Stephanie's shields soak the shot, but… how are they even…
Live first, solve later. I disconnect from my body and cast a Fleeting Spell Time Stop, then reconnect. Now then… what's going on?
I make my way to the bridge, simply walking through the metal walls and doors thanks to the Ironguard spell. The summoned air elementals are doing their jobs; a pilot, a gunner (for Stephanie's one meaningful gun), science officers… and the rest are on engineering. Stephanie's in the captain’s chair… which is fine. She's her own ship. At her size, she can't operate without the minions I've provided, but still: She's her own ship, even if she will do everything I say.
I turn my attention to the screens… we're traveling in The Drift, invisibly, and we have three ships shooting at us. They're just Fighters, but… how are they seeing us?
I have time, so I walk over and visit a tactical station… they're well armed, for fighters. Highly maneuverable, but that doesn't matter overly much when our only weapon of consequence is on a turret. Their shields are more advanced than ours… best on the market. And… they have turrets too, with twin coilguns… and twin light plasma torpedo pods on every arc, huh? And both seats are full, each has a VI, and each has a consciousness uplink drive… definitely loaded for bear. How are they seeing us… aha. They all have data nets, and THAT one has some magical gear worked into their sensors. Assuming they mixed a longer-range True Seeing in somehow, that explains how they're targeting us, but that has to have a limit; how'd they find us?
I suppose the best way to identify that will be to ask them. Let's see… yes, our shields are down in one quadrant. I wonder how much of the fight I missed? Convient for me, though: Teleportation is bad right now.
I hustle to that quadrant, fly through the hull, and head out into open space. It’s nice being rated for vacuum… I suppose both bodies are, currently… and I know exactly which ship is their keystone, now.
I run the stick trick again to find the enemy's shields, and this time… I just cast Disintegrate. A starship's shields are very impressive force fields… but they still have the same interaction. I keep going with the ten foot pole method… and find that ship's shields are layered. No matter, I have functionally unlimited time right now; Disintegrate, poke, get a new stick, Disintegrate, poke, get a new stick… eventually I tap the hull.
I then walk through the hull and take pictures of both the pilot and gunner (both androids). Considering what happened the last time I did this, I also locate their main computer, connect a keyboard and screen, and start typing.
Now, there's a reason I'm doing this right at the computer itself, and not from a terminal: I can interact with objects if they're close… but not creatures nor attended objects. So if I keep the actual computer close….
“You’re not authorized,” the VI tells me as I start typing.
“Oh, that,” I consider my answer, “Give me a minute.”
“I don't think I will. I've…” the VI pauses as I keep typing away, “Why aren't the sensors or coms responding?”
“Same reason nothing else is,” I inform it to slow things down, “Time isn't running as smoothly as you expect.”
The VI keeps to the program, “Ah. Oh, the shock grid works, here….”
I feel a mild tingling in my toes as the Energy Immunity spell takes care of it, “That tickles.”
The VI continues, “Well, you're still an unauthorized user, so I won't let you do…” I hit enter on the last command in line, and the VI pauses, “Oh, I'm sorry about that, Root. I don't know why I didn't recognize you.”
Yeah… unlike an Artificial Intelligence, a Virtual Intelligence is, at the end of the day, still just a computer program, and the Computers skill will change their allegiance with enough boosting.
Now this should be simple enough, “There have been some personnel changes. Revoke authorization for all other officers, and make sure I'm fully entered. For now, I should be the only one with any access at all. Also, there's indications that there have been problems in the chain of command… give me situation and mission reports.”
“Yes sir,” the VI complies as I lock the console (there's no point in it anymore: I can simply ask the VI to do whatever, now that I have full access), “We're currently hunting one of Admiral Alex Abrams’ ships, Stephanie Steel, and are wearing her down to end her. It's going well, as of my last system status; our shields are at ninety percent and we have already poked a hole in hers. I estimate we'll have this wrapped up shortly.”
I interrupt, “New orders: Cease all hostilities towards Admiral Alex Abrams and any associates. Continue reporting.”
“Yes sir,” the VI confirms, then continues, “The mission is… well, was… to disable the ship and convince the crew to surrender, getting as much information as possible on their communications technology. Failing that, to destroy Stephanie Steel.”
“To what end?” It's so nice to be in charge.
“To eliminate the communications grid,” the Vi answers.
Of course, the VI is operating from the wrong context, “Again: To what end?” I want to know my enemies' motivation, after all.
“To encourage Drift travel,” my captive program is being helpful.
Wait… if that's their primary motivation… “The church of Triune?”
“Yes, it’s the upper echelons of the church giving the orders,” the computer confirms.
Great… they're a pretty big organization… and with a motivation like that… ugh. Well, short term… “When you can access your systems again, contact Stephanie Steel, and surrender to her. I'll remove your current pilot and gunner.”
“Yes sir,” the computer confirms.
“Great,” another thing… “also, how did you find Stephanie?”
“We can see her thanks to a hybrid sensor upgrade.”
So they added magic into the mix… I'll want to take a close look at that. True Seeing, maybe? That has to be insanely expensive. Where did they even get the idea? But that's not quite what I meant, “I'll examine that in detail later. How did you know to find Stephanie here? We're in the middle of the Drift.”
The VI answers, “We were given a location and a time window. I do not know how they were derived.”
Great…well, I really hope Triune isn't hunting me, because, well… drift travel is everywhere.
“Thank you,” I tell it out of habit, and then walk away, as the machine falls back into the normal timestream. I try to do the same with the other two ships… bit they're not so cooperative: Their ships are run by actual AI's, so I can’t interact with them while time is stopped (and the hacking wouldn't work anyway). It ALSO means my prior tactic of simply evacuating the pilots won't do the job: The AIs can keep the ships running, and fire at least some of the weapons… although not nearly as effectively, and their attention would be divided… and I did get the one that could see us.
Oh, and it means the ships are properly creatures… hehehehehehehe….
Leaving time stopped, I make another prison demiplane… this one big enough to accommodate a couple of fighters, and I use the Shape option of the Create Demiplane line to loop it over itself: When something hits the edge, it just loops back to the other side, whether that's the floor, ceiling, or walls. I make it a dead magic plane the same way, and spam Mythic Dimension Lock so that only Wish transport, or I, can get people in and out.
I then Gate back to the storage Demiplane, close the gate behind me, and board Stephanie again through the portal network.
I then finally allow time to resume… and immediately cast Wish to send the crews of the attacking ships (as well as two of the ships themselves) into the prepared Demiplane.
I then talk to Stephanie, “Try not to kill that last ship… it's on our side now. Ish.”
Stephanie pauses, “Yes, it’s asking for instructions already. Your doing?”
“Yes,” I nod, starting to develop a headache, “it had a VI, and I changed it's allegiance. I also got rid of the crew and the other two ships. I'll interrogate them… eventually.”
“It's getting about that time again, huh?” Stephanie seems to….
“Yeah,” I cringe, “How much have you figured out?”
“After a big event, especially when you affect others, you get a headache, seclude yourself for a while, and come out slightly more… well, like the people you affect… but with new tricks.”
“Okay, yes, that's a nice summary, Stephanie,” and accurate enough, “There's a few other causes but… yeah. Nabbing the assailants seems to have pushed me over, again. So….”
Stephanie chuckles, “I'll have the measuring tools ready.”
Yeah… it's hard to keep secrets from your house. “Thank you. I'll be in my cabin.”
And I head that way.
Stephanie's shields soak the shot, but… how are they even…
Live first, solve later. I disconnect from my body and cast a Fleeting Spell Time Stop, then reconnect. Now then… what's going on?
I make my way to the bridge, simply walking through the metal walls and doors thanks to the Ironguard spell. The summoned air elementals are doing their jobs; a pilot, a gunner (for Stephanie's one meaningful gun), science officers… and the rest are on engineering. Stephanie's in the captain’s chair… which is fine. She's her own ship. At her size, she can't operate without the minions I've provided, but still: She's her own ship, even if she will do everything I say.
I turn my attention to the screens… we're traveling in The Drift, invisibly, and we have three ships shooting at us. They're just Fighters, but… how are they seeing us?
I have time, so I walk over and visit a tactical station… they're well armed, for fighters. Highly maneuverable, but that doesn't matter overly much when our only weapon of consequence is on a turret. Their shields are more advanced than ours… best on the market. And… they have turrets too, with twin coilguns… and twin light plasma torpedo pods on every arc, huh? And both seats are full, each has a VI, and each has a consciousness uplink drive… definitely loaded for bear. How are they seeing us… aha. They all have data nets, and THAT one has some magical gear worked into their sensors. Assuming they mixed a longer-range True Seeing in somehow, that explains how they're targeting us, but that has to have a limit; how'd they find us?
I suppose the best way to identify that will be to ask them. Let's see… yes, our shields are down in one quadrant. I wonder how much of the fight I missed? Convient for me, though: Teleportation is bad right now.
I hustle to that quadrant, fly through the hull, and head out into open space. It’s nice being rated for vacuum… I suppose both bodies are, currently… and I know exactly which ship is their keystone, now.
I run the stick trick again to find the enemy's shields, and this time… I just cast Disintegrate. A starship's shields are very impressive force fields… but they still have the same interaction. I keep going with the ten foot pole method… and find that ship's shields are layered. No matter, I have functionally unlimited time right now; Disintegrate, poke, get a new stick, Disintegrate, poke, get a new stick… eventually I tap the hull.
I then walk through the hull and take pictures of both the pilot and gunner (both androids). Considering what happened the last time I did this, I also locate their main computer, connect a keyboard and screen, and start typing.
Now, there's a reason I'm doing this right at the computer itself, and not from a terminal: I can interact with objects if they're close… but not creatures nor attended objects. So if I keep the actual computer close….
“You’re not authorized,” the VI tells me as I start typing.
“Oh, that,” I consider my answer, “Give me a minute.”
“I don't think I will. I've…” the VI pauses as I keep typing away, “Why aren't the sensors or coms responding?”
“Same reason nothing else is,” I inform it to slow things down, “Time isn't running as smoothly as you expect.”
The VI keeps to the program, “Ah. Oh, the shock grid works, here….”
I feel a mild tingling in my toes as the Energy Immunity spell takes care of it, “That tickles.”
The VI continues, “Well, you're still an unauthorized user, so I won't let you do…” I hit enter on the last command in line, and the VI pauses, “Oh, I'm sorry about that, Root. I don't know why I didn't recognize you.”
Yeah… unlike an Artificial Intelligence, a Virtual Intelligence is, at the end of the day, still just a computer program, and the Computers skill will change their allegiance with enough boosting.
Now this should be simple enough, “There have been some personnel changes. Revoke authorization for all other officers, and make sure I'm fully entered. For now, I should be the only one with any access at all. Also, there's indications that there have been problems in the chain of command… give me situation and mission reports.”
“Yes sir,” the VI complies as I lock the console (there's no point in it anymore: I can simply ask the VI to do whatever, now that I have full access), “We're currently hunting one of Admiral Alex Abrams’ ships, Stephanie Steel, and are wearing her down to end her. It's going well, as of my last system status; our shields are at ninety percent and we have already poked a hole in hers. I estimate we'll have this wrapped up shortly.”
I interrupt, “New orders: Cease all hostilities towards Admiral Alex Abrams and any associates. Continue reporting.”
“Yes sir,” the VI confirms, then continues, “The mission is… well, was… to disable the ship and convince the crew to surrender, getting as much information as possible on their communications technology. Failing that, to destroy Stephanie Steel.”
“To what end?” It's so nice to be in charge.
“To eliminate the communications grid,” the Vi answers.
Of course, the VI is operating from the wrong context, “Again: To what end?” I want to know my enemies' motivation, after all.
“To encourage Drift travel,” my captive program is being helpful.
Wait… if that's their primary motivation… “The church of Triune?”
“Yes, it’s the upper echelons of the church giving the orders,” the computer confirms.
Great… they're a pretty big organization… and with a motivation like that… ugh. Well, short term… “When you can access your systems again, contact Stephanie Steel, and surrender to her. I'll remove your current pilot and gunner.”
“Yes sir,” the computer confirms.
“Great,” another thing… “also, how did you find Stephanie?”
“We can see her thanks to a hybrid sensor upgrade.”
So they added magic into the mix… I'll want to take a close look at that. True Seeing, maybe? That has to be insanely expensive. Where did they even get the idea? But that's not quite what I meant, “I'll examine that in detail later. How did you know to find Stephanie here? We're in the middle of the Drift.”
The VI answers, “We were given a location and a time window. I do not know how they were derived.”
Great…well, I really hope Triune isn't hunting me, because, well… drift travel is everywhere.
“Thank you,” I tell it out of habit, and then walk away, as the machine falls back into the normal timestream. I try to do the same with the other two ships… bit they're not so cooperative: Their ships are run by actual AI's, so I can’t interact with them while time is stopped (and the hacking wouldn't work anyway). It ALSO means my prior tactic of simply evacuating the pilots won't do the job: The AIs can keep the ships running, and fire at least some of the weapons… although not nearly as effectively, and their attention would be divided… and I did get the one that could see us.
Oh, and it means the ships are properly creatures… hehehehehehehe….
Leaving time stopped, I make another prison demiplane… this one big enough to accommodate a couple of fighters, and I use the Shape option of the Create Demiplane line to loop it over itself: When something hits the edge, it just loops back to the other side, whether that's the floor, ceiling, or walls. I make it a dead magic plane the same way, and spam Mythic Dimension Lock so that only Wish transport, or I, can get people in and out.
I then Gate back to the storage Demiplane, close the gate behind me, and board Stephanie again through the portal network.
I then finally allow time to resume… and immediately cast Wish to send the crews of the attacking ships (as well as two of the ships themselves) into the prepared Demiplane.
I then talk to Stephanie, “Try not to kill that last ship… it's on our side now. Ish.”
Stephanie pauses, “Yes, it’s asking for instructions already. Your doing?”
“Yes,” I nod, starting to develop a headache, “it had a VI, and I changed it's allegiance. I also got rid of the crew and the other two ships. I'll interrogate them… eventually.”
“It's getting about that time again, huh?” Stephanie seems to….
“Yeah,” I cringe, “How much have you figured out?”
“After a big event, especially when you affect others, you get a headache, seclude yourself for a while, and come out slightly more… well, like the people you affect… but with new tricks.”
“Okay, yes, that's a nice summary, Stephanie,” and accurate enough, “There's a few other causes but… yeah. Nabbing the assailants seems to have pushed me over, again. So….”
Stephanie chuckles, “I'll have the measuring tools ready.”
Yeah… it's hard to keep secrets from your house. “Thank you. I'll be in my cabin.”
And I head that way.
