towards it, but something Carabali said made her do a double take.

"It's just the batteries, right? Those cannons remain undamaged?" She said the words before she thought them, and already she reached for the personal energy cell in her jacket, enabling her abilities. In a sort of out-of-body experience, she gazed in horror at herself when she began to rush down the hall with Carabali in tow, shouting at her, "Take me to the guns!"

Carabali's eyes had widened when she saw the other running off… And she was fairly quick too, she barely managed to stay within five feet of her. "Hold yourself, some of the batteries are not what you think! Some of them are damaged yes, but others are completely obliterated! And by batteries I mean the weapon themselves!" She tried to yell at the other… Personally, she was glad of her secret, meant better and longer stamina but this was just insane. "I'll take you to the bloody batteries but there won't be much to do with impending battle!"

Oh why had she willing accepted the 'job' as baby sitter for this one… She understood that the Admiral was a little worried but she had no idea why she willingly agreed now.

(Oh crap. This exists.
Do you think the others are actually gonna get back on this if we do?
Do you want to?

Also, looks cool! It'll be nice to have a bit more info on this universe. It looks pretty cool.)

Blake, Let out a sigh.
"All personal to battle stations." He said giving the order to fight.
The ship powered up as it moved to meet the Enigma head on.
"Fleet Admiral Greary, This Is Fleet Admiral Blake. We shall fight the enemies head on what about you?" He Reported.

Elizia cursed and wheeled around to glare at the marine, sudden fire in her eyes.
"That would have been nice to know! Did it not occur to you to make that distinction earlier?" She shouted above the alarms.

I don't know human ship weapons. They don't use energy, though, so that's out of the question. Stupid kinetic pieces of trash, no circuitry, no easy manual fire control…..

Unless….

"Your weapons, how do they fire? With or without a crew?"

Geary grit his teeth as he stared at the situation briefly, noting what the other was going to do… At least it was scouting parties as he had predicted. "Fleet Admiral Blake, this is Geary, we'll be supporting flanks. I'll send Casia up with you, we need all the Battleships that we can firing upon them. If I can distract them with the Battlecruisers while keeping my last Auxiliary behind your line of Battleships… We're going to have a hell of a time, may our ancestors see this battle through… It's going to be a pleasure working with you." Geary replied back was he sent the necessary orders to the other two ships and immediately moving his Battlecruisers into a small fleet, diving it into two squads. "Fleet Admiral Geary, out."
~~~
Carabali almost whirled on the female at the sudden anger from her. "It's not my fault!" She merely replied, a natural human reply of course. At the question, however, she thought of a way to reply to that very quickly. "We use crew to fire it, systems to plot a time to fire it and the spot it should be best to fire at. Basically all automatic except the firing and loading. Not what you want to hear, huh?"

Elizia stared at her dumbfounded, then composed herself and continued running, slow enough this time to be within earshot.

"No, no it is not. Were the weapons energy based, I might've been able to fire them all myself, as Lovuthan ship WarMasters do. Damage to our cannons only weakens our weapons' output. For yours, though, I don't know what to do." She stopped for a quick breath, noting the marine seemed barely winded.

"But if we don't do anything, we may not have enough cannon to make it through. So the damage those weapons have sustained determines everything here."

Carabali had to sigh quietly to herself about the look she got back but she supposed she should've expected it. Not everyone around here at all likes these conditions either…

"I get what you're going at… Everyone's going to be at battle stations nonetheless, I believe the very lucky ones just have a small hole in them, others range from a big hole to not even being there and waiting for engineers to reattach it all." She replied now, going into thought. "I guess you could upgrade our weapon systems or something, we still need to get max maneuverability out of the engines as well if I know what he's going to be doing at this point in time again… Well, big if we can figure whatever he plans out."

Elizia paused, considering.

Run faster….
They'd have to high-tail it back to the engines, maybe even go EVA. But whatever they do, it'd allow them to survive by creating distance. But no problem was ever solved by running. Even if the only decent solution was to overcharge the engines herself, it would only delay the fight till later, and that much power might very well disable her.

Or hit harder.
Risk it all on the chance that Elizia might be able to modify at least a few of the guns to fire energy, or at the very least fire them autonomously. The damages to the guns themselves could be repaired quicker with the crew not having to worry about firing the guns. But then, Carabali might object to Elizia trying to take control of the ship's kinetic batteries. And the ship may not be able to keep up with the energy demand…

What would Brella do?

"Well," Elizia said aloud, "She wouldn't be doing this alone… that's for sure…. Wait, that's it!" With new light in her eyes she threw Carabali and IFF tag for the Loveless, "Take that to my ship, use the scanner on the dash and tap in 'XA48D'. Then meet me at the guns! In the meantime, I'm going to get up as many cannons as I can!"