Cappare (part 7)
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Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
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26th July 2013
16:36 GMT
I smile as Roy's spaceship pulls up alongside Lantern Taranna and I. Apparently we haven't interdicted whatever it uses for its non-boom tube FTL. Which is something that we're going to need to fix, but if it's a system that no one else uses that could have definite advantages. We could build an actual fleet while Earth was still protected.
My ring shimmers.
"Go ahead."
"This ship's sensors were built in the seventies. Can you see what it is? I mean, did they just get lost, or are they actually here for a fight?"
"Don't know. They're not transmitting, either an S.O.S. or a greeting. And they haven't responded to my attempts to communicate. I don't recognise the ship, which… Is odd, because I've got Green Lantern Corps and NEMO ship registries on my ring. It's armed, but the emplacements are too small for it to be a dedicated warship. And its shields are too weak."
"Pirates?"
"The only pirate group active in this Sector is the Black Circle. And I think what's left of them would have more sense than to come here. Besides, it's the wrong shape."
"What's that mean?"
"Pirates don't want to fight actual naval ships. They're in it to make money, not win fights. Destroying an enemy ship usually isn't profitable. So they usually focus on speed and stealth over toughness and endurance, because they want to get past patrols without being detected, hit their target, grab what they can and then get away before they can get caught. If they have a larger ship, it's either a cargo ship they bring in after their target is disabled or their base of operations."
"So it's not a military ship or a mothership. Is it damaged?"
"There's some wear and tear, but I can't see any battle damage."
"Who's inside?"
"Unsurprisingly, my scans are being disrupted."
"Really? That's pretty surprising to me. I thought power ring scans were about as good as it gets."
"Any malefactor above a certain level pretty much has to have a way to block Lantern scans. Or the Green Lantern Corps would step on them before they became a real problem. I could probably bypass it, but that's a fairly aggressive move for what could just be some lost explorers."
"No Anti-Life?"
"Not that I can feel, and that would extend outside of their ship."
"They're definitely headed for Earth?"
I generate a construct of their approach route. "They'll be here in a few weeks. And while they're not accelerating, they're not slowing down or turning around to get out of the area covered by the interdiction system."
"Alright, so are we going to go see them?"
"Not unless the United Nations appointed you Ambassador-at-Large. This requires-."
Warning! Will detected!
"-someone from-" I turn around and spot the approaching green light. "-the Justice League."
The green arrives, and-.
"Lantern Stewart?"
He's already studying a construct image of the approaching ship. "Problem?"
"I was assuming that Lantern Jordan would take this one."
"Used all his hours."
"Guy?"
"He's in Sector One Six Three Four, keeping an eye on your friend Malvolio."
…
"You not gunna ask about Savenlovich too?"
"No, no, you've got seniority."
"Nice of you to remember that." He glances at Lantern Taranna. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Lantern Taranna. She was one of my first recruits, actually. She's been working reconstruction and security. Taranna, this is Lantern Stewart."
"Hello."
He considers her for a moment. "What, you've never seen a Green Lantern before?"
She shakes her head. "No."
"Oh." He nods. "Right. We can't operate in Reach space-."
"I don't come from anywhere near there. Illustres, why is he taking the lead?"
"Green Lanterns are better known across most of this galaxy, and he's a member of the Justice League."
He snorts. "That all I get?"
"He also has a couple of years more experience than me, though I think I have him beaten in terms of variety of experience." I shrug. "They won't answer me, but perhaps they'll be prepared to talk to a Green Lantern."
Lantern Stewart nods. "I hope." He raises his right fist. "This is the Green Lantern of Sector Two Eight One Four to unidentified vessel. This system is not open to visitors. Identify yourselves."
Taranna looks puzzled. I raise my eyebrows. "Problem?"
"We're being a lot more passive than Lanterns are in NEMO space. If a ship like that appeared near one of the reconstruction worlds, we would have ripped its thrusters off if it failed to respond."
"Well, the difference is that NEMO space borders a war zone, where as this is a peaceful Sector. The risk is lower, so it's worth being a bit more generous when it comes to responding to the unknown."
"If you fail to respond, your vessel will be boarded and impounded, and your crew may face criminal charges."
A moment passes, and then his construct shifts into the shape of a woman's face. Humanoid, as far as I can see, but I don't recognise her.
"Green Lantern." She sounds like she is only reluctantly talking to him, but that's more than I managed. "You are a police officer for this world?"
"For this region of space. And unless you've got a very good reason to be here, I'm going to need you to turn your ship around."
"Yes. I do. My name is Cara Yat. My son has been kidnapped, and I have reason to believe that he is being held here. I want him returned, at once."
16:36 GMT
I smile as Roy's spaceship pulls up alongside Lantern Taranna and I. Apparently we haven't interdicted whatever it uses for its non-boom tube FTL. Which is something that we're going to need to fix, but if it's a system that no one else uses that could have definite advantages. We could build an actual fleet while Earth was still protected.
My ring shimmers.
"Go ahead."
"This ship's sensors were built in the seventies. Can you see what it is? I mean, did they just get lost, or are they actually here for a fight?"
"Don't know. They're not transmitting, either an S.O.S. or a greeting. And they haven't responded to my attempts to communicate. I don't recognise the ship, which… Is odd, because I've got Green Lantern Corps and NEMO ship registries on my ring. It's armed, but the emplacements are too small for it to be a dedicated warship. And its shields are too weak."
"Pirates?"
"The only pirate group active in this Sector is the Black Circle. And I think what's left of them would have more sense than to come here. Besides, it's the wrong shape."
"What's that mean?"
"Pirates don't want to fight actual naval ships. They're in it to make money, not win fights. Destroying an enemy ship usually isn't profitable. So they usually focus on speed and stealth over toughness and endurance, because they want to get past patrols without being detected, hit their target, grab what they can and then get away before they can get caught. If they have a larger ship, it's either a cargo ship they bring in after their target is disabled or their base of operations."
"So it's not a military ship or a mothership. Is it damaged?"
"There's some wear and tear, but I can't see any battle damage."
"Who's inside?"
"Unsurprisingly, my scans are being disrupted."
"Really? That's pretty surprising to me. I thought power ring scans were about as good as it gets."
"Any malefactor above a certain level pretty much has to have a way to block Lantern scans. Or the Green Lantern Corps would step on them before they became a real problem. I could probably bypass it, but that's a fairly aggressive move for what could just be some lost explorers."
"No Anti-Life?"
"Not that I can feel, and that would extend outside of their ship."
"They're definitely headed for Earth?"
I generate a construct of their approach route. "They'll be here in a few weeks. And while they're not accelerating, they're not slowing down or turning around to get out of the area covered by the interdiction system."
"Alright, so are we going to go see them?"
"Not unless the United Nations appointed you Ambassador-at-Large. This requires-."
Warning! Will detected!
"-someone from-" I turn around and spot the approaching green light. "-the Justice League."
The green arrives, and-.
"Lantern Stewart?"
He's already studying a construct image of the approaching ship. "Problem?"
"I was assuming that Lantern Jordan would take this one."
"Used all his hours."
"Guy?"
"He's in Sector One Six Three Four, keeping an eye on your friend Malvolio."
…
"You not gunna ask about Savenlovich too?"
"No, no, you've got seniority."
"Nice of you to remember that." He glances at Lantern Taranna. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Lantern Taranna. She was one of my first recruits, actually. She's been working reconstruction and security. Taranna, this is Lantern Stewart."
"Hello."
He considers her for a moment. "What, you've never seen a Green Lantern before?"
She shakes her head. "No."
"Oh." He nods. "Right. We can't operate in Reach space-."
"I don't come from anywhere near there. Illustres, why is he taking the lead?"
"Green Lanterns are better known across most of this galaxy, and he's a member of the Justice League."
He snorts. "That all I get?"
"He also has a couple of years more experience than me, though I think I have him beaten in terms of variety of experience." I shrug. "They won't answer me, but perhaps they'll be prepared to talk to a Green Lantern."
Lantern Stewart nods. "I hope." He raises his right fist. "This is the Green Lantern of Sector Two Eight One Four to unidentified vessel. This system is not open to visitors. Identify yourselves."
Taranna looks puzzled. I raise my eyebrows. "Problem?"
"We're being a lot more passive than Lanterns are in NEMO space. If a ship like that appeared near one of the reconstruction worlds, we would have ripped its thrusters off if it failed to respond."
"Well, the difference is that NEMO space borders a war zone, where as this is a peaceful Sector. The risk is lower, so it's worth being a bit more generous when it comes to responding to the unknown."
"If you fail to respond, your vessel will be boarded and impounded, and your crew may face criminal charges."
A moment passes, and then his construct shifts into the shape of a woman's face. Humanoid, as far as I can see, but I don't recognise her.
"Green Lantern." She sounds like she is only reluctantly talking to him, but that's more than I managed. "You are a police officer for this world?"
"For this region of space. And unless you've got a very good reason to be here, I'm going to need you to turn your ship around."
"Yes. I do. My name is Cara Yat. My son has been kidnapped, and I have reason to believe that he is being held here. I want him returned, at once."
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Wonder if his Mother is facing trouble on Daxam for doing this, though.
