Post by Cato on Jun 10, 2023 15:50:39 GMT -5
ATTACK ON THE INDEMNITY
| Cato's PL: 97,000 |
| Cato's PL: 97,000 |
The skies over the Glazed Sea should have been peaceful that day. It was blue skies, as far as the eye could see, matched only by the brilliant sapphire of glimmering waters and undisturbed ice floes. The few seafaring vessels that braved its waters, cracking their way through the ice on supply runs too low-value to warrant the use of atmospheric travel, should have been in for a quiet day. Instead, the peace was broken around mid-afternoon, with the sight of fire and smoke plummeting towards the surface. From afar, it might have looked like a comet, or even a large space-pod. That would have been a common enough appearance on Arcose' horizon. Yet, as the sight drew closer, reality began to set in.
A large cruiser, bulky and sluggish, had crashed through the atmosphere, huge chunks of metal shearing off from the force, all the while the temperatures around the hull began to wear at what few maneuvering thrusters seemed to be operational. These types of ships came and went everyday without issue, great tankers and cargo ships--the lifeblood of any trading empire. However, this ship had a very unique distinction: it was a prison ship, and it was the last ship anyone on the surface would have wanted to see crash land, to set its dangerous human cargo loose upon the planet.
Moments after the ruined ship became visible, a repeating distress signal reached listening posts across Arcose.
A large cruiser, bulky and sluggish, had crashed through the atmosphere, huge chunks of metal shearing off from the force, all the while the temperatures around the hull began to wear at what few maneuvering thrusters seemed to be operational. These types of ships came and went everyday without issue, great tankers and cargo ships--the lifeblood of any trading empire. However, this ship had a very unique distinction: it was a prison ship, and it was the last ship anyone on the surface would have wanted to see crash land, to set its dangerous human cargo loose upon the planet.
Moments after the ruined ship became visible, a repeating distress signal reached listening posts across Arcose.
"A-attention! This is the Imperial prison transport Indemnity! We've come under attack in orbit and are being forced to make an emergency landing in the ocean. We're fighting to regain control of the ship... we need immediate reinforcements from any sectors! Repeat, this is the Imperial prison transport Indem--"
The signal suddenly cut off as the ship's communications relay exploded with a shuddering blast. The crew had already begun to scramble for their escape pods, leaving the prisoners locked in their cells--but soon, fresh alarms blared across the ship, cutting through the clamour in the smoke-filled halls. The security system had been overridden, or perhaps destroyed, and countless alien prisoners began to swarm towards those very same escape pods. Soon, that supposed battle to regain the ship became a practical street brawl over access to the escape pods.
Two Arcosian guards were felled while trying to access one of the larger pods, their access codes already registered. As they crumpled to the ground, unconscious, a Saiyan with long purple hair and a distinctive breathing apparatus shoved two of the freed prisoners into the pod. Two Saiyans, prisoners from a conflict on some border planet long ago. Before they had a chance to argue, or even ask their rescuer for her name, the pod was fired off.
Cato struggled to focus her eyes against the smoke, and strode forward down the corridors. She ignored the other prisoners, and indeed the guards that fought to contain them and to keep their pods for themselves. Her next destination was the bridge, where she knew the captain remained. A good Arcosian captain wouldn't abandon ship while there was some small chance for a salvaged landing. She wouldn't stop him from making that landing, but she had some terms for him to agree to first.
"Arcosian captain," she spoke, tuning the frequency on her scouter to her Imperial codes. "I am prepared to help soften your landing and spare your crew from any further danger. However, there are a couple things I want you to have prepared for me... please have your identification tags and your access codes to the Ice Pit ready upon my arrival. If you do not comply..."
She trailed off. The threat was clear enough.
Two Arcosian guards were felled while trying to access one of the larger pods, their access codes already registered. As they crumpled to the ground, unconscious, a Saiyan with long purple hair and a distinctive breathing apparatus shoved two of the freed prisoners into the pod. Two Saiyans, prisoners from a conflict on some border planet long ago. Before they had a chance to argue, or even ask their rescuer for her name, the pod was fired off.
Cato struggled to focus her eyes against the smoke, and strode forward down the corridors. She ignored the other prisoners, and indeed the guards that fought to contain them and to keep their pods for themselves. Her next destination was the bridge, where she knew the captain remained. A good Arcosian captain wouldn't abandon ship while there was some small chance for a salvaged landing. She wouldn't stop him from making that landing, but she had some terms for him to agree to first.
"Arcosian captain," she spoke, tuning the frequency on her scouter to her Imperial codes. "I am prepared to help soften your landing and spare your crew from any further danger. However, there are a couple things I want you to have prepared for me... please have your identification tags and your access codes to the Ice Pit ready upon my arrival. If you do not comply..."
She trailed off. The threat was clear enough.
TWC: 626
Cato attacks a prison ship to retrieve a pair of Saiyan pirates!
Cato attacks a prison ship to retrieve a pair of Saiyan pirates!