Jammers:Chapter 3, Turns 21 & 22 Summary

Comments, criticism, and flames always welcome and in fact are requested. I
crave feedback:)

Is could be the end of the Company of the Silent Star ?

Past turns and further information (such as who's who) can be found at the
Jammer's webpage:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Jungle/3001/jammers.htm

To subscribe as a lurker to the Spelljammers Onelist (used to run the
Jammers PBEM game) go to the following URL:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/Spelljammers

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*************** =time break

IC:

Nilaroo fires the loaded catapult at the rear viper, but the shot flies
wide.

Leera moves slowly to the location of the speaking tube. Green smoke
continues to billow out, starting the fill the air envelope on the port
side of the STAR.

Deigatt stands close to the catapult turret as the viper ships approach. He
takes tentative sniffs at the green smoke emerging from the hold but smells
nothing.

Holland says, "Get below them and continue forward.  Brace for ram!"
Holland continues with a sense of urgency in his voice, "Leera, get the
Enhance Rating scroll and meet me in the Bridge!!"

Seguld brings his newly acquired arquebus back off his shoulder. He stares
grimly at the approaching viperships as his hands continue the practiced
procedure of reloading.

"Keep forward or bring us to a halt?" Raken shouts to Holland, using the
voice tube.  "In either case, you'd better use that scroll or we're done
for!" A second later, he shouts up the tube again, "Holland, do you want to
take the helm?  You can push the ship a little faster than I, and we'll
need the speed more than spells!"

Ferric watches the scro vessels,  shouting orders for hard turns when he
sees their weapons firing.

The forward vipership passes just above the STAR, firing a load of jettison
shot from beneath its tail. The cloud of deadly debris passes to starboard,
missing the violently jinxing STAR completely.

The rear vipership comes up alongside the STAR's port side,  firing her
catapult and the portside rear ballista.  The catapult slams into the
STAR's hull, splintering planks.  The ballista bolt shoots wide during one
of Ferric's violent turns.  The vipership is perhaps 150 yards off,  but
doesn't seem to be matching speeds.

Robert starts reloading the ballistae,  while every so often glancing up at
the closing viperships.  Noticing that the viper ships are now closer,
Robert picks up his crossbow from where he placed it near the ballistae,
aims  and shoots at one of the scro that he can see on deck.  His shot
sinks harmlessly into the vipership's hull.

Billy says, "I think we have time for one more shot before it gets really hot."

Nilaroo grabs his bow and begins to fire at the scro on the vipership
alongside the STAR.  The port side of the envelope is still filled the
extremely noxious-looking smoke, however, and both arrows fly wide.

Through the hazy smoke shadowy figures can be seen moving about, then
suddenly clutching at their throats and falling to the deck.

Holland yells, "All weapons, fire at will."

Seguld brings the arquebus up to his shoulder.  Without a single word,
Seguld carefully pulls the trigger as he aims at the scro aboard the
nearest vipership.
The shot slams into one of the scro arquebusiers, knocking him back but not
dropping him.

Raken continues to push the ship forward.  "If worse comes to worse, I
won't let the scro have the helm," he grimly says to Vais.

"That is a comfort." Vais answers drily.

Grabbing another quarrel from his quiver, Robert quickly reloads  his
crossbow, and lets fly at one of the ugly brutes on the closest vipership.
His shot misses, passing harmlessly above the vipership.

A fusilade of arquebus fire erupts from the vipership's deck.  Most of the
shots fly wide, but several strike home.  Nilaroo, Ferric, and Italapate
each have close calls with bullets scratching their arms or foreheads.

Talus curses as a scro bullet slams into his right arm, knocking the
slender half-elf to the deck.  His clothes are quickly stained crimson from
the freely flowing blood as he passes out.

Galan takes a shot straight through the forehead.  He drops lifelessly to
the deck and stares up into the stars with unseeing eyes. A pool of blood
slowly forms beneath his skull.

Catapults from both vipership's fire and miss, again.  The vipership off to
port moves ahead of the STAR and rises slightly above.

The vipership to the rear has spun, almost on a dime, and pulls alongside
the starboard side of the STAR, about 100 yards out.

Nilaroo continues to fire his bow, shifting to fire at the starboard
vipership.  One of his arrows passes cleanly through a scro's throat,
killing him instantly.

Leera continues to maintain her illusion, filling the port side of the
envelope with the extremely noxious-looking smoke. Through the haze,
shadowy figures can still be seen moving about, then suddenly clutching at
their throats and falling to the deck.

Seguld drops the arquebus and steps his foot into the strap, while
gathering the next rifle. Without hesitation he fires at the scro on the
starboard vipership.  His shot splinters the railing but does no other
damage.

Quickly spinning on his feet, Robert brings his crossbow, to  his shoulder,
aims at one of the scro and fires.  A sudden twist by the STAR throws off
his aim and the bolt sails into deep space.

Billy takes hold of his crossbow, aims and fires at the scro.
Unfortunately, the same twist which threw off Robert's shot affects him and
his bolt also sails into space.

The forword Vipership unleashes a jettison load from it's tail section at
the STAR, but Ferric and Raken's frantic evasions throw off the scro aim
and the deadly cloud passes to port.

The starboard vipership fires off a ballista shot, but their aim is very
poor and the bolt flies high above the STAR.

An arquebus volley is fired from the starboard vipership,  one of the
bullets leaves a small gash in Grigree's shoulder but the others sink
harmlessly into the STAR's hull.

Date/time: 6:12 am 12th day of the 6th Month, 5049 OC

"Hey!" Kain says entreatingly.  "Someone help Talus or come take my place
so I can!"

Italapate backs across the deck, crouched low against the wood.  He slides
into place beside his wounded comrade, Talus, as he pulls a strip of cloth
from his seemingly bottomless medicine pouch.  "This isn't going to be
pleasant, buddy, but it will keep you alive."  He quickly ties the bandage
tight over the wound, his first aid rendered by necessity to its most basic
form, using the tight knot to cut off all blood flow to the arm.  "How many
times do I have to tell them not to put Raken on the helm in _anything_
resembling a combat situation, hmmm?  Ah well, you probably can't hear me
anyway... or don't care anymore."  He brushes the top of Talus' head.
"Don't worry, no one is going to get to you, and we'll try to get you out
of here so you can heal up."

Seeing 'Pate with Talus,  Kain continues to man the lines, watching the damaged
sailfin as he follows the course adjustments ordered.

Holland's voice emmits from near the ladderwell, "Leera, you can keep the
spell going, just get the scroll to the Bridge NOW!!"  Holland continues,
"Ferric, keep swerving and keep us headed off planet"  The still invisible
Holland then, keeping his arms spread out to keep his balance, speeds down
the ladderwell and rushes to the bridge.

Leera adds her voice to Holland's... "Yes, Ferric.... we'll be making a run
for it soon." Down the ladderwell she calls to Holland, "I'll be down soon
with the
scroll. I'm almost done."

The extremely noxious-looking smokesuddenly shifts, as the port side clears the
starboard side is obscured by the smoke. Through the haze, shadowy figures
can be seen moving about on the STAR's deck, then suddenly clutching at
their throats and falling to the deck.

Shaking his head at Holland's orders Ferric shouts, "You heard the Captain
Gentlemen, lets at least make this tough on them." Ferric continues to give
orders for evasive actions, jerking the STAR through an erratic course that
is still essentially a straight line.

Billy runs over to Galan and kneels down beside him setting his crossbow
aside. "Vais! We have wounded! Your services are required." After a brief
examination he sees that there is nothing that he can do. Galan stares
blankly into space, a surprised look on his face.

Seguld draws up the next arquebus and moves it to his shoulder.  Quickly he
fires a shot at one of the scro arquebus warriors, but a sudden turn keeps
him from seeing if the shot hit.

Nilaroo continues to fire his long bow at the nearest vipership, but
neither of his shots manage to connect.

From the helmroom, Raken calls to those on deck.  "Hey, I just had a
thought!  Seguld, can you whip up a smokepowder bomb to chuck over to the
starboard vipership?  If we create a smoke screen on that vessel we might
be able to loose her" he says hurriedly.  "Then we'll have better odds!"

Vais opens the chest on the bridge and removes two potion vials.  Then he
exits the bridge and heads towards the ladderwell, "I believe my services
are needed above." he explains to Raken on his way out.

Deigatt mans the catapult alone, slowly cranking the massive arm back.

Taking note of what Ferric is ordering in the way of movements for  the
STAR, Robert quickly reloads his crossbow, steadys himself, aims  at one of
the scro, and pulls the trigger; watching the quarrel fly  off, then
quickly pulls out another quarrel to begin reloading his crossbow.

The forward vipership drops back and down to the STAR's level, matching up
on the port side, as the other vipership continues to match speeds on the
starboard.  Both remain approximately 100 yards out from the STAR.  As they
match speeds each vipership unleashes a broadside from two ballistae.  One
bolt from the port vipership goes high, passing above the STAR and the
vipership beyond.  The other three slam into the SILENT STAR's hull,
shattering planks.  One of the bolts sinks deep into the STAR's keel.

The scro arquebusiers can be made out croaching behind their vessels'
sideboards as they reload their weapons.

Italapate leans over Talus, using his body to protect the half-elf as best
he can.

Holland's headband enters the bridge, "Raken, let's switch places...
Ready... switch,"

When Raken hears Holland say that he's ready to switch, he slides out of
the chair quickly and heads towards the back of the ship.

The switch goes amazingly smoothly, considering the circumstances, with
barely a surge to indicate it happened.  The invisible Holland sinks onto
the helm and orients himself to flying the ship.

Billy runs over to Talus, yelling out to Vais again, "Vais! Quickly!" Billy
motions 'Pate aside so he can examine the wound, then Billy takes a deep
breath and concentrates. He exhales slowly as he places his hands lightly
on Talus' wound.  With the healing, the flow of blood stops and his
breathing steadies, however the young half-elf still appears deathly pale
and remains unconscious.

Leera moves as quickly as possible down the stairs to her bunk. As she
begins climbing down the ladder her illusion ceases, and the noxious
looking smoke and dying figures disappear as if they were never there...

Leera snatches a scroll lying with her gear alongside her bed and sprints
to the helmroom.

Seguld drops to one knee drawing the cask of company smokepowder over from
behind the ballista bolt's stoarge case. As he ducks behind the ballista he
struggles to construct the desired bomb by digging a hole in the cask and
stuffing a pitch-stained rag into it.

Nilaroo continues to fire his long bow, despite the jinxing and the scro
taking cover he manages to drop one with an arrow, sinking the broad-bladed
arrow into its skull just behind the ear.

"You know Holland, surrender is sometimes a viable option.  Just something
to keep in mind since they seem to keep shooting at us."  Ferric takes
cover from the continued missle fire and fires his own bow as he continues
to order jinxing and shifting back and forth to the sail crew.

Quickly reloading his crossbow, Robert once again aims at one of the  enemy
scro, waits for a steady moment and pulls the trigger.  Not waiting to see
what happens, Robert pulls another quarrel out to  start reloading, while
having a quick glance around at his fellow  adventurers.

The viperships continue matching speed as their ballista crews work
frantically to reload their weapons.  The arquebusiers all seem to have
reloaded but sit motionlessly behind cover, obviously awaiting orders to
fire.

As Billy continues to heal Talus, Italapate hovers over both of them, using
his body to shield them from scro fire.

Vais walks over and says, "Step back. Won't do to suffocate him."  As Billy
and Italapate move aside Vais kneels and feeds one of the potions in his
copper hands down Talus' throat.  "Drink this, it will fix you right up."
The blood flow lessens dramatically and some color returns to Talus' palid
face. Talus awakes on the deck, his clothes soaked with blood from his
wound.

Holland's hands grip tight on the arms of the Helm, his knuckles turning
white as he struggles to shoot the STAR away from Spiral as quickly as
possible.

Leera enters the bridge and sees Holland's bandanna on the helm.  She
quickly chants the words on the scroll, with only one agonizing moment of
tension as she stumbles over a phrase.  She recovers swiftly, however, and
finishes the spell with confidence.  The magical incantation releases a
surge of power into Holland and the STAR surges forward, quickly placing
some distance between itself and the viperships.

Seguld curses aloud, "StillWorkin'OnIt!"  His fingers nimbly dance about
the smokebomb with his penknife and he continues his efforts.

Seeing the distance increase well beyond longbow range, Nilaroo turns to
help Deigatt with the catapult.  The two begin to spin the loaded catapult
towards the rear so it can fire.

Raken grabs his medical bag and heads into the cargo hold. He comes up
carefully and searches for wounded, but sees only Galan's dead body.

"This is not the end I had in mind." Ferric sighs to himself as he
continues to give orders for evasive actions.

Robert reloads his crossbow and watches the scro vessels recede behind the STAR.

The STAR's burst of speed seems to have caught the scro momentarily off guard.

Date/time: 6:15 am 12th day of the 6th Month, 5049 OC


"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College