spaceshipit | The Interceptor Inbox

[Just after the Marsiva decided to pop a macross canon:]

Status?

[It takes a few days for the Interceptors to respond, and it's only by text.]

heavy casualties to our ships only
rest of the fleet is fine
my first mate and three others dead
missus lost five
was hoping your host ship would revive them
we lost the ai
we won't be able to help for a long time i'm sorry
tell everyone i'm sorry

angel

[....well. That sucks, but it could have been far worse.]

I'm sorry for your losses Will pass the message on Atroma retrieved the AI and all files We have a written copy of what we could salvage Come find me on any planet we set down on if you require one See you again

[Then she closes the feed.]

[Sending this to the Fleet after she's had time to check back through the network--]

Remember that message I attached to you a while ago? Have a system that might be in connection to it Are you anywhere nearby?

[Attaching system chart here. Along with the original message just in case it's been lost.]

out of range
can't help
will come if emergency
but will be too late

angel

Hello? Is anybody there? I wanted to ask you some questions, if you have the time. This is Sorey, First Mate on the Huntress.

make it quick
the more you use this frequency the more likely it'll be found out

[Better just keep it to the one question he wants the answer to most, then] Do you know the connection between ships like the Marvisa and those singing planets? Is the Marvisa really under the Atroma's control?

[It takes a few minutes before an answer comes.]

A connection between Host class ships and singing planets? I'm not so sure about that. What we do know is that Atroma was a major terraforming business for a very long time, and many of the planets they terraformed did sing. It even looks like the number of singing planets terraformed, compared to non-singing planets, steadily increased over time. Could have been piqued curiosity, could be they found something.

What do you mean about the Marsiva really being under Atroma's control? It's their ship.

- }|{

That's what I thought, but it feels like we're being led to these places. And led to them to help, or to figure things out; if the Atroma really wanted to keep us clueless, wouldn't they avoid systems that had information we could get, like Dreadhorse's place? Or the planets that were sick, or the singing ones?

And then those two people, Diamond and that man, they were killed and we were allowed to hear it. We're the twelfth cycle of whatever this is, but it feels like the Atroma are getting sloppy or falling apart, so wouldn't their best move be to keep us away from information that could weaken them?

It just feels like they don't have as much under their control as they're leading us to believe. And I can't help but wonder if the host ships are a part of it, since they're the things that take us to these places.

I'm sorry if I'm way off and wasting your time with this, it just feels off.

Honestly, you've got a good theory going with all of that.

Dreadhorse's place was a set-up. We know that now. I'm just mad it took losing too many my and Angel's crews to realize it. Atroma wanted that AI, and who better to get it for them than their current cash cow, and the cash cow that got away? Bet that's great for ratings. As for the other places needing help, I don't know how much is coincidence, or at what point it stops being coincidence. But I do have enough confidence to say that the sheer number of singing planets you guys go to is directly related to how many singing planets they've terraformed before. There's something to them that Atroma wants, or maybe already has? I'm not too clear on it yet.

Some of us here spend almost all of our time trying to gather intel and make it all make sense. I'm going to take what you've said and try looking at what we've got from another angle. You've got my word, we're always digging.

- }|{

Edited 2017-09-24 22:08 (UTC)

Okay. Don't hesitate to reach out to us, too, however you can. I'll do anything I can to help.

Edited 2017-09-25 05:03 (UTC)

You said your name's Sorey, right? Thanks. If we need help, we'll ask. You guys be sure to keep in touch with us too - just not too much for too long, until we have a better solution.

Speaking of, we probably shouldn't risk this line being open much longer. Let's close it and come back to this another time, all right?

- }|{

[Communications are frail and who knows how secure this channel is, so Shiro keeps it short and straight to the point.]

Fleet has arrived to the Lato’li system
Received heavy fire from the Vieziri
Seven ships and several shuttles down
Ships in orbit damaged and with limited communications
Past visions warned us of intemperate danger
We require aid asap

Edited 2017-10-17 17:42 (UTC)

i hate stuff in my head
sorry you had to deal with it
anyway fix your ships and hunker down
do you have any info on vieziri?
havent been to latoli
do they have ships?

there's gonna be hell to pay

angel

No ships I know of but can't be 100% sure
Vieziri:
Heavily armed
Anti aircraft weaponry
Cannibals
Been kidnapping locals for ages
Know the land and are experts hunters on it

[There's hesitation for a moment here - if Atroma hears this... but they need the help asap. A risk must be taken.]

Mysterious informant appeared
Told us anything smaller than a shuttle can't be detected by the scanners
Helped us regain communications
Mercenary
Unsure if trust worthy

[ GIVE IT A MINUTE, SWITCHING HANDS APPARENTLY... But there is a response, it just takes maybe slightly longer than an immediate reply would be. ]

Well don't they sound just darling. We'll have all our best weapons prepared by the time we get there. We have some supplies to spare, but it's going to be a tight budget. See if you can't find a way to get some things as well. We're on our way.

As for the mysterious informant: my advice would be, if he's being useful, you don't have to trust him. Take advantage of what he's offering, and cut the cord at the first sign of treason.

Anything else we should know before we get there?

- }|{

[While usually Shiro is a very patient man, the delay gets a bit on his nerves, he has to admit. This is quite an emergency they're dealing with after all. Then the answer comes and... ok someone is getting chatty. Another thing he wouldn't mind in another context but now? Interceptors, please.]

Working on it
We paid for intel, they have a plan - will make decisions when they give us more details
Only that we're supposed to work with the crash ships to be able to get out

Thank you.

[Look he can take a minute to be polite, okay.]

[ Hey. Not her fault Angel ran off to make preparations before reading any responses and then wouldn't come back jfdskl ]

No problem. Coming to you as fast as we can. Hang in there, fleet.

- }|{

[ At least all's well that ends well and they're on their way - right? ]

[He doesn't like to be rude, but communication with the Interceptors must always be the same: short and to the point.]

Does "Lone Breaker" mean anything to you?

Sounds like a terrible vigilante superhero alias.

No sorry, doesn't mean anything to us. Everything OK drift fleet?

- }|{

Edited (wrong icon my bad DON'T READ INTO IT PROMISE!) 2018-03-12 20:17 (UTC)

Everything ok - so far. Arrived to suspicious system, will update if necessary.

[And since he's already here, may as well add one last question.]

A fellow captain told me he gave you a fun puzzle to play with back in Lato’li. Were you able to solve it?

[He hates being this cryptic, but there's a HUGE different between asking about a system and asking about Sokka's idea to use Zhade to infiltrate Atroma. He hopes they get it.]

[ Code speak. Oh that's fun. ... ... but then immediately not fun because. Well. ]

Oh God, that thing?

[ "annoying". "attention-starved". "hits on anything with a damn pulse including me and I'm going to fucking smack them in about ten seconds I swear to God" "and don't get me started on the finger guns, seriously" ... ... Can't say any of that. ]

It's pretty different from what most of us have worked through before, but we're managing. Honestly, they mostly keep it away from me. I think they're afraid I might break it.

- }|{

[ This is Sokka's suggestion and therefore fault. But she likes Sokka. Conundrum. ]

[What this sounds like to Shiro: IT'S COMPLICATED. But hey, it's still something. Better than the nothing they had before. It seems they're getting somewhere? At least? Hopefully?]

I see. Good to know you're managing. I hope you're able to solve it soon.
Keelah se'lai.

[OH HEY LOOK WHO IS BACK WITH AN UPDATE!]

Lone Breaker turned out to be a planet that failed their terraforming project. But the research and generator are still there, keeping the city alive if anyone feels like visiting.

[Meaning: there are resources there if you need them, guys, go crazy. In fact, grab anything before Atroma does.]

only the city's alive eh
don't tell me that mate
i'm the girl who stole the stars!!!

[They may or may not go check it out, but Shiro's message is appreciated.]

hope you grabbed some souvenirs yourself
road's a long one even on the best of days

angel

Quick questions I've been meaning to ask Do you know what the augments are made of? Done any experiments on them? Was the nebula trick a wild guess to try and disrupt them or did you have intel to go on?

They're nothing special, just your standard titanium and silicone base. Typical super scientist implant stuff.

As for your other questions, I have no idea what you're talking about. You must have us confused with something else that happened.

- }|{

[ About as pointed as one can be via text... ]

[...yeah, point taken. She leaves it there. Her first question was really what she came here for.]

[Oh hey guess who has more info to drop! THIS GUY! Who speaks of "we" as if he did anything. Spoilers: he didn't.]

We just left the Yaugur System. Under the mist we found a crashed ship that looked like the Marsiva. We're almost sure it was an Atroma ship - its effects match what people felt when going near the Marsiva's windows, too. No information because time did its job with it, but a generator in it kept reviving the mist monster.

Like the thing in Lone Breaker. In case that means anything.

[ Oh boy, this is a lot to unpack ]

Got some questions, Drift Fleet:
How much did it look like the Marsiva? Could it have been an older model or the same model?
Lone Breaker wasn't capable of reviving or rejuvenating. That technology didn't apply to anything living. You sure it was like that and not actually Atroma technology?
What is your status? Are you OK after dealing with a mist beast?

- }|{

Status: everyone is alright. The mist has been having some weird effects on people, but they've been treated. Nothing life threatening, thankfully.

The ship: it looked pretty similar, but it had a few differences. Smaller, more oblong, nicer than our SS ships. It could've been an older model, but I don't have enough information to make that call. We just were able to tell it was an Atroma ship.

The technology: I was comparing the resetting circle. Same idea, even if applied to living beings instead of machines. But I do think the technology must be similar, maybe Atroma's technology has roots on Lone Breaker's research.

Status: Got it. Glad to hear you're doing okay.

Ship: That does sound like an older host ship. Maybe there are records about it somewhere? Worth a shot. We'll get on it.

Tech: You're right, it could be based off it. They had to get the idea from somewhere after all... We'll keep it in mind while we investigate.

On a personal note: that mist sounds interesting. Maybe I'll go see for myself.

Thanks for the update. Got anything else?

- }|{

That's all, I just wanted to pass the information in case it could be useful. Be careful if you go into the mist, grab the most advanced masks you can find.

Best of luck & keelah se'lai.

Will do.

Keelah se'lai.

- }|{

[Hello Interceptors! There is a text coming your way... from an unknown sender? Spoopy!]

This is the Drift Fleet, testing their new private and secure network. Do you copy?

[ UHHH NEW PHONE WHO DIS???

That's some clever encryption on the line, though... Doesn't look like Atroma's signature, so probably not a trap? Still, she wants to be sure. The Commander would be so pissed otherwise. ]

Copy, Drift Fleet. Got yourselves a shiny new channel?
While I have you: confirm date of last correspondence? Oh, and can you remind me the name of the system where you got that difficult little puzzle for us?

-}|{

[ Hey and she also gets to drag Zhade a little. Win/win. ]

Edited 2018-10-19 05:56 (UTC)

[Zhade hasn't changed, it seems. Shiro shakes his head at the screen, but he's smiling. Nice to see this is working and that security measures are still carried on.]

Correct. The Baruut System has been nice to us, ignoring their taste for certain sports.

[Someone doesn't like the arena.]

We're getting some extra updates for the ships too. Shields and guns. I hope you like slot cars.

[Can you tell that he's feeling more confident with this network? Chitchat is actually a thing now.]

Last time I, Shiro, texted you was August 6th, after our little discovery in the Yaugur System. The puzzle was found in Lato’li, Captain Sokka told me about it. (By the way, he has left the fleet. Sorry if you were friends with him.)

[ What. A. Relief. A secure connection! That's awesome! ]

Slot cars? I haven't thought about slot cars in ages. You should send pictures. And hey, congrats on all the upgrades. That's really gonna help once we have a shot at fighting back.

Sorry to hear about Sokka. But glad he got to go home. I know he missed his loved ones.

[ She remembers that conversation, for damn sure. ]

Thanks for looping us in, Shiro. How'd you guys pull all of this off? I have to admit, it sounds like you're seriously building up some advantage right now. It's impressive.

[Know what? He's so happy about this whole deal that he does send pictures. The slot car track is nice, new and shiny. It also comes with Procyon, Shiro's purple dog, sitting next to it, because he likes showing his baby off. Sue him.]

He did. He was one of the people who had been here since the beginning, too. It was about time.

And thank you. It does feel like things are looking up, like we're getting an actual chance. Especially after Thor's failed attempt to infiltrate the Marsiva. Did you know there's some kind of living gel in one of the rooms? They saw it through a window.

[He can actually tell them stuff now, this feels good.]

We managed through the power of teamwork. :) [Yes, he's cheesy.] Everyone was eager to do something against Atroma. We have lots of engineers, some people with experience on encrypting, and a magic user with communication spells. Baruut provided the parts and some extra expert hands. We got the money for it after doing a delivery for Atroma. We got glitches for opening those boxes, but we also found some ribbons that seemed to come with information in their threads. Are you guys interested in taking a look at those?

[LOOK AT ALL HE CAN SAY AND OFFER WITH THIS NEW NETWORK HE'S SO HAPPY!]

[ It is nice to just... chitchat. You know, so long as they don't have to cut conversations short, or worry about other craziness going on. ]

Nice setup. And a very handsome dog, too! Added bonus.

That sounds perfect. Honestly, it's a lot like how we started getting away - you get to a point where you figure out where everyone's strengths and resources match up in the best ways to actually go around Atroma's bullshit.

Ribbons, huh? Well, they've had fleets deliver weirder things. I'd love to take a look. I bet the Commander would too. I might be in touch about a possible meeting point or drop-off once I talk to the others. Thanks, Shiro.

Thank you, I'll pass the compliment along.

[Because of course Procyon deserves to hear it!!!]

Those are very encouraging words, especially coming from you. Hopefully it stays as perfect as it sounds.

Take your time and discuss it with your crew, I know this may require organization. Let me know when you're ready. And you're welcome. We're in this together, and we still owe you from that last rescue call

Keelah se'lai.

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[Dated August 6th]

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