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DOA?:Stellacide; To end all wars
Topic Started: Dec 15 2008, 11:11 AM (13,295 Views)
Oracle
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Head of Diplomatic Affairs
She could barely restrain her humor. Both of them were trying to outdo the other to be the one to pay her. Never had such a thing happened. On top of that the only one who didn't want to pay her, was the one who owed the money. While credits were good, rare soil and mineral samples were sometimes invaluable. She was very interested in Zet'kil's samples. She glanced up as the scanning vessel passed over, mildly curious to see that her cloak worked against their scans. Satisfied they were safe, she relaxed and readied herself for Melai's approach. Expecting him to be a bit more antagonistic, she was surprised at his restraint. She was even more stunned to detect his telekinetic ability. She had not felt it through the holo-grid. She almost lost her cohesion she was so excited. For a moment her skin rippled, before she got hold of herself.

"All righty then," Melai yelled to announce that he had arrived at the 'table' of negotiations, "Shall we get this over with so we can all get out of here as quickly as possible? First of all - the Starjump drive. That's the first thing we want to buy. Go ahead and bleed us out."

"The price all depends on your aversion to me, and the quality of Zet'kil's ore and mineral samples." She may as well let him know exactly what she wanted from him. "I believe I sensed telekinetic abilities in you. I would learn this from you. For a merging alone, I might be persuaded to return your Jump Drive. It is neither painful, nor unpleasant. A simple look at your thought patterns." She paused for a span allowing him to consider the suggestion. "Your ship is badly damaged, and from my earlier visit it is apparent that it lacks certain enhancements. I could supply you with shields that will withstand anything a Hunter can bombard you with. Depending, of course, on Zet'kil's samples."

She turned to the young man who had welcomed her, "Talon? You might want to have a look at my inventory. A man of your business acumen might find something of value aboard. I have a fine selection of hand held power weapons. Perhaps you would find a compression blaster, not much larger than your hand, to your liking. It can knock out a full sized humanoid from fifty paces. That is if you don't mind dealing with a Telkran. I'm a shape shifter. I think that is what Zet'kil was trying to warn you about."
Edited by Oracle, Jan 13 2009, 02:19 AM.

I Role Play because the people in my head tell me to.


TUESDAY AFTERNOON

It is God who can transform the lowest into the highest, who humbles the proud,
and causes that which is in darkness to become light.~Horace

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Silvermourn
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The Redneck, the Cynic, the Nerd, and the Hopeless Romantic

As people began to arrive at the bargaining table Talon readied himself for the fun. Apparently she didn't want his money something that bothered him slightly. His other problem was that Melai felt it necessary to spend his money like the drunk that he was. Exactly the reason he had wanted to do the bargaining for himself.
The first order of business was obviously equipping the ship with it's star drive. Something this woman had obviously taken off of it. That hardly mattered however, it was fair business what had happened in the past hardly mattered it was the cards they had now. He had the money but she had the jump drive.

Slipping the card into his sleeve he waited for an opening and began to speak. Starting the bargaining that would hopefully keep Melai from breaking his account here and now.
" The first matter of business is obviously the star drive as Melai has pointed out. We will need to get that first. I acknowledge your upper hand in your acquirement of this rather important technology. However because I intend to give you more business then simply this drive. I believe it would be a show of your good faith to return the star drive without cost. Above that this ship will need shielding as is obvious, seeing as it is now lying in wreckage because that which it had before failed. After that additional purchases will be discussed based on necessity and usefulness. My own personal business should I find that any exists shall be conducted after that of the others."

He wasn't going to be spending a single ounce more than he must. He didn't care if she was the damned alien god of shapeshifting salesmen. Of course that's when he realized that she had claimed the ability to change her shape. That interested him but it surprised him little, it was only a short stretch from the ever changing face of the business man. Or as it seemed in this case, the business woman.
"I mourn that which may have been but will never be."

"Stupidity is a wound that bleeds forever; Intelligence is a blade that stays forever sharp"

"An armed man will kill and unarmed man with monotonous regularity"

"Nothing adds a little class to a sniper course like a babe in a Ghillie suit."

"You have the rest of your life to solve your problems. How long you live depends on how well you do it."

"Make your attacker advance through a wall of bullets. I may get killed with my own gun, but he's gonna have to beat me to death with it, 'cause it's going to be empty."
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Dark Jack
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The Phantom Poster
Melai opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then stopped himself before words could emerge. He closed it again, arching both of his brows as he wacthed the Telkran closely and in deep thought as he considered what to say. He then opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, each time about to say something but then deciding against it, and he thought that he had to look like a fish on land when he did that. He blinked, scratching his chin thoughtfully. It was only when Talon had responded to the Lya that he decided to actually do something else than considering to talk.

"You want to examine my brain?" he finally said in disbelief, "My brain? My brain? My brain? My brain?" He repeated the same two words over and over again, stressing different words each time. However, he soon came to the conclusion that his confusion made him look more stupid than he was. "And you'll give us the Starjump drive... but I'm not sure..." He wanted to say that he was not sure at all that telekinetic powers could even be copied at all by such means, since while it took a larger and stronger frontal part of the brain to control the electromagnetic fields that he produced, it was also a matter of his entire body being able to actually produce sufficient amounts of energy to create any electromagnetic fields to control, not to mention the enormous amounts of training it took to learn how to make those fields interact with gravity, thus reaching physical motion. He was not sure whether just scanning his brain would be any help to her at all. But then again, did he actually want this creature to learn telekinesis? No. But it did sound appealing to get the Starjump drive for free.

"Okay," he nodded, "Just scan away and then hand over my Starjump drive. Then I'll leave the rest of the negotiations to Zet'kil and this overly eager friend of mine." He patted Talon on his shoulder with a grin. But really, it would be pointless for Melai to stay, since he had already given away the only thing he had to bargain with. Then he could as well go back to help Harper, who was hopefully busy with repairing the Rey already.
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Shienvien
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I want, I can, I do
Zet'kil listened intently to the Telkran's words. Getting the Starjump drive for free wouldn't be bad, of course, even when Telkran with additional powers... But weren't they just merchants after all? They shouldn't cause any problems like that, or at least more than they already did- Under which Zet'kil meant their habit of taking from wherever there was something to take.

Once they got to know the differences which made the telekinetic abilities possible, they could indeed change their own bodies like that, even when it might take time before they are able to use their new ability properly.
But she wasn't entirely sure in the last point, since she wasn't exactly specialized on the specifics of different races, if not to count that little what was known of humans and insectoids.
In case they indeed could obtain the skill as well as the ability, then she should really not let her anywhere too near her thoughts... Because reading minds was what it seemed like to her.

Unloading the lower cargo hold finished. Other objects restored to their previous positions.
The Xeian ordered the thing to come closer. It has to be here when she wants to show Lya the wares inside- and maybe let her to take a look on the ship itself. This was a good ship, and although there wasn't many ways to improve it, additional field generator set might prove to be useful. The current ones were the best anyway, but ate energy too quickly to be used for purposes which they were originally not meant for.

There was actually another reason Zet'kil liked to show her ship- she was almost proud of it, even when she usually didn't admit that loudly. Besides, somewhere back there was also her old ship which she'd have liked to get rid of. The Telkran might even want it, since the ship was well-kept and showed no outer signs of its age, if one could not determine the exact age of different Xeian technology.
For Zet'kil herself, the old ship, contradictory to the new one, was not of much of a value. She had even considered taking it apart and selling the material it consisted of- which was not exactly common over here, either.
A thought can create a world, but only a word written down can ensure its existence.

-When I am physically capable of doing something it doesn't mean I can do it. When I can, it doesn't mean that I should. When I should, it doesn't mean that I must. When I must, it doesn't mean that I will.
-I might not always know where I currently am, but I am never lost. I know in which direction my destination lies.
-There is no faith in knowing. I prefer to know, as only in this way can I be certain in my decisions.
-The more people you ask a question the higher the chance that at least one of them is right.
-Make me walk on walls, don't force me to dance according to others' will.
-I agree that life can be depressing at times. I just choose to ignore it.
-I don't figure over possibilities. I want, I can, I do.


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Attila
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Transylvanian Mad Scientist
"Very well, request to dock granted. Proceed to the port side docking bay, Nemesis will relay the coordinates. The ship will be suspended in a gravitic stasis once you arrive, to stop the acid from spreading. The maintenance teams will then handle the rest."
Emerson said, nodding at Shadow-claw. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to." He added, and shut the link down, then nodded at the AI at the other screen. "See to it that Shadow-claw is escorted to the guests' quarters once he's arrived. As much as we both hate to do this, we need to treat him neutrally.."
"Aye-aye, Captain." She nodded and left the screen.

He then turned his attention toward the fairly large fleet holding orbit over the planet. He opened a comms channel, broadcasting a message toward the largest ship of the fleet.
"Unidentified fleet of ships, this is Joshua Emerson, captain of the Imperial Battlecruiser 'Apollyon'. I am in no way affiliated with the denizens of this planet, and its port, but I do represent the Empire of Man and its interests in this sector. Respond to this hail, and identify yourselves, and your intentions."
He then turned the recording off and set the message to repeat itself every 40 minutes or until a response is received.
He then ran a quick diagnostic of the ship's functions and systems, and had the Reactor started up, just in case. The screens were now showing the panoramic view of the alien fleet, the stars in the background and the planet visible at the bottom. He decided to keep the ship and its armaments in passive mode, so as not to draw any suspicions of hostile intent.
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Oracle
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Head of Diplomatic Affairs
Watching the expressions cross Melai's face was a bit confusing, but at least he wasn't denying her outright. There was a chance he might agree, and she was aflutter with anticipation. Somewhat distracted as Talon began his bargaining demands, her head kept flipping back and forth between the two men, then over to Zet'kil, wondering when she would be able to see the samples. This was the best trade encounter she had ever participated in. She wished she had set up a holo-recorder for verification, her fellow Telkrans were not likely to believe her. Plus another sale waiting just overhead, it was incredible.

Melai began speaking, and Talon's voice phased into so much background noise. Her attention was focused entirely on the pirate."You want to examine my brain?...My brain? My brain? My brain? My brain?" He seemed stunned at the prospect. "And you'll give us the Starjump drive... but I'm not sure..." If he knew how important this trade was to her, would he decline? He still might. His face was still alive with decision making. Then it came, the words she longed for, "Okay, just scan away and then hand over my Starjump drive.

She moved in front of him, her head tilted back slightly to look at him, her eyes locked with his. As her arms raised to either side of his head, her hands swirled into a mass of sparkling dust. Contact with his skin surprised her, normally there was no sensation touching a humanoid. Only among Telkrans was there ecstasy with the merging. She almost pulled back, but she had told him it was painless and not unpleasant. If he found it as pleasurable as she did, he could hardly complain. At least she only had contact with his mind. Maybe it was the telekinetic ability causing the difference. His thoughts started pouring into her, and out of respect she shunted them to the side without listening. If he was in pain it would have come in loud and clear. Her search was only for the ability, and there it was. Her natural form was an electromagnetic field, it spun around his frontal lobe, marveling at the intricate patterns, their alignment and function. The ability was merged into the solid form of his brain cells, but the pattern could be duplicated, possibly even enhanced. When her understanding was complete, she allowed her gratitude to slip effortlessly into his thoughts. Her deep delight of this small merging was passed along also, with her promise to share the ability with no other, nor use it for profit.

As she withdrew from his mind her hands slid gently along his face, then dropped to her her side. "What fun we could have had. We Telkrans are a passionate people." She winked and her lips quirked up in a smile, she couldn't help but tease. "The obligation has been met, you will have your Jump Drive."

She turned her attention to Talon when Melai was finished with her, "I will take you to my ship and we can discuss matters privately there once I have seen Zet'kils samples." She nodded for the Xeian to show her to the trade goods.
Edited by Oracle, Jan 10 2009, 06:46 PM.

I Role Play because the people in my head tell me to.


TUESDAY AFTERNOON

It is God who can transform the lowest into the highest, who humbles the proud,
and causes that which is in darkness to become light.~Horace

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Shienvien
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I want, I can, I do
Watching the Telkran's hands turning into mere dust of she was consisting of. That didn't bother her, she knew that they could take themselves apart and form any shape they wanted... But the fact that they could really enter one's head this way did still disturb her greatly.
Things scanning her head was fine. She at least could be sure what those were doing, and things didn't definitely take ideas out of thin air. Which was something living beings the most certainly did.

Moving a few meters up to her ship, she let it open the frontal door and took one single step inwards before turning around and looking back to the scene, all her both pairs of her arms crossed in defensive pose. There she waited till the Telkran was finished and turned to her.
"I will take you to my ship and we can discuss matters privately there once I have seen Zet'kil's samples." The Telkran told her with a nod.

"Yes...?" She asked in a hesitant voice, sending a doubting glance towards Melai... She was not entirely sure what he was going to do after the whatever the Telkran did... Her words had seemed a little suspicious, that was for sure.

((I can't really make a longer post before I know Melais reaction, since whatever Zet'kil does is largely dependent on it.))
Edited by Shienvien, Jan 10 2009, 09:11 PM.
A thought can create a world, but only a word written down can ensure its existence.

-When I am physically capable of doing something it doesn't mean I can do it. When I can, it doesn't mean that I should. When I should, it doesn't mean that I must. When I must, it doesn't mean that I will.
-I might not always know where I currently am, but I am never lost. I know in which direction my destination lies.
-There is no faith in knowing. I prefer to know, as only in this way can I be certain in my decisions.
-The more people you ask a question the higher the chance that at least one of them is right.
-Make me walk on walls, don't force me to dance according to others' will.
-I agree that life can be depressing at times. I just choose to ignore it.
-I don't figure over possibilities. I want, I can, I do.


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Dark Jack
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The Phantom Poster
"That was probably the weirdest thing I've ever experienced," Melai mumbled in a low voice, swaying slightly from side to side after the odd alien had not actually scanned his brain, as he had expected, but instead merged her own particles with his brain for a short duration. She could as well have removed the brain from his head and looked at it with a nanoscope, for all he knew, except from the strange, grateful sensation she transferred to him at the end of their odd encounter that suggested that emotions were transferrable as well. Maybe she could read thoughts, too? Melai did not like being near Minds because of their inherit ability to read the minds of others and transfer their thoughts to them, and he most certainly did not like it any better when some alien scavenger and merchant did it. He contained his disliking of the situation, though, and comforted himself with that this would result in the return of his Starjump drive so he could get away from there.

Not quite sure what Lya had meant by 'What fun we could have had', Melai stepped backwards, raising his hands to use them to feel his own head, as if to check if it had changed shape or something similar. However, his skull seemed quite ordinary, and since the Telkran quickly changed subject from whatever fun they could have had and announced that the bargain had been met, Melai stumbled backwards, headed towards the Rey de los Muerte. All around him, pebbles, leaves and even pieces of scrap metal started levitating from the ground as his confusion combined with the effect of alcohol resulted in his powers going just slightly out of control. But nothing violent happened, so for now, Melai ignored it... and instead continued, determined to get back to the Rey, lie down in his personal quarters there and have a drink to calm his nerves.
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Mercinus3
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The English Kitty Ninja
As Shadow-claw nodded and turned off the screen, his computer blared out a warning tone. Warning... Hull integrity less than 50%... Cursing at the computer, the Silencer recieved the co-ordinates from Nemesis. He plotted the co-ordinates in the auto-pilot, and walked to the back of the ship, and started to place the last piece of steel that was in the back. He grabbed the welding gear and started to weld the steel where the acid was. This would not resist the acid from the Ori, but at least it'll give the ship some hull integrity... he thought, as he finished the welding.

A few minutes later, the ship arrived at the entrance to the docking bay of the Apollyon. Shadow-claw turned off the auto-pilot and started to bring the ship in. "Easy, girl..." he said, talking to his ship. "We're almost there..." He arrived at the landing spot where there was a repair crew, waiting to repair the hole in the ship. Once landing the ship, he started to walk out of the Cosmic Hunter. Before he opened the ship's doors, he overheard a nearby commander on the link. "I am General At Arms, Aurelius Torr'van of the Southern Allied Fleets. I speak on behalf of my commander Lord Gorrellius Typhanus, Lord Commander of The Southern Allied Fleets. We are an exploratory expedition sent on orders of the throne of the Grekk Empire, observing this sector of the galaxy, and seeking any possible alliances or resources. We are an active crusader fleet, but we have no intention of attacking, unless repeatedly provoked." Very suspicious of the speaker, the Silencer opened the doors, and walked out into the new environment.
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Efarilahn
 
Eat babies, don't punt kittens.
This is true. I will go ninja kitty on your asses if you do... *glowers and sharpens claws*
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Silvermourn
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The Redneck, the Cynic, the Nerd, and the Hopeless Romantic

As the woman began to examine Melai Talon only shook his head. The man was a fool, to give one of his most valuable assets away for something he could have gotten cheaper. Disgusted Talon spit on the ground, the man was a fool.
Shaking his head talon put his hands to it and began to rub his temples. He suddenly had a pounding headache that seemed to come and go in waves. First it would be strong and then it would fade away to nothing leaving his head feeling unnaturally light.

As the strange Telkran began to speak again he continued to massage his head. Perhaps that was what caused the ache to lessen. When he finally looked up she was speaking with the other alien and moving off towards his/her ship. Since he had been invited to follow Talon did just that. This woman was obviously successful at her trading, and with Melai as an example she probably thought them all fools. Shaking his head again he continued to watch her, thinking of the bargain to come, all thoughts of his headache abandoned.
"I mourn that which may have been but will never be."

"Stupidity is a wound that bleeds forever; Intelligence is a blade that stays forever sharp"

"An armed man will kill and unarmed man with monotonous regularity"

"Nothing adds a little class to a sniper course like a babe in a Ghillie suit."

"You have the rest of your life to solve your problems. How long you live depends on how well you do it."

"Make your attacker advance through a wall of bullets. I may get killed with my own gun, but he's gonna have to beat me to death with it, 'cause it's going to be empty."
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