Fwurg

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: I'm doing my best to make an interesting story here. Instead of immediately complaining when you don't understand something or don't like it, why don't you just go along and see where it leads?))

[Shebi Ajava]

From her experience as a special ops. member, she knew that nearly all rifles require some cooldown. Since the sniper just missed, Ajava estimated it would be a while before he could shoot again.

"Does any of you have enemies that want you dead?", Ajava asked the scientists while she nocked an arrow.

Ajava draws her bow, and takes her time to align her shot making sure to compensate for the lack of air or gravity. On an exhale, she releases her arrow towards the sniper, hoping that he doesn't expect a bow to even reach him.

((Combat, round 2: Counter-sniping. Offensive DCA (+2 ). ((Check: 13 = 8 Force Level + 4 Vision + 1 Zero-G Mobility -- No drag, zero-G sniping shot.))

Attack: - / - / 15 - Arkari-Renja + Composite Recurve Bow
Defence: 9 / 9 / 8 - Arkari-Renja + Composite Recurve Bow

• Offensive DCA (+0/+0/+2)

))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana analyzed their tactical situation and looked for a weak spot when they were some were reloading or not spraying as much fire in her direction. Ariana used the opening to charge on one of the enemies. Using the fact that they were in space to move at a ridiculous speed.

Ariana charged straight towards one of the enemies and tried to slam straight into him by forcing her regular blade through is belly and using his body to slow herself down. If the soldier was capable of stepping aside she would just slice him with her lightsaber and slow down using her force speed and stopping for another run at the next target a few hundred meters away.

After her maneuver she turned towards the next soldier and said: "Lay down your weapons or you will be next!"

((Combat, round 2: Charging the closest soldier, Taking a Offensive Advantage Action((Check: 11 = 6 Force Level + 4 Strength + 1 Force Speed -- Charging the nearest soldier and body slamming him to slow herself down.))
Attack: 11 / 9 / 13 - Ataru; dagger + regular blade (short hilts)
Defence: 8 / 8 / 10 - Ataru; dagger + regular blade (short hilts)

• Defensive Advantage (Duck for cover)

))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Checks: approved))

Ajava took out the sniper, while Ariana also took down another enemy.

Suddenly the surface of the creature's skin moved drasticly, like it was bucking. At the same time bright light flashes came from it as well and an ear shattering telepathic scream tore through the jedi's skulls. It seemed they weren't the only ones that could feel it as several of the enemy grabbed their helmet like the where in pain.

The Labraham Incoln reappeared from behind the creature, it's guns aimed at the jedi and the science team. "I believe you should surrender jedi. If you do I'll make your deaths quick and painless." The captains voice sounded calm and in control. The two jedi had the advantage until now, they couldn't compete against a starship in direct combat. They would have to rely on something other than brute force.

((OOC: Lets see some awesome roleplay on how you get out of this bind.))

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: Clarification Request: Can you give us an estimate of how big the ship is, and how big the creature we're on is? We have been on the vessel, en rummaged about for a few hours; we have also seen scanning results of the creature and such. I am looking for an estimation based on what Ajava has observed so far.))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Certainly. The ship is about the size of a large yacht. The creature is bigger than a large skyscraper. I can't really think of a good comparison so I will give a ratio. The creature is about five or six times larger then the ship. I hope this is good, if not I will try to give a more precise measurement.))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana spoke telepathically with Ajava using the telepathic bond.

"Why hasn't he just opened fire on us? I believe he still wants something from us. We need to find out why he asks us to surrender and use it to our advantage. The question is why is he here? For the scientists or for the creature?"

[Shebi Ajava]

((OOC: @Dragonmaster352: the comparison was insightful, thanks!))

"Well observed, padawan. Contact the captain through open communication and keep him talking. I will see if we have other allies."

Ajava did not change her position much, but spoke to the scientists and the priestess: "Forgive the rudeness, but I want an answer: Does any of you have enemies that want you dead?

Secondly, do any of you have an idea why the crew has suddenly turned against us? Did you see or hear anything out of the ordinary? Something that you saw maybe, or the way some of the crew acted."

Ajava waited a few moments to allow the Astrians to reply before acting.

((Check: 15 = 8 Force Level + 5 Energy + 2 Telepathy -- Telepathically contacting all scienists and the priestess))

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana responded with a calm voice on the threat of the captain.

"I don't understand sir. Why are you attacking us now? If you wanted to attack us you could have done this when we were on your ship... What are you planning to do with this creature? At least explain us why you are going to kill us..."

[Dragonmaster352]

"It's nothing personal, just business. A creature like this is worth a lot more than they're paying me to transport you. Not that I expect a bunch of goody-two-shoes jedi or scientists to understand. If you want to blame someone blame the large shipping industrialists that make it nearly impossible for small ships like my own to earn a decent wage."

The captain sounded calm, convinced he was in control. Meanwhile the science team opened a private channel to Ajava.

"I did overhear the crew talking about a lack of work and that they had been going on minimal rations for a while." Doctor Hasley told her. "They did seem to put an unusual emphasis on not wasting food. Like every crumb was a gift from the Goddesses." Lady-Priestess Ashikata agreed with her.

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana talked to Shebi Ajava using the telepathic bond.
"Do you have a plan? I will keep the captain talking and try to find out about his motives."

Ariana continued to talk with the captain, buying Ajava more time.
"We understand that this are desperate times. Do you have children that you have to take care of?

We might not understand everything about your situation but this is not the way.

Do you even have a buyer for such a large creature? Do you have any idea how to transport this creature?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Of course. Just keep him busy, you seem to be doing well.", came Ajava's reply.

She then crouches down, and puts a (gloved) hand on the skin of the creature. She concentrates on the creatureand tries to establish a telepathic connection. Once she does, she tries to calm the creature down and then get it under her control.

((Check: 16 = 8 Force Level + 5 Energy + 1 Befriend Animal + 2 Telepathy -- Befriending the creature, using telepathy since the creature is telepathic.))

((OOC: For ease of finding: Befriend Animal.))

[Dragonmaster352]

((OOC: Ajava your check is denied))

"I only need a few pieces of it and we can always come back for more. You bunch of pampered rich people don't know a thing about hardship."

The captain was getting a bit more aggravated at the questions Ariana asked, perhaps it might be a good idea not to make him angry.

"Never going hungry, starving to the point you have to eat one of your own to survive."

Meanwhile Ajava tried to connect with the creature like she would with an animal. At first it seemed to be working but then she suddenly encountered some sort of resistance. Then she felt something lash out at her, it felt slightly disorientating. Quickly coming back to her senses she noticed the presence of the creature was somewhat different then before. Ariana could sense it too.

"Why are you doing this. I thought we could be friends."

Ajava heard the telepathic voice of a child, or at least that was how her mind translated the ideas and images she received.

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava split off a part of her conscious to keep track of what the captain was saying, and concentrated the rest on communicating with the creature.

"I'm sorry.", she started, "We are not trying to hurt you, others are. My name is Ajava, who are you?"

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana waited with talking to the captain any further. She wanted to know if Shebi Ajava was capable of communicating with the creature first.

[Dragonmaster352]

"I am Violet." The creature communicated. "You where on Forceless when he came from Moving Place. You are not part of him? Are the others part of him?"

Both Ariana and Ajava could sense vague telepathic whispers, they could sense something was drawing closer but couldn't make out where it came from.

Meanwhile the captain was loosing his patience.

"Don't you ignore me Jedi! Shoot one of the scientists!"

The shot came from another direction, the jedi weren't fast enough to block it. Lady-Priestess Ashikata was hit in her leg. She screamed soundless, a puff of air coming out her mouth.

"Nobody move, I'm alright." Her voice said through the comm, it sounded like she was gritting her teeth.

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava lunged to deflect the shot. But since she was kneeling to touch the creature, all she was capable of was making an ineffective dive barely managing not to scrape the creature with her activated lightsaber. 'Vai!', she mentally chided herself as she realized she had concentrated to hard on the creature to remain fully aware of the situation.

"Padawan, explain to this creature what's going on. We need all the help we can get. Forceless is the ship.", she quickly communicated to Ariana alone.


Standing up from her failed dive, she looked up at the vessel while she deactivated her lightsaber and calmly put it back on her belt.

"Apologies for my uncivilized behaviour, captain. We shall not ignore you again.

I am princess Shebi Ajava, jedi knight of the union, and daughter of Shebi Kiasekel, the patriarch of House Shebi of the Veolian Commonwealth. From what I have seen so far, you are a noble man, willing to put your life on the line for the well-being of your crew. Had I known the hardship you are in, I would have offered to help you.

There is no need for further violence. I have nothing against you personally. Would you be willing to introduce yourself, so we can discuss the possibility of us leaving here alive?"

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana communicated telepathically with Ajava and the creature.

"Hello Violet. I am Ariana.

Yes we came here on Forceless but we are not part of him. Forceless is threatning us.

We want to be friends with you. Me Ajava and the five other individuals we came with. The others are not our friends.

Is your family nearby? Are they coming?"

[Dragonmaster352]

"You think I'm stupid don't you? That I'll fall for some flattery, then arrest us when we let our guard down. Well excuuuuuse me, princess. But that plan won't work on me."

The way the captain spoke sounded more like he was trying to convince himself then that he actually thought that.

Violet sounded a bit confused.

"Others here are younglings, elders still in Moving Place.

You and Force parts from Forceless not here to see Birth?"

[Shebi Ajava]

"Not at all. I think you are in a situation you did not foresee.

Let me explain what I think... You most likely already have a buyer for the material you wanted to take from the creature, and you knew that knew that we wouldn't allow you to harm it. You didn't expect us to be able to defend ourselves against your people, so you ordered a surprise attack.

Unfortunately, you underestimated the power of the Jedi. Right now, you can't use your ship's weapons to attack us, since that would be condemning your own people to death. The creature is easily six times the size of your ship, and can destroy you with a sweep of its tail if you aggravate it.

Next to that, we are down here with about half of your men. If you order your men to start shooting again, your men might be able to kill two or three of the scientists before we cut them all down. In effect, we are holding your men hostage as much as you are holding us at gun point.

And, if for any reason, you succeed at killing us all, there will be more Jedi to investigate what happened. Do you have a family, captain? Because you should be more afraid of my father's response when he hears his daughter was killed by a betraying captain..."

Ajava paused for a moment to let the words sink in.

"But, it is as I said. There is no need for further violence. I have nothing against you personally. In fact, I am impressed what you are willing to de to ensure the survival of your crew. Us killing each other helps nobody.

Right now, you haven't got much options. Either you try to kill us all, if you succeed you will be hunted for the rest of your short life. Or, you can abandon your crew here to die alone in space while you flee.

Let me offer you a third option: Stand down. Let us aboard and I will make sure you won't go hungry again."

[Ariana Danacia]

Ariana needed to think for a few seconds.

Ariana communicated with Shebi Ajava and the five scientists using her communication headset.

Violet said: 'Others here are younglings, elders still in Moving Place. You and Force parts from Forceless not here to see Birth?'

It looks like the ship we come from is called Forceless by her and I think Moving Place is hyperspace. Are we here to study the birth of new creatures?

[Dragonmaster352]

"Violet? Who's Violet? What are you talking about?" Doctor Hasley sounded very confused.

"We didn't even know these creatures existed. How do you expect us to know it even has a breeding ground?"

Meanwhile the captain of the Labraham Incoln stayed silent for some time.

"How do I know you won't kill or arrest me and my crew when I let you back on board?" The captain finally spoke.

"Or if you mean to make us your slaves? We won't spend our lives in servitude."

[Shebi Ajava]

Ajava replied calmly.

"Captain, you attacked us without provocation or cause. Right now, there is only one course of action that will not result in the death of you and your crew."

"At this moment, standing down and letting us aboard is the only thing you can do to help yourself and your crew. Once aboard, I am willing to negotiate with you person to person. I am sure that we can find a way for this to end peacefully and without further bloodshed.

My companion is an accomplished surgeon, she might be able to safe the men we wounded. But this won't be possible if you delay any longer. Please for their sake and for yours, stand down and let us aboard."

[Ariana Danacia]

"Ajava and I are capable of communicating with the creature that we are standing on telepathically.

She calls herself Violet. That is what the creature communicated to me. I am just giving you a heads up."

Ariana waited for Shebi Ajava to talk the captain down. In the current situation she could not move anywhere without risking the scientists.

[Dragonmaster352]

"Very well." The men from the ship relaxed and lowered their weapons when their captain said that.

The ship slowly approached weapons seemingly inactive. "Airlock's open, I'll see you there."

Meanwhile the scientists where debating amongst themselves about Violet, some having trouble believing the creature was sentient.

"Elders almost here." Violet communicated. Ariana and Ajava could sense what they had felt approaching earlier coming closer, it probably was the Elders Violet talked about.